MotoGP championship leader Marc Marquez secured the fastest time in a wet-to-dry first practice (FP1) session at the 2025 Czech Grand Prix, overcoming early technical issues with his bike. The session took place at the Brno circuit, which MotoGP is visiting for the first time since 2020, with Marquez arriving with an 83-point championship lead following a dominant weekend in Germany.
Early Mechanical Problems Delay Marquez’s Track Time
Despite winning the last time MotoGP raced at Brno in 2019, Marquez faced a difficult start when mechanical problems forced him to stop immediately after leaving the pits during FP1. His Ducati team struggled to resolve the issue with his primary race bike, restricting him from going out on track until the final 25 minutes of the 45-minute session.
This delay coincided with improving track conditions, as rainfall earlier in the day gave way to drying asphalt. This meant the running for all riders was atypical, mainly focused on familiarization rather than outright pace.
Changing Track Conditions Affect Riders’ Performance
LCR Honda’s Johann Zarco posted the fastest time on wet tyres with a lap of 2m06.506s with about 28 minutes remaining. Soon after, riders like Jack Miller of Pramac Yamaha and Alex Marquez took a gamble by switching to slick tyres as the track dried.
Miller set a quick pace on slicks with a 2m03.844s lap time around 20 minutes before the end, prompting others to follow suit. As the session progressed, the leaderboard saw constant changes due to the evolving grip levels on the track surface.
Marquez Claims Top Spot with a Near-Record Lap
Marc Marquez ultimately topped the timesheets with a 1m54.606s lap on his final run, just a fraction shy of his own 2016 track record. He finished 0.615 seconds ahead of Miller, who settled for second place, while Pecco Bagnaia completed the top three, representing the sister factory Ducati team.
Alex Marquez took fourth position riding for Gresini Ducati, and Enea Bastianini returned strongly to place fifth after missing the German GP due to food poisoning.
Additional Rider Performances in FP1
KTM’s Pedro Acosta followed Bastianini in sixth, while Marco Bezzecchi was the highest-ranked Aprilia in seventh despite an early crash. Honda’s Luca Marini, Yamaha’s Alex Rins, and Somkiat Chantra—filling in for LCR Honda’s injured Takaaki Nakagami—completed the top ten. The spread between first and tenth was a narrow 1.581 seconds, reflecting the tricky, changeable conditions.
Jorge Martin Returns Amid Contract Resolution
Reigning world champion Jorge Martin made his first official MotoGP appearance since crashing out of the Qatar GP and after settling a contract issue with Aprilia. Martin completed 15 laps on his RS-GP bike across both wet and drying track sections, finishing 17th. Though he was positioned in the top five during the final moments of FP1, his best lap was invalidated for exceeding track limits.
Incidents and Crashes Affect Some Riders
Trackhouse Aprilia’s rookie Ai Ogura suffered the only other crash in the session, heavily damaging his RS-GP after a fall at Turn 3 towards the end of FP1.
What to Expect Next at the Czech Grand Prix
This first practice session at Brno highlighted the challenges riders face with mixed weather and evolving track conditions, especially after several years away from the venue. Marquez’s ability to recover from early setbacks and register the top time reinforces his status as a leading contender this season. As the weekend progresses, teams will aim to refine setups for the expected dry racing conditions, which could again produce close competition among the factory Ducati riders and the rest of the MotoGP field.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Why is MotoGP not so popular?
A. The unfortunate truth is that entertainment attracts more interest than sports, and MotoGP is attempting to benefit from this trend. However, MotoGP, as it is now, lacks the personalities needed to generate enough drama for entertainment.
Q. Has anyone won F1 and MotoGP?
A. Renowned for being the sole World Champion in both motorcycle racing and Formula 1, John Surtees excelled in both sports with daring and skill.
Q. Why isn’t MotoGP popular?
A. Motorcycling isn’t as popular as football. Even with lots of advertising by Liberty Media, most people still don’t feel a bond with it.
If we lived in a world where entertainment choices were few, more might be interested. However, that’s not the case today.
Q. Is MotoGP cheaper than F1?
A. The Ministry of Youth and Sports shared that hosting a Formula One race costs four times as much as a MotoGP event. Additionally, MotoGP is less expensive than Formula E.
