Marc Marquez struck back in emphatic style during the free practice sessions for the 2026 San Marino MotoGP. After trailing Marco Bezzecchi on Friday, the Ducati Lenovo rider surged to the top of the timesheets in the dying moments of FP2 at the Misano World Circuit.
Marquez set a best time of 1m31.040s, just 0.007s ahead of Jorge Martin who shadowed him in second. Bezzecchi had to settle for third, 0.039s adrift. The top three were separated by mere tenths, setting the stage for a thrilling qualifying and race.
Interestingly, Marquez used old soft tyres front and rear, while Bezzecchi opted for a medium front and soft rear. Martin, who was only tenth on Friday, chose a medium rear. These tyre strategies could prove crucial in the tight battle.
Behind the leading trio, Franco Morbidelli, Alex Marquez, and Raul Fernandez completed the top six. Meanwhile, Luca Marini, who had directly qualified for Q2 for only the second time this season, made a rare mistake and crashed early in FP2. The incident forced him to work harder to secure his position.
Qualifying 1 is about to begin, and riders outside the top ten from Friday, including Pecco Bagnaia, will be fighting hard to earn a spot in Q2. Bagnaia, making his final Italian appearance in red with Ducati, will be eager to deliver for the home crowd at Misano.
With the competition heating up, the qualifying session promises to be intense. Marc Marquez, Jorge Martin, and Marco Bezzecchi all have a shot at pole position. Don't miss the action!
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