A damp, slow-drying track at Jerez forced riders to navigate tricky conditions for an overcast FP2. Evolving track conditions let to a shuffling order in the early round of laps and some late drama as improving lap times hailed in a series of incidents. Pedro Acosta, the only rider to reach the 1:48s, topped the session.
Early Run
The first round of hot laps began cautiously, though it didn’t take long for drama to surface. Marc Márquez ran wide into the gravel at Pedrosa Corner after missing his braking point but managed to stay upright for a narrow escape. At the front, Pedro Acosta, Jorge Martín, Brad Binder, Luca Marini and Jack Miller established the early order, though times remained tentative.
With no further rain, the circuit began to evolve. Acosta was the first to break into the 1:50s, followed by M Márquez dipping into the 1:49s as grip slowly improved. The order shuffled constantly, with riders cycling in and out of the top 10 as they adapted to the drying line.
A yellow flag at Turn 1 briefly interrupted proceedings after Joan Mir crashed. He rejoined the track despite significant damage to his bike, leaving gravel and debris across the track. He was shown the black-and-orange “meatball” flag but returned to the pits instead of stopping immediately—an incident likely to draw scrutiny from the stewards.
By the end of the opening runs, the top 6, M. Márquez, Toprak Razgatlıoğlu, Martín, Marco Bezzecchi and Franco Morbidelli, had moved into the 1:49s.
Late Drama
The second runs at Jerez brought sharper pace and more incidents. Acosta emerged as the standout, the only rider to enter the 1:48s in FP2 on a brand new Medium rear tyre even as Turn 13 continued to cause problems for other riders.
Fermín Aldeguer crashed there, his left leg briefly trapped under the bike before he limped away, an uncomfortable moment given his fracture earlier this year. Razgatlıoğlu produced a remarkable save at Turn 13, keeping the bike upright despite losing control and tipping over mid-corner.
Martín had a scare at Turn 1, his bike visibly shaking, while Binder’s crash at Turn 8 brought out another yellow flag. It’s an unfortunate setback, particularly with Q1 following almost immediately after the session, leaving little time to reset.
The final order settled with Acosta fastest, followed by M Márquez, Johann Zarco, Bezzecchi and Martín.
What to Watch Out for in Qualifying
Qualifying at is set up to be just as unpredictable. Turn 13 remains the biggest risk, especially if damp patches persist off-line. With the track still evolving, timing will be critical. Getting a clean lap in the right window could make all the difference.