Three weekends off but MotoGP action kicked back off with a bang in Jerez as we hit the Spanish circuit to start our lap of Europe. FP1 welcomed Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) to the top of the running, with the top Ducati in the Championship getting down to business right from the off.
‘Diggia’ was strong right through the session but it was his final run that saw him set his fastest lap time; a 1’36.954, the Italian was the only rider in the 1’36s. It was a return to form for his teammate too, with Franco Morbidelli making it a VR46 1-2, just what The Doctor ordered. Just shy of three tenths behind the #49, Morbidelli was back in good shape after a tricky trip to Brazil and the USA. 2025 Spanish GP winner Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) was third at the flag, edging out Championship leader Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing). Reigning World Champion Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) rounded out the top five and had a solid start to his home Grand Prix.
Sixth went to Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) on the new-liveried yellow RS-GP but the bigger highlight was just behind in seventh. Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP Team) put the V4 Yamaha in the top ten on Friday morning, an encouraging start as the more familiar European tracks are likely to offer a better indication of it’s competitivity. Top KTM honours went to Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), just ahead of Johann Zarco (Castrol Honda LCR) and current-P2 in the Championship, Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing). The #89 did suffer a bizarre crash at Turn 3 of his out-lap during the Practice Start Session at the end and whilst he was OK, it was a far from ideal situation.
Out of the top ten, Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) was 11th whilst further down the order, mechanical gremlins struck Toprak Razgatlioglu (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP), with the Turkish rider returning to a circuit he knows well from his time in WorldSBK. The problems didn’t slow him down though and ‘El Turco’ finished the session in P15 and the second Yamaha in the standings at the chequered flag.
Full MotoGP FP1 results from Jerez!