Aprilia’s Marco Bezzecchi declared that Marc Marquez still holds the raw pace advantage in Aragon, even after Marquez topped Friday’s first timed session.
Practice competition
Marquez opened the weekend as the overwhelming favourite, taking the peak time in FP1 and maintaining a lead throughout much of the afternoon session. He set a new lap record, yet slipped to third when Bezzecchi and Alex Marquez improved from their final runs.
Bezzecchi remained confident that the factory Ducati rider is still the benchmark on the track where he has conquered eight races across all classes.
Despite pressure, Bezzecchi still felt capable of challenging Marquez.
Injury and pain
Bezzecchi continued to battle a double injury sustained at the German Grand Prix nearly two months earlier. While his collarbone recovered well after surgery, a severe knee wound from the crash remains painful.
He admitted that the constant left‑handed cornering on the circuit aggravates the knee, warning that the tyre grip is unpredictable and the braking angle doesn’t allow full front‑load use.
Bezzecchi voiced that healing the knee will progressively ease, but for now, pain is a limiting factor as the championship marches into its most daunting phase.
Rider opinions
Bezzecchi said, “I felt good with the bike, started well in the morning, and made a small step after the intermission. I’m still making a couple of mistakes, but overall I was in good shape.” He added that Marquez “seems to have hidden a bit,” erasing a second lap attempt, predicting Marquez will be the top rider tomorrow.
Marquez rebutted that he wasn’t easing up: “I’ve been pushing from the opening session. This left‑corner circuit means the hard brake points are on the left side, so it’s not a problem for me. I started in attack mode from FP1.” He noted that he’s “under the record but not the fastest,” implying that everyone is “super fast” and the weekend will be “tough.”
Both riders conclude that their focus remains on the fight with the other top competitors until the race day. The lingering injury concerns, however, underscore the high stakes for the finishing group.
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