Precision Track Days brings you the results of this weekend’s events.
Revving Up the Track Day Experience with Precision Track Day!
Jones Honda’s Ashton Yates set the fastest time to take the MotoAmerica Stock 1000 provisional pole at Circuit of The Americas on Friday. Real Steel Honda’s JD Beach, OrangeCat Racing’s Jayson Uribe, OrangeCat Racing’s Andrew Lee, and RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki’s Rocco Landers rounded out the top five.
25_13_TEX_STK_Q1_res
Precision Track Days brings you the results of this weekend’s events.
Revving Up the Track Day Experience with Precision Track Day!
Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati’s Josh Herrin set the fastest time to take the MotoAmerica Superbike provisional pole at Circuit of The Americas on Friday. Tytlers Cycle Racing’s Cameron Beaubier, Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing’s Bobby Fong, Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Richie Escalante, and Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Sean Dylan Kelly completed the top five.
25_13_TEX_SBK_Q1_res
Precision Track Days brings you the results of this weekend’s events.
Revving Up the Track Day Experience with Precision Track Day!
Strack Racing’s Mathew Scholtz took the MotoAmerica Motovation Supersport provisional pole at Circuit of The Americas on Friday. Celtic/Economy Lube+Tire/Warhorse HSBK Ducati’s Cameron Petersen, Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Tyler Scott, Rahal Ducati Moto w/ XPEL’s PJ Jacobsen, and Strack Racing’s Blake Davis rounded out the top five.
25_13_TEX_SSP_Q1_res
Precision Track Days brings you the results of this weekend’s events.
Revving Up the Track Day Experience with Precision Track Day!
Warhorse Ducati/American Racing’s Alessandro Di Mario took the provisional MotoAmerica Parts Unlimited Talent Cup pole at Circuit of The Americas on Friday. Tytlers Cycle Racing’s Hank Vossberg, Jones Honda’s Bodie Paige, Yamaha BLU CRU Estenson Racing’s Sam Drane, and Team Roberts’ Kody Kopp completed the top five.
25_13_TEX_TCP_Q1_res
Precision Track Days brings you the results of this weekend’s events.
Revving Up the Track Day Experience with Precision Track Day!
Harley-Davidson x Dynojet Factory Racing’s Kyle Wyman topped the MotoAmerica Mission King of The Baggers practice at Circuit of The Americas on Friday. RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson’s Hayden Gillim, Harley-Davidson x Dynojet Factory Racing’s James Rispoli, S&S/Indian Motorcycle’s Troy Herfoss, and RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson’s Rocco Landers rounded out the top five.
25_12_TEX_KTB_P1_res
Suzuki Motor USA and Team Hammer are thrilled to announce that Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Suzuki GSX-R with a special commemorative livery for the final two races of the 2025 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Championship season. The special livery is inspired by the new 2026 Suzuki GSX-R1000/R introduced at the famed Suzuka Eight Hour Endurance race in August.
Suzuki’s line of GSX-R motorcycles are among the most iconic in two-wheeled history. For many, the Suzuki GSX-R is the definitive sportbike. Revolutionary in its focus, light weight, serious power, and all-around effectiveness, the Suzuki GSX-R earned legendary status among street and track riders alike from the moment of its introduction.
The Suzuki GSX-R has stacked up countless accolades and accomplishments over four decades of competition. Among the many highlights are Superbike and Supersport titles, a MotoGP World Championship taken by the GSX-RR prototype, and dozens of national championships spanning the globe.
However, perhaps nowhere has the Suzuki GSX-R reigned so supreme as in the United States. To date, the Suzuki GSX-R has scored 12 AMA/MotoAmerica Superbike titles, along with Supersport, Formula Xtreme and Superstock championships. Throughout its proud history, it’s been the weapon of choice of some of the sport’s all-time greats, including the likes of Kevin Schwantz, Mat Mladin, Ben Spies, Martin Cardenas, Toni Elias, Roger Hayden, John Hopkins and many more.
