The MotoGP Spanish Grand Prix weekend opened in the name of Gresini Racing, with the brothers Alex and Marc Marquez placing a great 1-2 with their Ducati GP23s in the first free practice session. The one who stood out was the younger of the two, therefore Alex, who stopped the clock with a time of 1'36″630, just under half a second from the record of the Andalusian track. It must be said, however, that he was also the He is the only one to fit a soft tire on the rear at the end of the session.
And this explains his margin of over half a second over his brother Marc, who however gave the sensation of being in really good shape in terms of race pace: just think that on the last lap, with a tire that had a life of 19, he lapped in 1'37″280, therefore just over a tenth from his best of 1'37″137.
In third and fourth position we then find the two Aprilias of Maverick Vinales and Aleix Espargaro, with the Roses rider having started off on the right foot again in Andalusia too after being the star performer in the last round in Texas. Even in the case of the RS-GPs, however, it must be said that their times within half a second and six tenths of a second from the top came with a new medium tire that was fitted for the last run.
Franco Morbidelli's fifth fastest time was very interesting, as he continued until the end of the session on the same medium tyre. The curious thing is that the Prima Pramac Racing rider seems to be the one who has had the least difficulties among those who ride the Ducati GP24s.
World champion Jorge Martin, in fact, is only ninth at over a second and has had some set-up problems. Difficulties related to engine mapping instead for the reigning world champion Pecco Bagnaia, who occupies 12th position. It must be underlined, however, that his 1'37″792, which places him right in front of his teammate Enea Bastianini, was achieved on the 17th and final lap, therefore with a particularly worn tyre.
Going back to scroll through the ranking, the signal sent by Marco Bezzecchi is also encouraging, sixth with the Ducati GP23 of the Pertamina Enduro VR46, who is followed closely by the best of the KTMs, that of the wild card Dani Pedrosa: the Spanish veteran brought some small aerodynamic measures, but under the hull of his RC16 there could also be the base of the 2025 engine.
In eighth position is the other Austrian bike of Brad Binder, but also watch out for rookie Pedro Acosta, who is true only in tenth position, but like Bagnaia he achieved his best time on the last lap with the GasGas Tech3 and with a medium tire practically at the end of its life. Fabio Di Giannantonio then also slipped between him and Pecco with the second Ducati of the Pertamina Enduro VR46.
You have to go down to 14th place to find the first of the Japanese bikes, which is Fabio Quartararo's Yamaha. “El Diablo” is probably looking forward to Monday's tests, when an advanced version of the M1 will arrive. Honda, however, got ahead with the work, because already this morning the wild card Stefan Bradl brought a completely revised RC213V to the track, with very interesting aerodynamic solutions.
The German placed 24th at just over two seconds, while the best of the Honda patrol was Johann Zarco, 19th despite a fall at turn 8. Luca Marini, however, is still in great difficulty, closing the group in 1'38 “775. Also in front of him is Lorenzo Savadori, 23rd, who takes advantage of his wild card on a laboratory Aprilia with some new solutions. Finally, also noteworthy is the fall at turn 2 of Augusto Fernandez, 20th with the GasGas Tech3.
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