05:30
A string late lap by Alex Marquez puts him into 5th, directly behind brother Marc.
Marc Marquez, Jorge Martin
2024 Thai MotoGP: Friday Practice as it happened
Recap Friday practice at the 2024 Thai MotoGP.
With just three rounds to go, Jorge Martin takes a 20-point title lead over reigning champion Francesco Bagnaia into this weekend’s Thai MotoGP.
Marco Bezzecchi went fastest in the first practice session on Friday.
Due to the heat and stress on the tyres, Buriram is among the venues where Michelin selects its stiffer construction rears.
The weather is forecast to be hot, humid and dry for Friday and Saturday with a risk of thunderstorms on Sunday.
Practice is at 3pm (9am UK).
05:28
Aprilia's Paolo Bonora says Aleix Espargaro is 'okay' but will have further checks and hopes to return for afternoon Practice.
05:27
Jorge Martin (2nd) has switched over to the hard front and medium rear tyre, Alex Marquez is the only other rider on the medium rear.
05:23
There's still no news on Aleix Espargaro's condition after his early turn 12 fall.
05:14
15mins to go, the top 10: Bezzecchi, Martin, Bagnaia, Marc Marquez, Acosta, Miller, Nakagami, Quartararo, Binder, Marini.
05:12
Tech3 team manager Nicolas Goyon tells Simon Crafar that Pedro Acosta doesn't appear to be suffering too much pain from his shoulder and the injury doesn't seem to be a big issue so far.
The hard-braking Buriram layout, Goyon says, is "quite similar" to Motegi... where Acosta took a debut pole position and was a victory contender before crashing in both races.
05:09
Meanwhile, Marc Marquez (4th) is among those to have moved over to the hard front tyre.
05:08
VR46's Pablo Nieto tells Dorna's Simon Crafar in pitlane that a decision on di Giannantonio's replacement for the final two rounds will be announced on Monday and Tuesday.
Nieto admits Andrea Iannone, absent from MotoGP since 2019, is under consideration.
05:06
Brad Binder is now getting up to speed and into the top ten.
05:05
Takaaki Nakagami, starting the final 3 rounds of his full-time MotoGP career, surprises by jumping into 7th place for LCR Honda.
Just behind him, Fabio Quartararo, who battled Marc Marquez for victory at Buriram in 2019, is leading the Yamaha challenge in 8th.
05:00
Brad Binder appears to have had some technical issues and is yet to set a time, leaving Acosta and Jack Miller the top RC16s in 5th and 6th.
04:58
Marco Bezzecchi is now leading the timesheets for VR46, the Italian ahead of Martin, Bagnaia and Marc Marquez.
04:55
Worrying scenes for Aprilia as Espargaro, although conscious, is placed on a stretcher.
04:54
Aprilia's Aleix Espargaro is the first faller of the weekend in the MotoGP class, at the last corner.
04:53
But not for long.
Jorge Martin and then Francesco Bagnaia take over at the top, with a 1m 31.2s.
For reference...
Official Buriram MotoGP Records:
Best lap: Jorge Martin 1m 29.287s (2023)
Fastest race lap: Marco Bezzecchi 1m 30.896s (2023)
04:51
Good news for Pedro Acosta fans, after missing Phillip Island due to shoulder pain from his Sprint highside, the Tech3 rider is not only back on track but leading the early timesheets.
04:50
Bastianini, Martin and Bagnaia are together on track for the opening laps. Title rivals Martin and then Bagnaia moved past The Beast, who is now 14 points behind Phillip Island winner Marc Marquez in the battle for third in the world championship.
04:48
Most riders have opted for the soft front and hard rear tyres for the start of the session. Due to the heat and stress, Michelin brings its stiffer construction rear tyres for Buriram.
04:45
The green flags are waved and MotoGP FP1 begins in hot and sunny conditions at Buriram.
04:36
Hello and welcome to Friday MotoGP practice for the Thai MotoGP at Buriram.
The delayed Moto2 session, after a scary pit-entry collision between Tony Arbolino and Zonta VD Goorbergh, is just finishing, meaning there might be a short delay for the start of MotoGP FP1.
