Marquez Brothers Dominate Early Sessions in Unconventional…

The opening practice for the 2025 MotoGP season in Thailand featured an unexpected performance from Ducati’s Marc and Alex Marquez, with Alex topping the timesheets at 1m29.020s. Francesco Bagnaia struggled, finishing 13th after a canceled lap time. Overall, the day reflected competitive dynamics across the teams, promising an exciting qualification round ahead.

The opening day of the 2025 MotoGP season in Thailand presented an unusual start for Ducati’s superteam, even though a dominant 1-2 finish was anticipated. The initial Friday practice concluded with Marc Marquez and his brother Alex trading the lead, ultimately resulting in Alex setting the fastest time of 1m29.020s, narrowly ahead of Marc’s best of 1m29.072s. This contrasts with their previous testing at Buriram, where Marc secured the top spot late in the day.

Marc Marquez commented on the sibling competition, expressing mixed feelings about being beaten by Alex while acknowledging his brother’s impressive performance. However, the outcome may have differed had his lap not been negated due to late yellow flags, which hindered his ability to improve further. The overall top ten in practice resembled results from recent testing, with notable performances from Pedro Acosta and Marco Bezzecchi.

Francesco Bagnaia, although having a challenging Friday, showed potential despite placing 13th overall. His earlier attempt for a top ten finish was thwarted when his lap time was incorrectly canceled, and later he faced interference from fellow racers. Despite the frustrations, Bagnaia is encouraged about closing the gap to his teammates.

Overall, practice results illustrate a tightly contested field with potential for competitive qualifying on Saturday. Marquez’s consistent fast lap times were evident during the long run on soft tires, indicating he has retained the pace demonstrated in pre-season testing. Meanwhile, rival teams are equally striving for success, with Honda and Yamaha showing promise.

The competitive nature of the season is evident, especially with innovative racing strategies from various teams. However, the anticipated dominance of Ducati’s superteam remains a focal point, contingent upon Bagnaia’s improvement in one-lap speed and luck in upcoming sessions.

The first day of the 2025 MotoGP season in Thailand showcased the intense competition expected this year, particularly within Ducati, where both Marc and Alex Marquez demonstrated promising pace. Despite Francesco Bagnaia’s struggles, his underlying speed remains a critical factor for the team. As the qualification approaches, the dynamics among the competitors will certainly influence race preparations and results, affirming that this season’s storyline remains highly anticipated.

Original Source: www.crash.net