Marco Bezzecchi set the pace during Friday’s opening practice sessions at the Gran Premio de Aragón, breaking the all-time lap record at MotorLand Aragón with a blistering time of 1:45.455.
Aprilia and Ducati Clash in Record-Breaking Friday at MotorLand
Marc Márquez initially emerged as the early benchmark, topping the morning’s FP1 session with a 1:47.532 and later raising the stakes by clocking a 1:45.493—a temporary track record that looked secure heading into the final minutes.
Tactical Conservatism from Marc Márquez and Factory Woes for Bagnaia
While Bezzecchi snatched the headlines with his record-shattering lap, Marc Márquez opted against taking unnecessary risks in the dying seconds. Having already proved his pace earlier in the day, the veteran Spaniard settled for third position overall, finishing 0.038 seconds off Bezzecchi’s peak time. It marked the first time since 2024 that Marc ceded a session top spot at the Aragon venue.
Conversely, reigning world champion Pecco Bagnaia endured a difficult afternoon. The Ducati rider struggled to find comfortable handling and finished a distant 13th, forcing him to navigate the treacherous Q1 elimination round on Saturday morning, mirroring his early struggles at Silverstone.
Strong Returns and Direct Q2 Qualifiers
Behind the leading trio, Fabio Di Giannantonio put his VR46 Ducati in fourth place, finishing 0.299 seconds behind Bezzecchi. Fermín Aldeguer delivered an impressive fifth-place finish on his return to the paddock following a recent injury absence. Trackhouse Racing’s Raúl Fernández secured sixth, comfortably ahead of championship leader Jorge Martín, who grabbed seventh despite a tricky session.
Pedro Acosta recovered from an early crash in FP1 to take eighth for KTM, while Franco Morbidelli rounded out the top nine. Johann Zarco provided one of the day’s standout performances, returning from a severe knee injury sustained in Catalunya to pilot his Honda directly into Q2 as the sole representative of the Japanese manufacturer in the top ten.
What Comes Next at the Aragon Grand Prix
The action resumes on Saturday with the final practice and qualifying sessions to determine the grid for both the Sprint and the Grand Prix. Riders who missed the top ten cut—led by Bagnaia, Joan Mir, and Enea Bastianini—must first fight through Q1.
