Trackhouse Aprilia Star Sets New Lap Record to Top Competitive Friday Practice Sessions
MotoGP returned to the legendary Automotodrom Brno in spectacular fashion on Friday as Ai Ogura delivered a stunning performance to finish fastest on the opening day of the Czech Grand Prix weekend.
The Trackhouse MotoGP Team rider continued his impressive sophomore campaign by setting a new lap record of 1:51.735, edging championship leader Marco Bezzecchi by just 0.091 seconds in an incredibly competitive Practice session that saw seven riders break the previous all-time lap record.
With 19 riders covered by less than a second around the flowing 5.4-kilometre Czech circuit, the opening day highlighted just how closely matched the premier class has become as the championship battle enters a crucial stage of the season.
For Ogura, who already has a MotoGP podium to his name, Friday represented the perfect start in his pursuit of a maiden premier-class victory.
Brno Returns to the Spotlight
Historic Czech Circuit Produces Immediate Drama
One of MotoGP’s most iconic venues made an instant impact after returning to the calendar.
Brno has long been regarded as one of the most technically demanding and enjoyable circuits in world motorcycle racing. The fast corners, dramatic elevation changes and flowing layout reward riders who can maintain rhythm and confidence through long, sweeping sections.
Following the chaos and controversy of the previous round in Hungary, the paddock arrived in the Czech Republic expecting another unpredictable weekend.
Friday delivered exactly that.
Several manufacturers featured near the top of the timesheets throughout the day, demonstrating the current strength of MotoGP’s competitive landscape.
Aprilia, Ducati, KTM, Honda and Yamaha all showed flashes of speed as the battle for automatic Q2 places intensified.
Ogura Continues His Rapid Rise
Japanese Rider Produces Perfect Late Lap
Trackhouse Racing enjoyed one of its strongest Fridays of the season.
Early in the session Raul Fernandez and Ai Ogura briefly occupied the top two positions, underlining the growing competitiveness of the American-backed Aprilia squad.
As conditions improved and lap times continued to tumble, riders repeatedly exchanged positions at the top of the leaderboard.
Marco Bezzecchi looked set to finish fastest after establishing a new lap record, but Ogura had other ideas.
In the closing minutes the Japanese rider produced a near-perfect lap, stopping the clocks at 1:51.735 and moving to the top of the standings.
The lap secured his first Friday practice victory of the season and confirmed him as a genuine contender heading into qualifying and the sprint race.
The result is another indication of the remarkable progress Ogura has made since stepping up to MotoGP, with the former Moto2 World Champion continuing to adapt rapidly to the demands of the premier class.
Bezzecchi Maintains Championship Form
Aprilia Factory Rider Continues Strong Season
Championship leader Marco Bezzecchi once again demonstrated why he currently sits at the top of the standings.
The Italian rider was consistently among the fastest competitors throughout the session and briefly held the lap record before Ogura’s late charge.
Despite narrowly missing out on the top position, Bezzecchi appeared satisfied with his pace and race rhythm around Brno.
The Aprilia rider has been one of the most consistent performers throughout the season and enters the weekend looking to further strengthen his title challenge.
Importantly, he appears to have carried momentum forward despite admitting during Thursday’s media day that he is not yet operating at full physical fitness.
Di Giannantonio and Ducati Remain in the Hunt
Strong Friday for VR46 and Factory Ducati Riders
Fabio Di Giannantonio continued his recent run of strong performances by finishing third fastest for the VR46 Racing Team.
The Italian briefly topped the session during the final minutes before ultimately being pushed down to third position.
Fresh from recent podium success, Di Giannantonio once again looks capable of challenging for the front rows and potentially another podium finish this weekend.
Behind him, reigning World Champion Francesco Bagnaia finished fourth after another solid session.
Bagnaia became the first rider ever to break into the 1:51 range at Brno before later being surpassed by Ogura and Bezzecchi.
Meanwhile, Marc Marquez recovered impressively from two crashes to complete the top five.
Difficult Day for Marc Marquez Despite Q2 Qualification
Two Crashes Fail to Halt Championship Contender
Friday was far from straightforward for Marc Marquez.
The Ducati Lenovo Team rider suffered two separate crashes during the day, including an early fall at Turn 11 during Practice.
The incident briefly disrupted his programme and cost valuable track time as rivals continued improving their pace.
Fortunately, the six-time MotoGP World Champion escaped injury and was able to return to the circuit.
As the session progressed, Marquez steadily rebuilt confidence and ultimately secured a place inside the top ten, guaranteeing direct progression to Q2.
Considering the setbacks he experienced, finishing fifth represented an encouraging recovery.
