MotoGP Free Practice in Qatar: Di Giannantonio Ahead of Marc Marquez; Bagnaia Back in Form. Bezzecchi and Martin Advance to Q2

VR46 rider Fabio Di Giannantonio was the fastest of all in Friday’s free practice sessions at Losail, where the MotoGP Qatar Grand Prix will take place on Sunday. The Ducati rider put together a perfect lap, setting a new track record of 1:50.406.

World Championship leader Marc Marquez had to settle for second place, just one-tenth of a second behind, ahead of Aprilia rider Marco Bezzecchi. Pecco Bagnaia performed very well, finishing a surprise fourth after months of struggles. The other Aprilia rider, Jorge Martin, also advanced to Q2, managing to set the seventh-fastest time despite an injury to his arm.

Raul Fernandez, Enea Bastianini, Johann Zarco, Ai Ogura, and Brad Binder also qualified directly for Q2.

Qualified for Q2:
Di Giannantonio
Marc Marquez
Bezzecchi
Bagnaia
Raul Fernandez
Bastianini
Martin
Zarco
Ogura
Binder

For Marc Marquez, the weekend at Losail is crucial: following his victory at Sepang, the Ducati rider arrives in Qatar with his first chance to clinch the World Championship, holding a 44-point lead over Jorge Martin. The Spaniard, who is aiming for his tenth world title (his eighth in MotoGP), has built his comeback with seven wins in 11 Sunday races since Mugello. Team manager Davide Tardozzi explained: “What happened at Mugello was the fuel we needed: the comments made by others, the victory—which was devastating for us—that they achieved, and our defeat all ended up becoming our strength.”