The first practice session for the 2025 MotoGP Italian Grand Prix saw Aprilia’s Marco Bezzecchi and KTM’s Pedro Acosta finish with identical lap times, highlighting a close contest under challenging conditions on Friday morning. The event, held in the Tuscany hills, opened the ninth round of the MotoGP season as the championship continued its visit to Italy.
Details of the Opening Session at the Tuscany Circuit
On a hot day in Tuscany, Bezzecchi secured the fastest lap with a 1m49.199s on his last attempt, matching Acosta’s best time exactly. This performance marked Bezzecchi’s fastest effort at his home race and secured the top position based on a faster secondary lap compared to Acosta. Brad Binder, also riding KTM machinery, completed the top three after using fresh medium compound tyres along with the leading duo during the final minutes of the 45-minute FP1 session.
Notably absent from the leading group were the Ducati riders, a rare occurrence in this 2025 season. Championship leader Marc Marquez was fourth fastest with a time of 1m46.293s, though he remained consistent with just one set of rear tyres throughout the session.
Early Leaders and Performance Challenges for Top Riders
The session started with Pecco Bagnaia setting the initial pace on his factory Ducati. The Italian, a three-time winner at this GP, aimed to build momentum following his recent success at Aragon. Bagnaia experimented with smaller brake discs compared to those used at Aragon but struggled with several front-end moments as the session advanced, finishing eighth overall with a 1m46.651s lap.
Midway through FP1, Marc Marquez topped the timesheets with a 1m46.293s lap, only to be surpassed by Pedro Acosta, who posted a 1m46.199s on new medium rear tyres. Bezzecchi’s final flying lap then matched Acosta’s time, ultimately placing him first due to a better second-best lap time.
Other Notable Performances and Incidents
Fabio Di Giannantonio finished fifth riding a VR46 Ducati, while Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo and Tech3 KTM’s Maverick Vinales claimed sixth and seventh positions, respectively. Alex Marquez of Gresini Ducati followed Bagnaia in ninth, just ahead of Johann Zarco on the LCR Honda.
Raul Fernandez, representing Trackhouse Aprilia, was the only crash during the session when he fell at Turn 8 early on. Despite this, Fernandez completed the session in 19th place. His teammate Ai Ogura, returning after an injury that forced him out of Aragon, held 15th position. Honda test rider Takaaki Nakagami substituted for the sidelined Luca Marini and recorded 17th place by the end of FP1.
Implications and What’s Next in the Italian Grand Prix Weekend
The tightly contested session between Bezzecchi and Acosta sets the stage for a highly competitive weekend in Italy, as riders and teams adjust strategies under the hot Tuscan weather. The absence of Ducati riders in the top three opens opportunities for Aprilia and KTM to challenge for podium positions. Upcoming practice sessions will be crucial as teams continue refining their setups in preparation for qualifying and the race.
