– Marc Marquez started the MotoGP weekend at MotorLand Aragon (Spain) with the best time. His first pursuers were the two Aprilia riders Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse) and Marco Bezzecchi.
Read more Endurance Motorsport Series: Premiere for new track, playtest and new release date
Two riders returned after an injury break. Johann Zarco got back on his LCR Honda for the first time since his serious accident in Barcelona in mid-May. Fermin Aldeguer (Gresini-Ducati) returned after his crash in Assen.
Ai Ogura (Trackhouse-Aprilia) was absent due to a hand injury and was replaced by Lorenzo Savadori. At Tech3-KTM, Maverick Vinales was again represented by Pol Espargaro.
There was a technical innovation to be seen at Aprilia: a new wing was mounted on the rear of Bezzecchi’s bike. The training started in sunshine, light cloud cover, and optimal 21 degrees Celsius.
Already after six minutes, yellow flags appeared for the first time. Fabio Di Giannantonio’s yellow VR46 Ducati was in the gravel trap at turn 3. The Italian was unharmed in this crash.
Beforehand, the riders named Marc Marquez as the big favorite for this track. After the first run, he also led the timing just ahead of his brother Alex Marquez (Gresini-Ducati).
A quarter of an hour before the end of training, Marc Marquez improved to 1:47.532 minutes. At this point, he had a two-and-a-half-tenths lead over Alex and a six-tenths lead over Bezzecchi in third place.
In the final phase, Pedro Acosta crashed at turn 12 on his KTM. He was also unharmed. There were no more changes at the top. Marc Marquez remained the fastest with 1:47.532 minutes.
Read more Carlos Sainz exclusive: Audi switch was never a realistic option
Raul Fernandez came as close as 0.035 seconds to this best time. In the last run, the Silverstone winner switched to a new medium rear tire, while Marc Marquez stayed on the same tire set.
Bezzecchi was third, 0.221 seconds behind. Alex Marquez was fourth, ahead of Acosta. The fastest KTM was already seven tenths behind the best time (to the result).
Jack Miller (Pramac-Yamaha), whose MotoGP exit at the end of the season is now confirmed, surprised as sixth. However, he switched to fresh medium tires front and rear for the last run.
VR46 teammates Franco Morbidelli and Di Giannantonio took seventh and eighth places. Returnee Aldeguer was ninth, the last rider within one second of Marc Marquez.
Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha) completed the top 10. Zarco was eleventh on his return. Thus, Zarco was also the fastest Honda rider.
World Championship leader Jorge Martin (Aprilia) was 18th, 1.6 seconds behind. Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati) was 1.9 seconds behind and finished 20th.
The afternoon training starts at 3:00 p.m. Then it will be decided which ten riders qualify directly for Q2.
Read more Jack Miller’s MotoGP season is confirmed: «Just a few Instagram posts»
