Marco Bezzecchi tops MotoGP Practice with a new lap record of 1:28.526, creating a gap of 0.421 to the rest of the grid. Both Friday sessions have been topped by the Aprilia rider, showing dominance heading into Sprint Saturday.
With rain looming over the Chang International Circuit, setting a lap time during practice was important. Not just for knowing your pace, but for the space in Qualifying two to try and get the best qualifying position they can.
Mixed session for Ducati
It seemed to be a tough session for the Ducati Lenovo Team, with reigning world champion Marc Márquez having a slow start, over half a second slower than Fabio Di Gianantonio at the halfway point. Di Giannantonio is looking very comfortable on this year’s Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team. Márquez’s teammate, Francesco Bagnaia, also struggled, being over a second behind in the time sheets.
Márquez eventually made his way to second with a 1:28.947 after some failed attempts to put a lap together. The same could not be said for Bagnaia, finishing the session in 15th, 1.298 seconds away from the top.
The Aprilia Racing and Trackhouse MotoGP Team both had very strong sessions, with all four riders hovering around the top ten positions. Ai Ogura did have a crash at turn seven in the later part of the session, but still finished inside the all-important top 10.
Some rain did fall in the last quarter of the session, but not enough to seem to bother the riders trying to set their fastest lap time.
What about the rest
The Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team came stronger as the session went on, with Pedro Acosta in the top 10 throughout the session, but Brad Binder shot inside the top 10 near the end of the session.
Honda is looking a lot stronger than they did last year with two of their riders in the top 10. Rookie Diogo Moreira has been finding his feet with the bike in spectacular style.
Another disappointing session for Yamaha with their bikes in 15th, 19th, 20th, and 21st. The new V4 seems to be having two teething problems for all four riders, and they are looking very nervous in the braking zones.
MotoGP Practice top 10
1. #72 Marco Bezzecchi Aprilia Racing 1:28.526
2. #93 Marc Márquez Ducati Lenovo Team +0.421
3. #49 Fabio Di Giannantonio Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team +0.484
4. #37 Pedro Acosta Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team +0.659
5. #89 Jorge Martin Aprilia Racing +0.703
6. #73 Alex Marquez BK8 Gresini Racing +0.850
7. #36 Joan Mir Honda HRC Castrol +0.991
8. #33 Brad Binder Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team +1.006
9. #79 Ai Ogura Trackhouse MotoGP Team +1.053
10. #5 Johann Zarco LCR Honda +1.064
What does this mean for Saturday?
Going into Saturday with qualifying and the sprint race, it looks like Bezzecchi’s to lose. The Italian has so much pace and is comfortable with his Aprilia; the newly married couple are working well together.
While it is Bezzecchi’s to lose with the Ducatis of M.Marquez, Di Giannantonio and A.Marquez in the top 10, nothing is set in stone in racing.