The much-awaited MotoGP race in Spain started with a bang as local riders outplayed others to grab four out of the top five positions in the first free practice race. The Marquez brothers, Alex Marquez and Marc Marquez clinched a 1-2 finish for Gresini Ducati.
Despite leading the race for most of the time eight-time World Champion Marc lost to his brother and teammate Alex by 0.507 seconds. In the last moments of the race, Alex used a fresh pair of soft tyres which helped him to clock 1:36.630 seconds.
Apart from them local boy and Americas GP winner Maverick Vinales clinched third position by clocking +0.591s. Vinales teammate Aleix Espargaro clinched the fourth position making a 3-4 finish for Aprilia racing. He clocked +0.673 seconds in his 17 out of 19 laps.
How are things shaped in Jerez?
As soon as the session started Vinales started fast at Jerez, just like he did at the Circuit of the Americas. He set a quick time of 1 minute and 39 seconds in the first five minutes. But then Marc Marquez went even faster with 1 minute and 38 seconds.
Vinales responded with an even quicker time of 1 minute and 38 seconds. That was the fastest till the last four minutes of the session. Alex Marquez, using fresh tyres, beat everyone with a time of 1 minute and 36 seconds to finish at the top.
Nobody else used new tyres, so Alex Marquez stayed in the lead until the session ended. Marc Marquez came in second, just a little behind Alex Marquez. Vinales was third, followed closely by the Aprilia team riders.
Here is the final standing:
Position |
Name |
Team |
Time Difference |
1 |
Alex Marquez |
Gresini Ducati (GP23) |
1'36.630s |
2 |
Marc Marquez |
Gresini Ducati (GP23) |
+0.507s |
3 |
Maverick Viñales |
Aprilia Racing (RS-GP24) |
+0.591s |
4 |
Aleix Espargaro |
Aprilia Racing (RS-GP24) |
+0.673s |
5 |
Franco Morbidelli |
Pramac Ducati (GP24) |
+0.917s |
6 |
Marco Bezzecchi |
VR46 Ducati (GP23) |
+0.955s |
7 |
Daniel Pedrosa |
KTM Test Rider (RC16) |
+0.983s |
8 |
Brad Binder |
Red Bull KTM (RC16) |
+0.988s |
9 |
Jorge Martin |
Pramac Ducati (GP24) |
+1.005s |
10 |
Pedro Acosta |
Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 (RC16)* |
+1.012s |
11 |
Fabio Di Giannantonio |
VR46 Ducati (GP23) |
+1.094s |
12 |
Francesco Bagnaia |
Ducati Lenovo (GP24) |
+1.162s |
13 |
Enea Bastianini |
Ducati Lenovo (GP24) |
+1.256s |
14 |
Fabio Quartararo |
Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) |
+1.382s |
15 |
Miguel Oliveira |
Trackhouse Aprilia (RS-GP24) |
+1.419s |
16 |
Jack Miller |
Red Bull KTM (RC16) |
+1.448s |
17 |
Alex Rins |
Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) |
+1.573s |
18 |
Raul Fernandez |
Trackhouse Aprilia (RS-GP23) |
+1.617s |
19 |
Johann Zarco |
LCR Honda (RC213V) |
+1.730s |
20 |
Augusto Fernandez |
Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 (RC16) |
+1.740s |
21 |
Takaaki Nakagami |
LCR Honda (RC213V) |
+1.909s |
22 |
Joan Mir |
Repsol Honda (RC213V) |
+1.944s |
23 |
Lorenzo Savadori |
Trackhouse Aprilia (RS-GP) |
+2.098s |
24 |
Stefan Bradl |
Honda Test Rider (RC213V) |
+2.104s |
25 |
Luca Marini |
Repsol Honda (RC213V) |
+2.145s |