KTM and Honda Show Improved Pace
Acosta and Mir Continue Strong Form
Pedro Acosta once again demonstrated his speed aboard the factory KTM.
The Spanish star briefly topped the session before technical problems forced him back into the garage.
Visible smoke from his machine ended part of his afternoon prematurely, but he still managed to secure sixth position and a place in Q2.
Honda also enjoyed one of its strongest Fridays of the season.
Joan Mir continued his recent resurgence by finishing seventh despite suffering a late crash at Turn 7.
Rookie sensation Diogo Moreira added further encouragement for Honda by climbing into eighth during the final moments of the session.
The Brazilian’s late improvement proved particularly costly for several established names who subsequently missed out on automatic Q2 qualification.
Big Names Left Facing Q1 Battle
Martin, Quartararo and Alex Marquez Miss Top Ten
The fight for direct progression into Q2 produced several surprises.
Jorge Martin narrowly missed the cut after finishing 11th.
The reigning World Champion appeared to be safely inside the top ten during the final stages before several late improvements pushed him outside the automatic qualification positions.
Maverick Viñales also came close but ultimately finished outside the crucial top ten.
Former World Champion Fabio Quartararo endured a frustrating afternoon after showing impressive pace in the morning session. Despite running near the front earlier in the day, the Yamaha rider slipped to 14th overall.
Alex Marquez’s return from injury concluded with 15th place.
The Gresini rider was officially declared fit for the remainder of the weekend after successfully completing Friday’s running and gaining valuable track time following his recent injury setback.
MotoGP Friday Top Ten at Brno
- Ai Ogura – Trackhouse MotoGP Team – 1:51.735
- Marco Bezzecchi – Aprilia Racing +0.091s
- Fabio Di Giannantonio – VR46 Racing Team +0.218s
- Francesco Bagnaia – Ducati Lenovo Team
- Marc Marquez – Ducati Lenovo Team
- Pedro Acosta – Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
- Joan Mir – Honda HRC Castrol
- Diogo Moreira – LCR Honda
- Fermin Aldeguer – Gresini Racing
- Raul Fernandez – Trackhouse MotoGP Team
David Alonso Tops Moto2 Practice
Home Favourite Salač Close Behind
Moto2 produced another highly competitive session as David Alonso finished fastest for the CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team.
The Colombian’s early benchmark lap of 1:58.511 remained unbeaten throughout the session despite multiple challenges from rivals.
Local hero Filip Salač delighted Czech fans by finishing just 0.018 seconds behind Alonso in second place.
Championship leader Manuel Gonzalez completed the top three, with less than two tenths separating the leading riders.
The session was briefly interrupted by a red flag following a crash for Barry Baltus at Turn 13.
The Belgian rider was transported to hospital for precautionary checks after the incident.
Elsewhere, rookie Taiyo Furusato secured his first automatic Q2 qualification of the season after an impressive 11th-place finish.
Hakim Danish Dominates Moto3 Friday
Malaysian Rider Chases First Pole Position
Moto3 saw Hakim Danish emerge as the standout performer on the opening day.
The Malaysian rider topped both sessions and twice lowered the circuit lap record as he continued his search for a maiden Grand Prix pole position.
Danish finished ahead of David Almansa, with both riders the only competitors able to break into the 2:04 bracket.
Championship leader Maximo Quiles completed the top three and remains firmly in contention heading into qualifying.
Alvaro Carpe, Joel Esteban and British rider Scott Ogden also enjoyed strong performances as the battle for pole position began to take shape.
Several riders, including Adrian Fernandez, Ryusei Yamanaka and Casey O’Gorman, will now face the additional challenge of progressing through Q1 on Saturday.
Manufacturers Commit to MotoGP’s Future
New Agreement Signed Through 2031
Away from the track, MotoGP received significant long-term stability with confirmation that all five current manufacturers—Aprilia, Ducati, Honda, KTM and Yamaha—have signed a new agreement covering the 2027 to 2031 period.
The deal provides a major boost for the championship as MotoGP prepares to introduce a new generation of technical regulations from 2027 onwards.
The commitment from all manufacturers ensures continued factory involvement and reinforces confidence in the future direction of Grand Prix motorcycle racing.
Saturday Set for Major Championship Battles
Friday’s action confirmed that the Czech Grand Prix is shaping up to be one of the most competitive weekends of the season.
Ai Ogura enters Saturday with momentum after topping the timesheets, but with Bezzecchi, Bagnaia, Marquez, Acosta and Di Giannantonio all showing race-winning pace, the battle for pole position remains completely open.
Add in the challenge facing Jorge Martin, Fabio Quartararo and Alex Marquez in Q1, and Saturday promises to be one of the most important days of the season so far at Brno.
