The opening practice session at the Lusail International Circuit delivered instant drama under the Doha afternoon sun. Marc Marquez stamped his authority by setting the pace, while intense battles unfolded amid a wave of riders returning from injury layoffs.
Benefiting from cooler conditions brought by the event's shift to November, 18 premier class riders hit the track immediately. This crucial opening session allowed championship contenders and recovering athletes to test their limits on the revised asphalt.
All eyes were on Jorge Martin during his first appearance since his crash in Sepang. Aprilia Racing manager Paolo Bonora confirmed the Spaniard was physically much better despite struggling under heavy braking. Remarkably, he maintained top-three pace for much of the hour before settling in fifth.
At the sharp end of the timesheets, Marquez dominated with a blistering benchmark of 1:52.278. He fended off relentless pressure from Marco Bezzecchi, who challenged for the top spot throughout, with Fabio Di Giannantonio rounding out the top three.
Elsewhere, the session witnessed drama further down the order with an early crash for Brad Binder at Turn 7 and WorldSBK stand-in Jake Dixon adapting to premier class machinery. Read our in-depth analysis of the Qatar weekend right here.
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