Marquez Sets the Benchmark, Martin Shines in His Comeback
Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) topped the timesheets on a rain-soaked opening day of the Tissot Grand Prix of Czechia, clocking a 2:03.935 to assert himself as the fastest rider heading into Saturday’s qualifying. Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) finished second, 0.469 seconds behind, with Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) completing the top three.
The day, however, wasn’t just about raw pace. Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing) marked his return to MotoGP with a strong showing, finishing fifth and going straight into Q2. Meanwhile, Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) delivered late drama, recovering from a crash to clinch a Q2 spot in the dying moments. On the other hand, title contender Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) missed out and will face Q1 on Saturday.
Rain Halts MotoGP Practice in Brno
A heavy downpour during Moto2 Practice caused a delay in MotoGP’s session. Once conditions were deemed safe, riders ventured onto a drenched Automotodrom Brno circuit to secure a place in the top ten.
Initially, it was Jorge Martin who set the pace, briefly holding P1 before teammate Marco Bezzecchi surged ahead. Despite the tricky conditions, Martin looked comfortable and composed on his return, and the newly resurfaced Brno track offered decent grip as lap times gradually improved.
Bezzecchi, leading at the time, fell victim to the conditions. Exiting Turn 4, he ran wide and hit standing water, losing control and crashing. With 36 minutes left, Marc Marquez made a decisive move to the top, setting the benchmark at 2:04.421.
Surface Dries, but Times Stagnate
As the session approached its final 20 minutes, Zarco, Quartararo, Martin, and Bezzecchi were in the provisional top five. Dry lines started to appear, particularly into Turn 10 (Kevin Schwantz corner), but the majority of the track remained too wet for slick tyres.
Alex Marquez and Bagnaia were still outside the top ten. The combination of rising track temperatures and degrading wet tyres, especially the softer rears, meant lap time improvements were hard to come by.
Alex Marquez’s Late Charge to Q2
Then came the twist. Alex Marquez, running 11th and on the edge of Q2 qualification, crashed at Turn 7 with just six minutes remaining. He rushed back to the garage, got back on the bike, and gave himself one final opportunity. Bagnaia, meanwhile, found no improvement and resigned himself to Q1.
Marquez gave it everything on his final lap. Though he was seven-tenths down through the third sector compared to his brother Marc, he crossed the line with a 2:04.993—just enough for ninth place and a direct Q2 pass. A remarkable comeback under pressure.
Top 10 After Friday Practice
Behind Marquez, Zarco, and Quartararo, it was Bezzecchi and the returning Martin who rounded out the top five. Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) secured sixth, followed by Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol), Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech3), Alex Marquez, and Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing).
Saturday Preview: Sprint and Qualifying Await
With the Tissot Sprint scheduled for Saturday after the qualifying sessions, attention now turns to the conditions and strategy. Marquez has set the tone, but there’s still everything to play for.
Moto2: Joe Roberts Leads in Treacherous Conditions
Moto2 saw a shift in weather, with the rain intensifying during Practice. Joe Roberts (OnlyFans American Racing Team) timed his fastest lap perfectly in the dry spell to go quickest, ahead of Czech home favorite Filip Salač (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team). Manuel Gonzalez (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) rounded out the top three.
Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo), fresh off a Sachsenring victory, finished 15th and will fight through Q1. Aron Canet (Fantic Racing) and Jake Dixon (ELF Marc VDS) both made the top 14, securing direct Q2 entries. Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team) struggled in the wet, finishing 28th, and will start Sunday’s race from pit lane.
Moto3: Alvaro Carpe Fastest as Piqueras Misses Q2
Moto3 had dry conditions during Practice, and Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo) made the most of it with a leading time of 2:05.840. Championship leader Jose Antonio Rueda was second, followed by Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team).
A late flyer from Scott Ogden (CIP Green Power) meant title challenger Angel Piqueras (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI) missed the Q2 cut for the first time in 2025. Rookies Guido Pini and Valentin Perrone completed the top five.
David Muñoz (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) was handed a back-of-the-grid penalty for slowing excessively on the racing line. Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) will also begin his weekend in Q1 after finishing outside the top 14.
Images Official MotoGP Press Release
