MotoGP\u2019s Practice at Buriram saw most of the paddock looking at the sky just as much as they were looking at the timing screens as the persistent afternoon shower threat lingered across the entirety of the session. This made for drama as everyone pushed for lap times from the start in the pursuit of a direct Q2 placing. Staying dry until the end, Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) continued to dominate with a new lap record whereas there\u2019re surprises and shocks both in and out of the top ten.<\/p>\n
BACK IN BEZNESS: #72 vibes on Friday<\/strong><\/p>\n Just like in the morning, it was a strong day for Aprilia Racing\u2019s duo of Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martin who were inside the top four. Bezzecchi made it a Friday clean sweep, having topped FP1 and then setting a new lap record on Friday afternoon. A 1\u201928.526 was quicker than what he was able to do in the test and it\u2019s fair to say that Bez\u2019s pace is also strongest. Perhaps the favourite tag will be attached to him. Martin was fifth at the chequered flag, marking Aprilia\u2019s strongest first day to a season.<\/p>\n Contrasting fortunes for Ducati Lenovo Team, Marquez P2 and Bagnaia Q1<\/strong><\/p>\n It was very much a session of two halves for Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) who spent a fair portion of it outside the top ten before bouncing up to fifth with 20 minutes to go. The early scare was well behind him when he jumped up the order into P2 by the end of the session. As the #93 was got up to the pointy end, it was a challenging opening day for teammate Francesco Bagnaia who could only 15th and finds himself as the headlining name going through Q1.<\/p>\n DIGGIA ATTACK: P3 bagged in Buriram on Friday<\/strong><\/p>\n More testing form was translated from pre-season to Round 1, this time in the case of Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team). He sat pretty at the head of the field for most of Practice before being pushed back to third late on. Just like in FP1, the #49\u2019s best lap time was set towards the end of a stint, showing that he doesn\u2019t just have one-lap pace but right throughout his runs.<\/p>\n Acosta and Binder lead KTM charge to Q2<\/strong><\/p>\n Making it three manufacturers and four teams in the top four, Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) set his fastest lap of the session on his penultimate lap, 0.659s off Bezzecchi\u2019s time. The celebrations in orange continued on the other side of the box as for the first time since Barcelona in 2025, Acosta\u2019s teammate Brad Binder took P8 to move directly into Q2.<\/p>\n Alex Marquez P6, Honda with double Q2 entry<\/strong><\/p>\n With Martin fifth, Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) clinched sixth, just ahead of Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) who was Honda\u2019s top representative. The Japanese brand had a second rider straight to Q2 with Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) in 10th.<\/p>\n Mixed bag at Trackhouse: Ogura crashes to take P9, Fernandez Q1-bound<\/strong><\/p>\n Despite looking strong in P4 in the morning and bagging himself P9 and a Q2 spot, Ai Ogura\u2019s (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) session ended early with just over two minutes remaining as he fell at Turn 7. He was all OK and will hope to redeem himself in the pole shootout on Saturday morning. Teammate Raul Fernandez couldn\u2019t make it four Aprilias directly into Q2, taking 14th.<\/p>\n