Key takeaways
- Challenging the favorite: Marco Bezzecchi set a new lap record of 1:45.455, snatching Friday’s top spot away from track favorite Marc Márquez.
- Ducati under pressure: Borgo Panigale occupied four of the top five positions, but Aprilia’s raw speed forced visible concern from Ducati boss Gigi Dall’Igna.
- Strong Aprilia presence: Bezzecchi, Raúl Fernández, and Jorge Martín all secured direct passage into Q2, proving Noale’s RS-GP remains a formidable threat on Ducati’s stronghold turf.
Marco Bezzecchi made a roaring statement during Friday practice at the Aragon Grand Prix, proving that Aprilia is fully prepared to challenge Marc Márquez on one of his most dominant circuits.
Entering the weekend, paddock consensus pointed to Marc Márquez as the unquestioned driver to beat given his six previous Premier Class wins at MotorLand Aragón—a track where Turn 10 bears his name. However, the balance of power in the 2026 MotoGP World Championship continues to shift toward Noale.
Building on the momentum of his podium return at Silverstone, Bezzecchi was a constant presence at the top of the timesheets. In the final frantic minutes of the session, the Italian unleashed a 1:45.455, shattering the all-time lap record and edging out Álex Márquez (+0.025s) and Marc Márquez (+0.038s).
While Ducati locked out positions two through five—with Fabio Di Giannantonio and Fermín Aldeguer following the Márquez brothers—Aprilia showed formidable team strength. Trackhouse Racing’s Raúl Fernández and championship leader Jorge Martín slotted into 6th and 7th, securing three direct Q2 spots for the RS-GP.
The sight of Bezzecchi displacing Marc Márquez late in the session drew visible concern from Ducati Corse General Manager Gigi Dall’Igna in the garage. While Friday practice is merely a prelude to Saturday’s Sprint and Sunday’s main race, Bezzecchi demonstrated that Ducati will not have an easy path to sweeping the weekend at Alcañiz.
Day 1 at MotorLand Aragón comes amidst a flurry of key weekend updates, including Pirelli introducing color-coded test tires for its 2027 MotoGP debut, Johann Zarco securing a surprise direct Q2 spot upon his return from injury, and Jorge Martín reiterating his championship-first mindset against Márquez.
MotoGP resumes track action on Saturday, August 29 with Free Practice 2, followed immediately by Qualifying and the Sprint. GRANDE PRÊMIO provides complete live coverage of every session across all categories. Follow all updates on our news page.
Aragon GP – Friday Practice Top 10 (Direct Q2 Qualifiers)
| Pos | Driver | Team | Bike | Time | Gap |
| 1 | Marco Bezzecchi | Aprilia Racing | Aprilia | 1:45.455 | — |
| 2 | Álex Márquez | BK8 Gresini Racing | Ducati | 1:45.480 | +0.025 |
| 3 | Marc Márquez | Ducati Lenovo Team | Ducati | 1:45.493 | +0.038 |
| 4 | Fabio Di Giannantonio | Red Bull KTM Factory | KTM | 1:45.710 | +0.255 |
| 5 | Fermín Aldeguer | BK8 Gresini Racing | Ducati | 1:45.909 | +0.454 |
| 6 | Raúl Fernández | Trackhouse Racing | Aprilia | 1:45.980 | +0.525 |
| 7 | Jorge Martín | Aprilia Racing | Aprilia | 1:46.027 | +0.572 |
| 8 | Pedro Acosta | Red Bull KTM Factory | KTM | 1:46.085 | +0.630 |
| 9 | Franco Morbidelli | Pertamina Enduro VR46 | Ducati | 1:46.120 | +0.665 |
| 10 | Johann Zarco | LCR Honda | Honda | 1:46.195 | +0.740 |
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
1. Who set the new all-time lap record at MotorLand Aragón during Friday practice?
Marco Bezzecchi set the new all-time lap record with a 1:45.455 on his Aprilia RS-GP.
2. Where did Marc Márquez finish on Day 1 in Aragon?
Marc Márquez finished 3rd fastest with a 1:45.493, just 0.038 seconds behind Bezzecchi.
3. Which Aprilia riders qualified directly for Saturday’s Q2 session?
Marco Bezzecchi (1st), Raúl Fernández (6th), and Jorge Martín (7th) all secured direct passage into Q2 for Aprilia.
