Marc Marquez Tops Brno MotoGP FP1 Despite Late Crash

Marc Marquez made a strong start to the 2026 Czech MotoGP weekend at Brno by topping the opening FP1 session despite crashing in the closing minutes. The reigning world champion arrived in the Czech Republic on the back of his first victory of the season in Hungary and immediately demonstrated competitive pace aboard the factory Ducati.

Before the weekend began, Marquez had warned that Brno would present a greater physical challenge than Balaton Park due to the circuit’s demanding layout and the ongoing recovery of his shoulder. However, the Spaniard quickly settled into a strong rhythm and controlled the session from the front for much of the 45-minute outing.

The session was not entirely trouble-free. Marquez crashed at Turn 7 during the final two minutes of FP1, bringing an abrupt end to his morning. Fortunately, the Ducati rider escaped uninjured and returned to the paddock without any physical issues. His benchmark lap remained unbeaten, allowing him to finish the session at the top of the timesheets.

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Behind Marquez, several manufacturers showed encouraging speed. Fabio Quartararo climbed into the leading group late in the session after fitting fresh tyres, while Raul Fernandez delivered an impressive performance for Trackhouse Racing using used rubber. The results suggested that track conditions continued to improve throughout the session as riders searched for grip and confidence.

FP1 also featured several early incidents. Pedro Acosta, Maverick Vinales, and Diogo Moreira all suffered crashes during the opening stages. While none of the falls resulted in serious consequences, they highlighted the challenges presented by the Brno circuit during the first session of the weekend.

At Aprilia, championship leader Marco Bezzecchi endured a relatively quiet start and remained outside the leading positions. Team-mate Jorge Martin, meanwhile, spent part of the session practising the double long-lap penalty he must serve following the opening-corner incident in Hungary. Martin also encountered a technical problem that forced him to stop one of his motorcycles at the side of the track.

Another notable storyline was the return of Alex Marquez, who resumed MotoGP action after recovering from injuries sustained in his Catalunya crash. The Gresini rider used FP1 primarily to rebuild confidence and assess his physical condition ahead of the more critical sessions later in the weekend.

With track conditions expected to evolve further and the competitive order still far from settled, Friday afternoon’s Practice session should provide a clearer indication of the true contenders for victory at Brno. Marquez has established an early advantage, but Ducati, Yamaha, KTM, Honda and Aprilia all showed enough potential in FP1 to suggest the battle for direct Q2 qualification remains wide open.