Marc Marquez picked up right where he left off last season, setting the fastest time in the opening practice session for the 2026 San Marino MotoGP at Misano. The reigning champion clocked a 1'31.468s on used soft front and medium rear tyres, edging out Aprilia Racing's Marco Bezzecchi by just 0.060 seconds. The two picked up their fierce rivalry from last year, immediately signaling that this weekend will be another thriller.
Bezzecchi, using medium tyres front and rear, was just a whisker behind. Trackhouse Aprilia's Raul Fernandez completed the top three, 0.133 seconds adrift, also on medium rubber. This early pace suggests Aprilia will be a force to be reckoned with at Misano. Meanwhile, Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Ducati) slotted into fourth, 0.180 seconds off his brother's pace, opting for the same tyre combination as the leader.
Johann Zarco, Pedro Acosta, and Luca Marini rounded out the top seven, all fitting new soft front tyres in the closing stages to improve their times. Championship leader Jorge Martin had to settle for eighth, 0.267 seconds behind Marquez. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Yamaha) and Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina VR46 Ducati) completed the top ten. It was a challenging start for Martin, who is fighting to keep his points advantage over Marquez and Bezzecchi.
The session was not without incidents. Jack Miller (Pramac Yamaha) crashed at Turn 4 on his out lap as he touched the front brake, ending up 17th. Pedro Acosta also went down at Turn 1 but still managed to finish sixth. The biggest surprise was Pecco Bagnaia, a former winner at Misano, who could only manage 18th, 0.993 seconds off the pace. This raises questions for Ducati Lenovo, as Bagnaia is usually a strong contender here.
With FP1 in the books, the battle for Sunday's race is heating up. Marc Marquez, Bezzecchi, and Martin are locked in a tight title fight. Martin currently leads the standings by 19 points over Marquez, with Bezzecchi just 24 points back. Misano, the final Italian round of the season, could be a turning point for all three. Don't miss qualifying and the race, which promise to be intense.
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