Team Hammer has played a key role in that remarkable success over the years, having raced the GSX-R since they were introduced in 1985. The vast majority of the team’s 135 AMA/MotoAmerica race victories and 11 national championships have come aboard various incarnations of the GSX-R, as did 20 national titles claimed across WERA National Endurance and Formula USA competition.
Team Hammer owner John Ulrich said, “It seems like it wasn’t that long ago that I was throwing a leg over a GSX-R for the first time at the initial press launch in Japan in 1985. Compared to everything else, it was so light and powerful and compact, Suzuki redefined what a sport bike was.
“It’s amazing that 40 years later, we are still racing the Suzuki GSX-R. It’s a testament to the original design concept of building something as light and compact and powerful as possible. Suzuki has stuck with that idea and kept improving what could be done. They came back with something just as revolutionary in 1996 and 2017 as they continuously redesigned the bike.
“Suzuki has always had a lot of excellent individuals working to make the GSX-R line as strong as possible, and Suzuki in America has believed in racing even in times when others quit. They improved the GSX-R time and time again, and it has served them well. The GSX-R models are the symbols of Suzuki performance and all that motorcycles can do.”
Kerry Graeber Suzuki Motor USA Senior Vice President shared his sentiments about the legendary GSX-R lineage. “There is no overstating the importance of the GSX-R to the Suzuki brand. Since the first GSX-R rolled off the line in 1985, over 1.2 million units have been produced. Representing everything we stand for as a company in terms of engineering and performance excellence, the GSX-R, in all its iterations, is a beloved motorcycle among serious enthusiasts. We’re thrilled the new 2026 GSX-R1000/R is set to continue that legacy and looking forward to seeing Team Hammer’s commemorative race bikes at COTA this weekend.”
Team Hammer will showcase the commemorative livery at the 2025 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Championship on September 13-14 at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.
Please visit SuzukiCycles.com/Racing/road-racing for more team news.
About Team Hammer
The 2025 season marks Team Hammer’s 45th consecutive year of operating as a professional road racing team. Racebikes built and fielded by Team Hammer have won 135 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National races, have finished on AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National podiums 379 times and have won 11 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National Championships, as well as two FIM South American Championships (in Superbike and Supersport). The team has also won 137 endurance races overall (including seven 24-hour races) and 13 Overall WERA National Endurance Championships with Suzuki motorcycles, and holds the U.S. record for mileage covered in a 24-hour race. The team also competed in the televised 1990s Formula USA National Championship, famously running “Methanol Monster” GSX-R1100 Superbikes fueled by methanol, and won four F-USA Championships.
About Suzuki
Suzuki Motor USA, LLC (SMO) distributes Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Accessories, and ECSTAR Oils & Chemicals via an extensive dealer network throughout 49 states. Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC), based in Hamamatsu, Japan, is a diversified worldwide manufacturer of Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Automobiles, Outboard Motors, and related products. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, SMC has business relations with 201 countries/regions. For more information, visit www.suzuki.com.
Precision Track Days brings you the results of this weekend’s events.
Revving Up the Track Day Experience with Precision Track Day!
Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing’s Bobby Fong led the way at the top of the MotoAmerica Superbike practice results on Friday at Circuit of The Americas. Tytlers Cycle Racing’s Cameron Beaubier, Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing’s Jake Gagne, Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati’s Josh Herrin, and Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Richie Escalante completed the top five.
25_12_TEX_SBK_P1_res
Precision Track Days brings you the results of this weekend’s events.
Revving Up the Track Day Experience with Precision Track Day!
OrangeCatRacing’s Jayson Uribe set the pace in the MotoAmerica Stock 1000 practice on Friday. Real Steel Honda’s JD Beach, RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki’s Rocco Landers, OrangeCatRacing’s Andrew Lee, and Jones Honda’s Ashton Yates rounded out the top five.
25_12_TEX_STK_P1_res
Precision Track Days brings you the results of this weekend’s events.
Revving Up the Track Day Experience with Precision Track Day!
Strack Racing’s Mathew Scholtz led the MotoAmerica Motovation Supersport practice at Circuit of The Americas on Friday. Rahal Ducati Moto w/ XPEL’s PJ Jacobsen, Celtic/Economy Lube+Tire/Warhorse HSBK Ducati’s Cameron Petersen, Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Tyler Scott, and Strack Racing’s Blake Davis completed the top five.
