Alex Marquez Raises the Bar: A Strong Statement at Misano

Alex Marquez got off to a strong start at the San Marino and Rimini Riviera Grand Prix. On the first day of practice at the Misano circuit, the Team Gresini rider demonstrated strong competitiveness, posting the third-fastest time and securing direct entry into Q2. Marco Bezzecchi set the pace, clocking the fastest lap time of 1:30.144 on his Aprilia. Behind him was Marc Marquez, followed by his brother Alex. Fabio Di Giannantonio took fourth place, ahead of Franco Morbidelli and Pedro Acosta.

It was a positive performance for Alex Marquez, especially considering the strong balance he showed on the track—a circuit where the Spaniard admitted he hasn’t quite found the perfect feel yet. The goal now is to take another step forward ahead of qualifying, where lap times could drop significantly.

“With lap times so close together, consistently finding myself in the top positions is definitely important,” said Alex Marquez. “Q2 tomorrow will be fast; we’ll probably reach the high 29s, something that was unthinkable on this circuit until recently. We’re 4 tenths short of breaking the 30-second barrier, so we’ll have to work hard to find them. I’m happy because, on a track where I don’t feel completely comfortable, I performed well in every run. Let’s keep working and try to stay with the best.”

Alex Marquez will therefore be able to focus directly on Saturday’s Q2, without having to go through the first qualifying session. This is a significant advantage in a weekend that promises to be particularly close. Qualifying will begin at 10:50 a.m., while the Sprint Race is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.