MotoGP, qualifying: Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia) beats Marc Marquez

FP1 is followed by qualifying in the MotoGP class on Friday. The aim of the 60-minute session is to secure direct progression to Q2 on Saturday, which only the ten fastest riders manage to achieve. The rest must compete in Q1, where the two fastest riders advance to Q2.

In FP1 at Misano, Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo) was the fastest with a time of 1:31.468. Just six hundredths of a second behind him, Aprilia rider Marco Bezzecchi took second place. Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse Aprilia) set the third-fastest time. Pedro Acosta (KTM) and Jack Miller (Pramac Yamaha) crashed but, fortunately, were uninjured.

At the start of qualifying, the air temperature in Misano was 25 degrees Celsius. The riders took to the track at 3 pm sharp.

The top five after five minutes: Marco Bezzecchi (1:31.133 mins), Franco Morbidelli, Pecco Bagnaia, Pedro Acosta and Enea Bastianini.

Shortly afterwards, Marc Marquez set the fourth-fastest time of 1:31.517 mins. By way of comparison, Pecco Bagnaia had set the lap record at Misano in 2024 with a time of 1:30.031 mins.

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After eight minutes, Alex Marquez (Gresini) set a new fastest lap of 1:31.016 min. Fabio Di Giannantonio (VR46) catapulted himself up to third place.

Just a few minutes later, ‘Bez’ clocked 1:30.792 minutes, the first lap under 1:31 this weekend. However, the lap was disallowed because the Italian had exceeded the track limits. AM73 then took the lead with a time of 1:30.979.

At the side of the track, MotoGP icon Valentino Rossi watched on as his VR46 Racing Team riders took to the track.

The top five after 20 minutes: Alex Márquez, Bezzecchi, Di Giannantonio, Marc Márquez and Moreira. Five minutes later, Bezzecchi set a new fastest time of 1:30.829. It was the first time on Friday that he had been out on the soft rear tyre. Shortly afterwards, Morbidelli surged into second place. Bezzecchi improved his fastest time to 1:30.807.

The standings halfway through the 60-minute session: Bezzecchi, Morbidelli, Alex Márquez, Di Giannantonio and Marc Márquez. Bagnaia was 13th at this stage. A few minutes later, Honda rider Luca Marini set the fourth-fastest time.

Pecco Bagnaia had a scare at Turn 6. His front wheel briefly lost grip, but he managed to avoid a crash.

With 17 minutes to go, ‘Diggia’ set a new fastest time of 1:30.720. Team boss Valentino Rossi was delighted. One lap later, Marini surged to the top with a time of 1:30.668.

The top five with 15 minutes to go: Marini, Di Giannantonio, Bezzecchi, Morbidelli and Alex Márquez. MM93 was sixth.

Shortly afterwards, Fermin Aldeguer (Gresini Ducati) set the third-fastest time. Then it was KTM rider Pedro Acosta who set a new fastest time of 1:30.558. Raul Fernandez moved up to third place.

Acosta improved further: 1:30.488 minutes was now the new fastest time. KTM test rider Pol Espargaró was now tenth.

Then two familiar faces took the lead: Marc Marquez (1:30.247 mins) and Bezzecchi (1:30.331 mins). Bastianini was now fifth, whilst Johann Zarco (LCR Honda) moved up to tenth.

The final flurry of lap times followed. AM73 initially set the third-fastest time. Zarco moved up to fifth. Shortly afterwards, Di Gianantonio was in fourth. Alex Márquez stepped it up and set the second-fastest time of 1:30.329 mins.

With just a few seconds to go, Bezzecchi dropped a bombshell with a time of 1:30.144.