Marco Bezzecchi timed 1′31.123″ in Friday’s 60‑minute practice for the MotoGP Dutch Grand Prix, placing Aprilia at the front before a red flag cut the session short.
Aprilia’s early rally
Aprilia commenced the hour with a clean 1‑2 block as Bezzecchi and teammates lodged the fastest laps while the rest of the field trailed. Three minutes before the signal, the session halted following a crash by Gresini rider Alex Marquez at Turn 11.
Fast‑faring two‑minutes
Initial laps saw Pedro Acosta and Bezzecchi trading pace, the KTM rider edging ahead before Bezzecchi countered with an initial benchmark of 1′32.275″. Around the third of the session, the Aprilia team upgraded to the soft rear tyre, with Jorge Martin dazzling in 1′31.956″.
Trackhouse firm footing
Meanwhile, the Trackhouse entry surged into the mix when Raul Fernandez pushed a 1′31.443″ lap, claiming third spot and pushing Ai Ogura down to fourth. Fernandez’s performance cemented a 1‑2‑3‑4 order for the Noale factory, leaving Aprilia and Trackhouse to battle for the top positions.
Red‑flag repercussions
Marquez’s fall forced a three‑minute halt; marshals assisted him after he remained conscious and walked back. The race restarted, yet Bezzecchi’s 1′31.123″ time stayed unchallenged, with Fernandez maintaining a 0.177‑second margin.
Acosta managed a closing boost, demoting Ogura further, while bagging a fresh spot in Q2. The late stop reshaped standings for the factory Ducati, Francesco Bagnaia slipping to 17th after his fastest lap was discarded for yellow flags. He later delivered a solo flying lap that moved him to fifth, securing him a place in Q2.
Other front‑row fortunes
Marc Marquez concluded the session in sixth, opting to remain out after the red flag. Fabio di Giannantonio, operating a VR46 Ducati, took seventh, and Enea Bastianini finished eight‑th for Tech3 KTM. The final Q2 entry list included Bezzecchi, Fernandez, Acosta, Bagnaia and a select group of other riders.
As the practice concluded, Aprilia’s lead was settled, the red‑flag interruption scattered positions, and all participants were left recalculating before the race weekend.
"