25_12_TEX_SSP_P1_res
Marc Marquez led MotoGP World Championship practice Friday afternoon at Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, in Italy. Riding his Lenovo Ducati Desmosedici GP25 on spec Michelin tires, the six-time World Champion turned a lap time of 1:30.480 to lead the 23-rider field.
Marco Bezzecchi was the best of the rest with a 1:30.627 on his Aprilia Racing RS-GP25.
Franco Morbidelli was third at 1:30.673 on his Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team Ducati Desmosedici GP24.
Marc Marquez’s teammate, Francesco Bagnaia finished the session fourth with a 1:30.710.
Alex Marquez, riding his BK8 Gresini Racing Ducati Desmosedici GP24, got fifth with a lap time of 1:30.752.
Classification motogp practice
More from a press release issued by Dorna:
Marc Marquez leads Bezzecchi on a competitive Misano Friday. The #93 spearheads a top 10 covered by 0.4s as big hitters face Q1 at the San Marino GP.
A 1:30.480 saw Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) pocket Day 1 honours at the Red Bull Grand Prix of San Marino and the Rimini Riviera in a tightly contested afternoon in the weekly MotoGP chase for the top 10 on a Friday. Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) was second fastest on home turf for him and the Noale factory, 0.147s the gap, as Franco Morbidelli handed Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team a top three heading into Saturday’s action at Misano.
MARC MARQUEZ LEADS EARLY EXCHANGES
It was tight at the top for the first half of the session and leading the way was a familiar number #93. Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) was less than a tenth behind, with Bezzecchi P3 just before we tipped into the final 30 minutes of Practice.
The riders who were inside the all-important top 10 when the tipping point into time attack came around were Marc Marquez, Morbidelli, Di Giannantonio, Bezzecchi, Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol), Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP), Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) and Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team), with those riders split by just 0.461s. The top 17 were covered by 0.733s, so this was about to be an intense scrap for automatic Q2 promotion.
TIME ATTACK MODE: ENGAGED
With 15 minutes left, the improvements began to roll in. Pecco moved up to P5 before the #63 went fastest by over two tenths, but that soon changed because Marc Marquez moved the goalposts by a further three tenths with a 1:30.480. Bezzecchi then clawed himself into P2 to sit 0.163s adrift of Marc Marquez, as reigning World Champion Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing) briefly jumped into the top 10 before his lap was chalked off.
Alex Marquez’s best effort was enough for P4 with nine minutes to go, but then Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) slotted into P4 with a 1:30.819 – 0.339s off Marquez’s pace.
Bezzecchi then went faster to go 0.147s slower than Marquez, and just behind, teammate Martin earned a nice tow to pounce into P6, and that shoved Quartararo out of the top 10 with under four minutes to go.
Yellow flags were shown after crashes for Augusto Fernandez (Yamaha Factory Racing Team) at Turn 2 and then Mir at Turn 9, before Raul Fernandez crashed at Turn 15. And the latter’s fall meant laps were cancelled, including for Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech3) – the Italian was sitting in P18 with one lap left.
Would there be late changes in the top 10? Yes, because Marini was on a very good lap and the Italian managed to hold it to the line to grab P7 at the chequered flag, but Quartararo missed out – and so did Bastianini! Two big hitters from Barcelona were left frustrated.
YOUR FRIDAY TOP 10
So, Ducati lead Aprilia on Day 1, with Morbidelli the only other rider to get within two tenths of Marc Marquez’s time on Friday afternoon. P4 is a confidence booster for Pecco, while Alex Marquez has a little more work to do than he did in Barcelona vs his brother, as Mir and Marini hand HRC a double top 10. Martin heading straight into Q2 is a potential game changer for the #1’s weekend in Misano, as Acosta and Di Giannantonio earn the final two top 10 spots.
COMING UP: TISSOT SPRINT SATURDAY IN MISANO
As always, Q1 will be a blockbuster as Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR), Quartararo, Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), Maverick Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech3), Bastianini and more aim for the top two on Saturday morning.
