The opening day of free practice at the San Marino and Rimini Riviera Grand Prix immediately delivered plenty of excitement and underlined just how competitive the MotoGP field is this season. Under the blazing Misano sun, with track temperatures putting both riders and machines to the test, the stars of the championship produced two sessions full of twists and changes at the top.
The morning belonged to Franco Morbidelli, who set the pace in FP1 with a 1’31.342 lap, placing himself ahead of Fabio Quartararo and a strong Fabio Di Giannantonio. It was an encouraging start for the VR46 rider, who showed both speed and consistency on the single lap, bringing fresh confidence into his garage. Luca Marini also impressed, while Marc Márquez closed the first session in fifth place and Pecco Bagnaia struggled to find rhythm, finishing only 11th.
The afternoon session reshuffled the order. In the pre-qualifying run, it was Marc Márquez who stole the spotlight, pushing his Gresini Ducati to the top of the combined standings and confirming his steady progress in recent races. Marco Bezzecchi slotted into second place, while Morbidelli once again proved competitive by holding onto a top-three spot. Bagnaia managed to improve his pace compared to the morning but still remained adrift from the leading times, suggesting more setup work will be needed ahead of qualifying.
The overall impression is of a wide-open weekend, with several Italian riders ready to contend and Márquez once again looking eager to play the role of leading man. Misano’s free practice sessions have already fired up the crowd, setting the stage for what promises to be a thrilling Saturday of action.
