News Summary
- Marc Márquez led FP1 at Misano with a 1:31.468, beating Marco Bezzecchi by just 0.060s.
- Jorge Martín finished eighth as the MotoGP championship leader began the weekend with Márquez and Bezzecchi only 24 points apart.
- Francesco Bagnaia struggled in 18th, while Pedro Acosta impressed in sixth and Álex Márquez finished fourth.
Marc Márquez made the strongest possible start to the San Marino Grand Prix weekend on Friday (11), topping FP1 at Misano as the three-way 2026 MotoGP title fight immediately came to life.
The Ducati rider set a 1:31.468 on his final lap to beat home favorite Marco Bezzecchi by just 0.060s. Raúl Fernández completed the top three for Trackhouse, while Álex Márquez and Johann Zarco also featured inside the top five.
The result was particularly significant given the championship battle heading into the 14th round of the season. Jorge Martín arrived at Misano leading Marc Márquez by 19 points, with Bezzecchi a further five points behind. The three title contenders are therefore separated by only 24 points.
The opening session also provided an early indication that the fight may not be as straightforward as the championship standings suggest. Márquez immediately looked comfortable around the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, while Bezzecchi responded strongly on home soil and remained within striking distance until the chequered flag.
Márquez’s benchmark came particularly late in the session. The Spaniard produced his best time on his 18th lap without changing the rear tyre, underlining the pace he was able to find as the session progressed. His 1:31.468 was still around 1.1s away from Francesco Bagnaia’s outright lap record of 1:30.304, set in 2024.
Bezzecchi starts home weekend just behind Márquez
Bezzecchi finished second, only six hundredths of a second away from Márquez, in an encouraging start to his home Grand Prix.
The Aprilia rider is one of the three main contenders for the 2026 championship and arrives at Misano carrying considerable expectations after becoming one of the leading forces of the season. He also has the added motivation of racing in front of his home crowd.
Bezzecchi has been dealing with a knee injury in recent weeks, but his performance in FP1 suggested that he remains capable of fighting at the sharp end. His physical condition remains one of the key storylines of the weekend.
The Italian was also one of the central figures in the pre-event build-up alongside Márquez and Martín, with the three riders separated by only 24 points heading into the weekend.
Jorge Martín starts title defence weekend in eighth
Jorge Martín had a quieter opening session, finishing eighth.
The championship leader was not able to match the pace of Márquez and Bezzecchi, but the gap at this stage of the weekend should not be overinterpreted. Friday’s FP1 is primarily used to understand the track conditions, tyre behavior and bike setup, while the afternoon Practice session carries greater importance for direct access to Q2.
Martín nevertheless remains the rider everyone is chasing. His 19-point advantage over Márquez and 24-point margin over Bezzecchi mean that every session at Misano has the potential to reshape the championship picture.
The Spaniard has also emphasized the importance of consistency in the title fight, with the three leading riders expected to remain closely matched throughout the weekend.
Acosta impresses, while Bagnaia struggles
Pedro Acosta also made a strong start, finishing sixth and placing the KTM among the leading bikes.
The Spaniard arrives at Misano after finishing second at Aragón and continues to build momentum during the second half of the season. Acosta has already identified winning a MotoGP race as one of his main objectives for 2026, while also looking ahead to his move to Ducati alongside Marc Márquez in 2027.
Francesco Bagnaia, meanwhile, endured a much more difficult session.
The Ducati rider finished 18th, almost a second behind teammate Márquez. The result is particularly striking given Bagnaia’s knowledge of the Misano circuit, where he has traditionally been one of Ducati’s strongest riders.
Bagnaia’s current form contrasts sharply with his previous performances at the venue and will be something to watch as the weekend progresses.
Álex Márquez, Zarco and Marini complete strong top 10
Álex Márquez finished fourth, continuing his strong form around the front of the MotoGP field.
Johann Zarco was fifth for Honda, while Acosta took sixth ahead of Luca Marini. Martín was eighth, with Fabio Quartararo and Fabio Di Giannantonio completing the top 10.
The session also saw Luca Marini introduce a new aerodynamic tail section on his Honda, adding another technical element to watch as teams continue preparing for the next generation of MotoGP machinery.
For Márquez, however, the most important message was clear: the Ducati rider has started the decisive Misano weekend at the top of the timing screens.
After Marc Márquez arrived at Misano just 19 points behind Jorge Martín following his double victory at Aragón, the opening session immediately suggested that the reigning champion is ready to put pressure on the championship leader.
GRANDE PRÊMIO is following the entire San Marino GP weekend from Misano, with the 14th round of the 2026 MotoGP season running from September 11-13.
MotoGP 2026: San Marino GP FP1 results
| Pos. | Driver | Team | Time | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | M MÁRQUEZ | Ducati | 1:31.468 | — |
| 2 | M BEZZECCHI | Aprilia | 1:31.528 | +0.060 |
| 3 | R FERNÁNDEZ | Trackhouse | 1:31.601 | +0.133 |
| 4 | A MÁRQUEZ | Gresini | 1:31.648 | +0.180 |
| 5 | J ZARCO | LCR Honda | 1:31.650 | +0.182 |
| 6 | P ACOSTA | KTM | 1:31.678 | +0.210 |
| 7 | L MARINI | Honda | 1:31.722 | +0.254 |
| 8 | J MARTÍN | Aprilia | 1:31.735 | +0.267 |
| 9 | F QUARTARARO | Yamaha | 1:31.870 | +0.402 |
| 10 | F DI GIANNANTONIO | VR46 Ducati | 1:31.977 | +0.509 |
| 11 | P ESPARGARÓ | Tech3 KTM | 1:32.005 | +0.537 |
| 12 | F ALDEGUER | Gresini | 1:32.127 | +0.659 |
| 13 | F MORBIDELLI | VR46 Ducati | 1:32.171 | +0.703 |
| 14 | T RAZGATLIOĞLU | Pramac Yamaha | 1:32.205 | +0.737 |
| 15 | E BASTIANINI | Tech3 KTM | 1:32.221 | +0.753 |
| 16 | B BINDER | KTM | 1:32.229 | +0.761 |
| 17 | J MILLER | Pramac Yamaha | 1:32.368 | +0.900 |
| 18 | F BAGNAIA | Ducati | 1:32.461 | +0.993 |
| 19 | J MIR | Honda | 1:32.621 | +1.153 |
| 20 | D MOREIRA | LCR Honda | 1:32.638 | +1.170 |
| 21 | A RINS | Yamaha | 1:33.322 | +1.854 |
FAQ
Who was fastest in MotoGP FP1 at Misano?
Marc Márquez was fastest in the opening session with a 1:31.468 for Ducati. Marco Bezzecchi was second, only 0.060s behind.
How did Francesco Bagnaia perform in Misano FP1?
Bagnaia finished 18th with a 1:32.461, 0.993s slower than teammate Marc Márquez.
Who are the main contenders at the San Marino GP?
Marc Márquez, Marco Bezzecchi, Jorge Martín and Pedro Acosta were among the leading names in FP1, while Álex Márquez and Raúl Fernández also showed strong early pace.