Precision Track Days brings you the results of this weekend’s events.
Revving Up the Track Day Experience with Precision Track Day!
Jones Honda’s Ashton Yates set the fastest time to take the MotoAmerica Stock 1000 provisional pole at Circuit of The Americas on Friday. Real Steel Honda’s JD Beach, OrangeCat Racing’s Jayson Uribe, OrangeCat Racing’s Andrew Lee, and RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki’s Rocco Landers rounded out the top five.
25_13_TEX_STK_Q1_res
Precision Track Days brings you the results of this weekend’s events.
Revving Up the Track Day Experience with Precision Track Day!
Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati’s Josh Herrin set the fastest time to take the MotoAmerica Superbike provisional pole at Circuit of The Americas on Friday. Tytlers Cycle Racing’s Cameron Beaubier, Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing’s Bobby Fong, Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Richie Escalante, and Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Sean Dylan Kelly completed the top five.
25_13_TEX_SBK_Q1_res
Precision Track Days brings you the results of this weekend’s events.
Revving Up the Track Day Experience with Precision Track Day!
Strack Racing’s Mathew Scholtz took the MotoAmerica Motovation Supersport provisional pole at Circuit of The Americas on Friday. Celtic/Economy Lube+Tire/Warhorse HSBK Ducati’s Cameron Petersen, Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Tyler Scott, Rahal Ducati Moto w/ XPEL’s PJ Jacobsen, and Strack Racing’s Blake Davis rounded out the top five.
25_13_TEX_SSP_Q1_res
Precision Track Days brings you the results of this weekend’s events.
Revving Up the Track Day Experience with Precision Track Day!
Warhorse Ducati/American Racing’s Alessandro Di Mario took the provisional MotoAmerica Parts Unlimited Talent Cup pole at Circuit of The Americas on Friday. Tytlers Cycle Racing’s Hank Vossberg, Jones Honda’s Bodie Paige, Yamaha BLU CRU Estenson Racing’s Sam Drane, and Team Roberts’ Kody Kopp completed the top five.
25_13_TEX_TCP_Q1_res
Precision Track Days brings you the results of this weekend’s events.
Revving Up the Track Day Experience with Precision Track Day!
Harley-Davidson x Dynojet Factory Racing’s Kyle Wyman topped the MotoAmerica Mission King of The Baggers practice at Circuit of The Americas on Friday. RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson’s Hayden Gillim, Harley-Davidson x Dynojet Factory Racing’s James Rispoli, S&S/Indian Motorcycle’s Troy Herfoss, and RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson’s Rocco Landers rounded out the top five.
25_12_TEX_KTB_P1_res
Suzuki Motor USA and Team Hammer are thrilled to announce that Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Suzuki GSX-R with a special commemorative livery for the final two races of the 2025 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Championship season. The special livery is inspired by the new 2026 Suzuki GSX-R1000/R introduced at the famed Suzuka Eight Hour Endurance race in August.
Suzuki’s line of GSX-R motorcycles are among the most iconic in two-wheeled history. For many, the Suzuki GSX-R is the definitive sportbike. Revolutionary in its focus, light weight, serious power, and all-around effectiveness, the Suzuki GSX-R earned legendary status among street and track riders alike from the moment of its introduction.
The Suzuki GSX-R has stacked up countless accolades and accomplishments over four decades of competition. Among the many highlights are Superbike and Supersport titles, a MotoGP World Championship taken by the GSX-RR prototype, and dozens of national championships spanning the globe.
However, perhaps nowhere has the Suzuki GSX-R reigned so supreme as in the United States. To date, the Suzuki GSX-R has scored 12 AMA/MotoAmerica Superbike titles, along with Supersport, Formula Xtreme and Superstock championships. Throughout its proud history, it’s been the weapon of choice of some of the sport’s all-time greats, including the likes of Kevin Schwantz, Mat Mladin, Ben Spies, Martin Cardenas, Toni Elias, Roger Hayden, John Hopkins and many more.
