On September 11, Marco Bezzecchi led Friday’s timed Practice session at the San Marino Grand Prix with a 1:30.144, 0.103 seconds ahead of Marc Márquez, with Álex Márquez third, 0.185 seconds back. After Britain and Aragon, this was Bezzecchi’s third consecutive round topping the session that decides direct entry to Q2.
Bezzecchi edges Márquez in the late time attack
Marc Márquez had led FP1 in the morning, and Bezzecchi responded in the afternoon. Halfway through timed Practice, Bezzecchi was first, followed by Morbidelli and Álex Márquez, before the riders waited for their late attempts at a fast lap.
With around 15 minutes remaining, Acosta improved repeatedly and briefly went fastest, before Marc Márquez moved to the top with a 1:30.247. Near the end, Bezzecchi reclaimed first with a 1:30.144, leaving the Márquez brothers second and third.
Di Giannantonio and Morbidelli took fourth and fifth for VR46, 0.241 and 0.271 seconds behind Bezzecchi respectively. Acosta was sixth, while home rider Marini was seventh as the best-placed Honda rider. Zarco finished eighth, with Pol Espargaró, substituting for Viñales, ninth.
Martín secures the final Q2 place by 0.014 seconds
Championship leader Martín briefly rose to seventh with around 3 minutes left before other riders pushed him back, but his 1:30.690 ultimately secured tenth. Bastianini set a 1:30.704, missing direct qualification for Q2 by just 0.014 seconds and finishing 11th.
Raúl Fernández was 12th, Aldeguer 13th and Bagnaia 19th, 1.315 seconds off the pace; all will have to take part in Q1. Quartararo was 16th, 1.034 seconds back, as the session’s highest-placed Yamaha rider. Less than 0.8 seconds covered the top 15.
The top ten qualified directly for Saturday’s Q2, while the remaining riders must first contest Q1 for two places in Q2. Saturday’s qualifying is scheduled to start at 10:50 local time, with the 13-lap Sprint at 15:00.
Full San Marino Grand Prix Friday Practice results
| Position | Rider | Team | Gap | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marco Bezzecchi | Aprilia Racing | 1:30.144 | 25 |
| 2 | Marc Márquez | Ducati Team | +0.103 | 23 |
| 3 | Álex Márquez | Gresini Racing | +0.185 | 27 |
| 4 | Fabio Di Giannantonio | VR46 Racing Team | +0.241 | 25 |
| 5 | Franco Morbidelli | VR46 Racing Team | +0.271 | 21 |
| 6 | Pedro Acosta | Red Bull KTM Factory Racing | +0.344 | 24 |
| 7 | Luca Marini | Honda Team | +0.496 | 24 |
| 8 | Johann Zarco | Honda LCR | +0.510 | 27 |
| 9 | Pol Espargaró | Red Bull KTM Tech3 | +0.530 | 23 |
| 10 | Jorge Martín | Aprilia Racing | +0.546 | 26 |
| 11 | Enea Bastianini | Red Bull KTM Tech3 | +0.560 | 24 |
| 12 | Raúl Fernández | Trackhouse Racing | +0.572 | 26 |
| 13 | Fermín Aldeguer | Gresini Racing | +0.614 | 22 |
| 14 | Joan Mir | Honda Team | +0.715 | 26 |
| 15 | Brad Binder | Red Bull KTM Factory Racing | +0.799 | 25 |
| 16 | Fabio Quartararo | Yamaha Team | +1.034 | 26 |
| 17 | Diogo Moreira | Honda LCR | +1.119 | 25 |
| 18 | Álex Rins | Yamaha Team | +1.137 | 21 |
| 19 | Francesco Bagnaia | Ducati Team | +1.315 | 19 |
| 20 | Jack Miller | Pramac Racing | +1.423 | 23 |
| 21 | Toprak Razgatlıoğlu | Pramac Racing | +1.927 | 19 |
