At the opening official MotoGP practice session in Thailand, Aprilia rider Marco Bezzecchi set the fastest time, clocking a 1:29.346 lap. The Italian, who recently extended his contract, started the 2026 season strongly by establishing an early benchmark on the track.
Fabio Di Giannantonio of VR46 Ducati followed closely in second place, finishing just a tenth of a second behind Bezzecchi, and leading all Ducati riders for the session. 2024 MotoGP champion Jorge Martin secured the third spot, resulting in two Aprilia riders occupying positions in the top three.
Strong Performances from Aprilia and Other Riders
Continuing Aprilia’s positive start, Ai Ogura earned fourth place, showing promise as he embarks on his sophomore year in the premier class. Close behind in fifth was KTM rider Pedro Acosta. Ducati’s factory riders Marc Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia placed sixth and seventh, respectively, maintaining a strong presence in the session.
Honda’s Franco Morbidelli and Alex Marquez secured eighth and ninth positions, while Luca Marini rounded out the top ten for Honda. Directly behind Marini were Raul Fernandez and Joan Mir, also from Honda, finishing within a tight margin.
Mid and Lower Field Standouts
Alex Rins provided Yamaha’s best showing in this session, placed just beyond the top competitors. Johann Zarco posted a lap one second slower, tied with Tech3 rider Enea Bastianini in 14th position. Moto2 champion Diogo Moreira made his MotoGP debut with a solid 16th place, closely followed by experienced riders Brad Binder, Fabio Quartararo, and Maverick Vinales.
The lower end of the standings included Pramac pair Jack Miller and three-time WorldSBK champion Toprak Razgatlioglu, who was competing in his first MotoGP session. Ducati test rider Michele Pirro filled in for the injured Fermin Aldeguer and finished 22nd.
Implications for the Season Ahead
Marco Bezzecchi’s strong performance in Thailand sets a positive tone for his 2026 campaign, indicating that Aprilia remains competitive at the start of the season. The close times among Ducati, KTM, Honda, and Yamaha riders suggest a tightly contested field as the championship progresses. Rookie entries such as Diogo Moreira and Toprak Razgatlioglu adding depth make the upcoming rounds even more compelling for fans and teams alike.
