Marquez overcomes tech issues to top damp Brno FP1, Martin returns to action

Brno is back and there were plenty of stories to get through during FP1 of the Czech GP. It started off wet, finished with a flurry in the dry and brought some hot talking points along the way. Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) was the rider to beat come the end whilst attention was also on Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing), back in the saddle for the first time since April.

It was an eventful opening five minutes to the session as Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) crashed at Turn 7 moments before Championship leader Marquez exited pitlane for the first time and instantly had a technical issue. He got his GP25 back to the garage visa the service road but it was far from the ideal start. Meanwhile, the #1 of Martin was getting himself dialled in on his return and acclimatising to the conditions. With 25 minutes remaining, slick tyres were donned for the first time by none other than Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) and he went top on them after a few laps, signalling the change was worth it.

Conditions improved right the way through the session and it was a case of who crossed the line last would get the best track conditions. Augusto Fernandez (Yamaha Factory Racing Team) was the first under the two-minute barrier but with the sun out, top honours went to Marc on his final flying lap, denying Miller who ended in P2. The #93 may have only done nine laps but he needed no time to get up to speed, already nearly under the lap record. His teammate, Francesco Bagnaia, clinched third and lapped on-track with Marc in the closing stages, whilst Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) came up the order on his last flying lap to secure P4. On his comeback weekend, Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) took fifth.

There was another KTM in sixth with Pedro Acosta’s (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) first-ever session at Brno capped off solidly. Despite his earlier fall, ‘Bez’ took seventh place ahead of top Honda Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol), with Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) and Takaaki Nakagami (IDEMITSU Honda LCR) completing the top ten. Jorge Martin’s return saw him in 17^th place, negotiating a tricky first session and hoping for better conditions in the afternoon. With just under 12 minutes to go in the session, Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) had a big crash on the approach to Turn 3, the rear coming round on the entry to the corner. He was able to get back up and walk away, the bike less so; he was 22^nd on the timesheets.

Full results from MotoGP FP1 at Brno!