The competitive session saw intense duels at the top of the timesheets, contrasting sharply with struggles further down the grid for championship contenders.
Tight Battles at the Top in Misano FP1
Marco Bezzecchi led the pace for a large portion of the morning session on his Aprilia, showing strong consistency on home tarmac. However, according to track reports, Marc Marquez responded on his final run with a benchmark lap of 1’31″468. That late flyer pushed the Spanish rider to the top, leaving Bezzecchi trailing by a mere 0.060 seconds at the checkered flag.
Behind the leading duo, Raul Fernandez placed third on the Trackhouse Racing Aprilia, stopping the clock at 1’31″601. MondoSport24 noted that Fernandez’s strong performance helped offset the absence of his teammate, Ai Ogura, who remained sidelined with a thumb injury. Alex Marquez followed closely in fourth place with a 1’31″648, sitting 180 millesimi behind his brother at the top.
Midfield Shuffling and Factory Struggles
The chasing pack bunched up tightly during the closing minutes as riders bolted on fresh soft front tires. Johann Zarco piloted his LCR Honda to fifth place with a 1’31″650 lap. Pedro Acosta claimed sixth for KTM, recovering quickly from an early crash at turn one, according to track documentation. Luca Marini rounded out the upper order in seventh aboard the Honda, finishing just ahead of championship leader Jorge Martin.
Martin struggled to match the pace of the front-runners on his Aprilia, ending the session in eighth position with a time of 1’31″735. In contrast, Fabio Quartararo brought some relief to Yamaha by breaking into the top ten, securing ninth place in 1’31″870, ahead of VR46 Ducati rider Fabio Di Giannantonio in tenth.
Bagnaia’s Difficult Morning Out
While the top eight riders finished within a compressed margin of just 267 milliseconds, Francesco Bagnaia faced a significant uphill battle. According to the official classification data, the Ducati rider languished in eighteenth place with a lap of 1’32″461, sitting nearly a full second off the pace set by Marquez’s leading machine.
Addressing the difficult start, Ducati team manager Davide Tardozzi offered reassurance to reporters at the circuit. Speaking to Sky Sport, Tardozzi stated, “Fino alla fine della stagione saremo al suo fianco cercando di metterlo nelle migliori condizioni per rendere al meglio e superare i problemi. Qui lui ha il record della pista, in qualifica e in gara, può fare bene”, affirming the team’s commitment to supporting the Italian rider through his current slump.
Pro Tip: Track conditions at Misano evolved rapidly during the morning session. After overnight rain left damp patches across the asphalt, the racing line dried out completely, allowing teams to gather vital data on tire degradation ahead of the afternoon practice sessions.
Support Categories Set Early Pace
Action in the intermediate and lightweight classes also kicked off under clear skies. In Moto2, championship leader Manuel Gonzalez set the standard on his Kalex with a lap of 1’35″031, beating teammate Senna Agius by 35 milliseconds. Izan Guevara finished third for Boscoscuro, while Tony Arbolino led the Italian contingent in seventh place.
In Moto3, Joel Kelso topped the timesheets for Honda with a 1’46″033. The Australian rider led Austria’s Leo Rammerstorfer and Spain’s Adrian Fernandez. Nicola Carraro emerged as the highest-placed Italian rider in the lightweight division, slotting into fifth position.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the opening practice session at Misano?
Marc Marquez claimed the fastest time in FP1 with a lap of 1’31″468, beating Marco Bezzecchi by 60 milliseconds.
Where did championship leader Jorge Martin finish?
Jorge Martin finished the morning session in eighth position, clocking a time of 1’31″735 on his Aprilia.
What happened to Francesco Bagnaia?
Francesco Bagnaia struggled for pace on his Ducati, finishing down in eighteenth position with a lap time of 1’32″461.
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