Team Hammer has played a key role in that remarkable success over the years, having raced the GSX-R since they were introduced in 1985. The vast majority of the team’s 135 AMA/MotoAmerica race victories and 11 national championships have come aboard various incarnations of the GSX-R, as did 20 national titles claimed across WERA National Endurance and Formula USA competition.
Team Hammer owner John Ulrich said, “It seems like it wasn’t that long ago that I was throwing a leg over a GSX-R for the first time at the initial press launch in Japan in 1985. Compared to everything else, it was so light and powerful and compact, Suzuki redefined what a sport bike was.
“It’s amazing that 40 years later, we are still racing the Suzuki GSX-R. It’s a testament to the original design concept of building something as light and compact and powerful as possible. Suzuki has stuck with that idea and kept improving what could be done. They came back with something just as revolutionary in 1996 and 2017 as they continuously redesigned the bike.
“Suzuki has always had a lot of excellent individuals working to make the GSX-R line as strong as possible, and Suzuki in America has believed in racing even in times when others quit. They improved the GSX-R time and time again, and it has served them well. The GSX-R models are the symbols of Suzuki performance and all that motorcycles can do.”
Kerry Graeber Suzuki Motor USA Senior Vice President shared his sentiments about the legendary GSX-R lineage. “There is no overstating the importance of the GSX-R to the Suzuki brand. Since the first GSX-R rolled off the line in 1985, over 1.2 million units have been produced. Representing everything we stand for as a company in terms of engineering and performance excellence, the GSX-R, in all its iterations, is a beloved motorcycle among serious enthusiasts. We’re thrilled the new 2026 GSX-R1000/R is set to continue that legacy and looking forward to seeing Team Hammer’s commemorative race bikes at COTA this weekend.”
Team Hammer will showcase the commemorative livery at the 2025 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Championship on September 13-14 at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.
Please visit SuzukiCycles.com/Racing/road-racing for more team news.
About Team Hammer
The 2025 season marks Team Hammer’s 45th consecutive year of operating as a professional road racing team. Racebikes built and fielded by Team Hammer have won 135 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National races, have finished on AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National podiums 379 times and have won 11 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National Championships, as well as two FIM South American Championships (in Superbike and Supersport). The team has also won 137 endurance races overall (including seven 24-hour races) and 13 Overall WERA National Endurance Championships with Suzuki motorcycles, and holds the U.S. record for mileage covered in a 24-hour race. The team also competed in the televised 1990s Formula USA National Championship, famously running “Methanol Monster” GSX-R1100 Superbikes fueled by methanol, and won four F-USA Championships.
About Suzuki
Suzuki Motor USA, LLC (SMO) distributes Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Accessories, and ECSTAR Oils & Chemicals via an extensive dealer network throughout 49 states. Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC), based in Hamamatsu, Japan, is a diversified worldwide manufacturer of Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Automobiles, Outboard Motors, and related products. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, SMC has business relations with 201 countries/regions. For more information, visit www.suzuki.com.
Precision Track Days brings you the results of this weekend’s events.
Revving Up the Track Day Experience with Precision Track Day!
Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing’s Bobby Fong led the way at the top of the MotoAmerica Superbike practice results on Friday at Circuit of The Americas. Tytlers Cycle Racing’s Cameron Beaubier, Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing’s Jake Gagne, Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati’s Josh Herrin, and Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Richie Escalante completed the top five.
25_12_TEX_SBK_P1_res
Precision Track Days brings you the results of this weekend’s events.
Revving Up the Track Day Experience with Precision Track Day!
OrangeCatRacing’s Jayson Uribe set the pace in the MotoAmerica Stock 1000 practice on Friday. Real Steel Honda’s JD Beach, RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki’s Rocco Landers, OrangeCatRacing’s Andrew Lee, and Jones Honda’s Ashton Yates rounded out the top five.
25_12_TEX_STK_P1_res
Precision Track Days brings you the results of this weekend’s events.
Revving Up the Track Day Experience with Precision Track Day!
Strack Racing’s Mathew Scholtz led the MotoAmerica Motovation Supersport practice at Circuit of The Americas on Friday. Rahal Ducati Moto w/ XPEL’s PJ Jacobsen, Celtic/Economy Lube+Tire/Warhorse HSBK Ducati’s Cameron Petersen, Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Tyler Scott, and Strack Racing’s Blake Davis completed the top five.
