2026 Czech MotoGP, Brno - Friday Practice Results

Ai Ogura puts his usual time attack woes firmly to one side to head an Aprilia one-two in Friday practice for the 2026 Czech MotoGP.

The Trackhouse rider edged out title leader Marco Bezzecchi in a session that saw Jorge Martin fail to make the top ten, sending him into Saturday’s Qualifying 1.

VR46’s Fabio di Giannantonio was the top Ducati in third, ahead of Pecco Bagnaia and factory team-mate Marc Marquez.

Marquez crashes again

Reigning champion and defending Brno winner Marquez, fastest despite a late fall this morning, crashed again early in the afternoon.

The Ducati rider was able to get his Desmosedici restarted on the service road and return to the garage for repairs, but was just 13th heading into the final stages.

Meanwhile, Bezzecchi had surged from a lowly 16th in FP1 to lead an Aprilia top three - ahead of Trackhouse riders Ogura and Raul Fernandez - courtesy of a new lap record at the midway stage.

Acosta technical issue

KTM’s Pedro Acosta then took over, only to suffer a technical problem moments after posting his lap record.

Acosta and Bezzecchi set the pace until Marquez leapt to the top on a new soft rear tyre. Marquez was in turn demoted by di Giannantonio, Bezzecchi, Bagnaia and Ogura.

Joan Mir and Diogo Moreira put their Hondas directly into Qualifying 2, despite a late fall for the Spaniard.

Alex Marquez, who made his MotoGP comeback from the Catalunya injuries this morning, was cleared to continue after FP1 and finished the day in 15th.

Front holeshot ban

The post-session practice start period saw some riders experiment with race starts without using the front holeshot device, with an early ban under consideration.

^X Rider has improved X positions from FP1.
= Rider has the same position as FP1.
˅X Rider has dropped X positions from FP1.
* Rookie

Free Practice 1

Marc Marquez fires a warning shot by leading opening practice for the 2026 Czech MotoGP, despite suffering a late fall at Brno.

The reigning champion, a double winner last time at Balaton Park, had insisted on Thursday that his goal was simply to reduce the 10-second victory margin at the similarly flowing Mugello circuit.

Instead, Marquez soon established control, but it wasn’t a perfect session with the factory Ducati star suffering a late lowside by sliding off at Turn 7. That spill added to early falls for Pedro Acosta, Maverick Vinales and Diogo Moreira.

As usual for Marc Marquez, he kept the same set of tyres throughout FP1, while nearest rivals Fabio Quartararo (front and rear), Raul Fernandez (front), Joan Mir (front and rear) and Ai Ogura (front) fitted some new rubber for the closing minutes.

Jorge Martin practised the long lap penalty loop he will need to use on Sunday, but later lost track time due to a technical issue with his Aprilia on the way to 13th.

Title-leading team-mate Marco Bezzecchi made a subdued start to the weekend in 16th.

Alex Marquez's MotoGP comeback began with 18th out of the 22 riders. The Gresini rider's condition will be reviewed ahead of the afternoon Practice.

* Rookie

Official Brno MotoGP Records:

Best lap: Pecco Bagnaia, Ducati, 1m 52.303s (2025)

Fastest race lap: Marc Marquez, Ducati, 1m 53.691s (2025)

Jorge Martin has a double lap penalty to serve in Sunday’s race for triggering a five-rider pile-up, also involving team-mate and world championship leader Marco Bezzecchi, at the start of the Hungarian grand prix.

Alex Marquez is attempting a MotoGP return after suffering collarbone and vertebra fractures in a huge accident at Catalunya a month ago.

Johann Zarco remains absent due to knee ligament injuries at the same event. The Frenchman is again replaced at LCR by Cal Crutchlow, standing in for a third event.