Luca Marini surged to the top of the timesheets in FP1 at Mandalika. The rider made the most of a late push on fresh medium tires front and rear to clock the fastest lap of the session, indicating a promising start for the Italian, who’s been seeking form in the latter half of the season.

But with high humidity, low grip and several surprises, Friday’s practice had more than just lap times to talk about.

Unusual Moment for Bagnaia, Early Grass-Cut from Márquez

After his win in Motegi, Francesco Bagnaia entered the weekend with momentum on his side—but it wasn’t the cleanest start. The rider opted not to chase lap time, instead completing the session on used tires.

Meanwhile, Marc Márquez, fresh off being crowned the 2025 MotoGP World Champion, had an awkward entry to deal with – the rider exited pit lane only to run straight into the grass, narrowly avoiding a proper off.

Despite the shaky start, Márquez stuck to hard front and medium rear rubber throughout and ended up in the top five, ahead of Marco Bezzecchi.

Acosta Lurks in P2, Bezzecchi Shows Early Form

Pedro Acosta once again showed why he’s a serious threat any day of the weekend. Waiting until the final minutes to pop up into second place, the rider used a new medium front while sticking with an old rear tire.

Marco Bezzecchi, who led most of the session, looked much more settled than he did in Japan, where a collision with team-mate Jorge Martín during the Sprint cost him valuable championship ground. Bezzecchi kept consistent tires on throughout the session, clocking laps with the same hard front and medium rear. He finished just behind Acosta and ahead of Alex Rins, who also ran an unchanged setup.

FP1 Comes to a Close

With heat, humidity, and handling issues taking center stage, Friday’s FP1 proved to be a real test. Can Bagnaia bounce back and keep his grip on second in the standings? We’ll find out!