25_12_TEX_SSP_P1_res
Marc Marquez led MotoGP World Championship practice Friday afternoon at Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, in Italy. Riding his Lenovo Ducati Desmosedici GP25 on spec Michelin tires, the six-time World Champion turned a lap time of 1:30.480 to lead the 23-rider field.
Marco Bezzecchi was the best of the rest with a 1:30.627 on his Aprilia Racing RS-GP25.
Franco Morbidelli was third at 1:30.673 on his Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team Ducati Desmosedici GP24.
Marc Marquez’s teammate, Francesco Bagnaia finished the session fourth with a 1:30.710.
Alex Marquez, riding his BK8 Gresini Racing Ducati Desmosedici GP24, got fifth with a lap time of 1:30.752.
Classification motogp practice
More from a press release issued by Dorna:
Marc Marquez leads Bezzecchi on a competitive Misano Friday. The #93 spearheads a top 10 covered by 0.4s as big hitters face Q1 at the San Marino GP.
A 1:30.480 saw Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) pocket Day 1 honours at the Red Bull Grand Prix of San Marino and the Rimini Riviera in a tightly contested afternoon in the weekly MotoGP chase for the top 10 on a Friday. Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) was second fastest on home turf for him and the Noale factory, 0.147s the gap, as Franco Morbidelli handed Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team a top three heading into Saturday’s action at Misano.
MARC MARQUEZ LEADS EARLY EXCHANGES
It was tight at the top for the first half of the session and leading the way was a familiar number #93. Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) was less than a tenth behind, with Bezzecchi P3 just before we tipped into the final 30 minutes of Practice.
The riders who were inside the all-important top 10 when the tipping point into time attack came around were Marc Marquez, Morbidelli, Di Giannantonio, Bezzecchi, Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol), Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP), Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) and Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team), with those riders split by just 0.461s. The top 17 were covered by 0.733s, so this was about to be an intense scrap for automatic Q2 promotion.
TIME ATTACK MODE: ENGAGED
With 15 minutes left, the improvements began to roll in. Pecco moved up to P5 before the #63 went fastest by over two tenths, but that soon changed because Marc Marquez moved the goalposts by a further three tenths with a 1:30.480. Bezzecchi then clawed himself into P2 to sit 0.163s adrift of Marc Marquez, as reigning World Champion Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing) briefly jumped into the top 10 before his lap was chalked off.
Alex Marquez’s best effort was enough for P4 with nine minutes to go, but then Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) slotted into P4 with a 1:30.819 – 0.339s off Marquez’s pace.
Bezzecchi then went faster to go 0.147s slower than Marquez, and just behind, teammate Martin earned a nice tow to pounce into P6, and that shoved Quartararo out of the top 10 with under four minutes to go.
Yellow flags were shown after crashes for Augusto Fernandez (Yamaha Factory Racing Team) at Turn 2 and then Mir at Turn 9, before Raul Fernandez crashed at Turn 15. And the latter’s fall meant laps were cancelled, including for Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech3) – the Italian was sitting in P18 with one lap left.
Would there be late changes in the top 10? Yes, because Marini was on a very good lap and the Italian managed to hold it to the line to grab P7 at the chequered flag, but Quartararo missed out – and so did Bastianini! Two big hitters from Barcelona were left frustrated.
YOUR FRIDAY TOP 10
So, Ducati lead Aprilia on Day 1, with Morbidelli the only other rider to get within two tenths of Marc Marquez’s time on Friday afternoon. P4 is a confidence booster for Pecco, while Alex Marquez has a little more work to do than he did in Barcelona vs his brother, as Mir and Marini hand HRC a double top 10. Martin heading straight into Q2 is a potential game changer for the #1’s weekend in Misano, as Acosta and Di Giannantonio earn the final two top 10 spots.
COMING UP: TISSOT SPRINT SATURDAY IN MISANO
As always, Q1 will be a blockbuster as Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR), Quartararo, Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), Maverick Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech3), Bastianini and more aim for the top two on Saturday morning.
