Thai GP Practice: Marquez on Fire, Rivals Chasing Hard 🔥🏍️
The PT Grand Prix of Thailand has kicked off with a Friday Practice session that set the tone for an epic weekend ahead! Our riders left everything on the Chang International Circuit, giving fans and teams plenty of heart-pounding moments. And, guess who’s leading the pack? None other than Marc Marquez (#93) of Gresini Racing MotoGP™, clocking in an incredible 1:29.165 🏁! Marquez, who’s had a few rough seasons, was back to his classic form, edging out Prima Pramac’s Jorge Martin by just 0.110s.
Let’s dive into all the Friday afternoon action! 🏎️💨
Marquez Takes the Crown… for Now 👑
Right out of the gate, Marc Marquez was a force to be reckoned with! He shot to the top of the timesheets early and maintained control till the end. Marquez’s 1:29.165 didn’t just impress us; it put him securely ahead of a fiercely competitive Jorge Martin. With Marquez on fire and Martin bringing the heat, it’s clear the Thai GP is going to be one to remember.
Martin Keeps Up, Bastianini Bounces Back 🛠️💥
Jorge Martin finished a solid second, keeping things hot on Marquez’s tail. He’s locked safely in the top 10, which is crucial heading into Saturday’s qualifying. Enea Bastianini of Ducati Lenovo Team, known as “The Beast,” also found his groove late in the session. After a tumble at Turn 3 early on, Bastianini managed to recover, laying down a final flying lap that bumped him into contention. A rollercoaster of a day, but nothing the Beast can’t handle!
Savadori, Bastianini & a Day of Close Calls 😱
Friday’s Practice wasn’t without its share of drama! Lorenzo Savadori (Trackhouse Racing) and Bastianini both went down in the opening laps but got up without a scratch, ready to dive right back into the action. In the first 40 minutes, the times were so tight you could barely slide a piece of paper between them—only 0.445s separated the top 15!
But as we reached those final 15 minutes, it was game on. Brad Binder from Red Bull Factory Racing looked set to dominate before Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) and Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) unleashed some serious pace. It was an edge-of-the-seat showdown as Marc Marquez finally stole back the top spot to close Friday fastest. 🏆
Close Encounters for Bagnaia, Viñales & More 🏎️💨
Reigning World Champion Francesco Bagnaia is looking sharp, taking fourth behind Marquez and working on the perfect setup for his GP24. Less than two-tenths away from Marquez’s lap time, Bagnaia is in a solid spot as he looks to defend his title. Aprilia Racing’s Maverick Viñales was equally impressive, showing stunning speed throughout the session. Viñales’ efforts paid off, putting him ahead of Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing), who grabbed sixth.
Pedro Acosta also made a strong comeback, landing a spot in seventh, which is a much-needed confidence boost after a tricky time in Australia last week. Alex Marquez (#73) from Gresini Racing kept the pressure on, clocking over 20 laps and finishing in eighth.
Top 10 Wrap-up 🎉
Rounding out the top 10, we’ve got Marco Bezzecchi from the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team, who moved up to ninth after dominating FP1. Finally, Johann Zarco, riding for CASTROL Honda LCR, secured that critical tenth position. Now, these riders can breathe a little easier going into Saturday's qualifying, but there’s still plenty of work ahead.
Back to the Drawing Board for Binder, Miller & Co. 📝
Not everyone had a dream day at the track. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Brad Binder and Jack Miller had a challenging afternoon, meaning they'll face off in Q1 on Saturday. Quartararo and Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) will join them in a high-stakes Saturday showdown. Meanwhile, Aleix Espargaro of Aprilia Racing had a rough day, finishing over two seconds down and opting to stay in the pits as he recovers from an earlier crash in FP1.
Set Your Alarms for Saturday! ⏰🌅
If today’s Practice session was any sign, Saturday’s action is going to be electric ⚡! Free Practice 2 kicks off at 10:10 AM local time (UTC +7), followed by an intense qualifying session at 10:50 to determine the grid for the Tissot Sprint at 3:00 PM. Get ready, MotoGP fans – Thailand’s turning up the heat! 🔥🇹🇭
Stay tuned with us at ThrottleChimp™ for all the latest race recaps and rider updates. We’ll keep you in the loop with everything happening at the PT Grand Prix of Thailand and more.
