Ai Ogura quickest at Grand Prix Czechia Practice, Jorge Martin out of top 10 ahead of qualifying

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Trackhouse's Ai Ogura was quickest in Practice at Grand Prix Czechia, while Ducati Lenovo's Marc Marquez is also through to Q2. Former world champion Jorge Martin could only steer his Aprilia to 11th fastest, meaning he must start Saturday's qualifying in the Q1 session.

'Again! He looked sketchy on the turn before!' - Marquez crashes at Grand Prix Czechia Practice

Video credit: TNT Sports

The Japanese Trackhouse rider has built on an impressive rookie season in 2025 by consistently impressing in his second campaign.

Ogura was the fastest Aprilia, with the Italian manufacturer tipped to dominate the weekend after Ducati Lenovo’s Marquez was the dominant rider at Grand Prix Hungary, where the anti-clockwise track suited the Spaniard’s unique skills.

However, at least in Practice, there was diverse representation across the top 10, with one notable absentee.

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Aprilia’s world title leader, Marco Bezzecchi, was second fastest overall, but there was a spot in the top three for a Ducati rider, as Fabio Di Giannantonio took his VR46 Pertamina to third place in the early standings for the weekend.

After him came the two factory Ducati riders. Francesco Bagnaia has looked steadier on the Lenovo for much of the season after last year’s struggles and he was fourth fastest on Friday, just ahead of his team-mate Marquez.

Marquez is expected to line up for Ducati next season alongside Pedro Acosta, who ran him hard last weekend at Balaton Park, and was sixth fastest in his KTM.

'What's going on here?' - Bezzecchi in the gravel at Grand Prix Czechia

Video credit: TNT Sports

Honda’s Joan Mir was seventh fastest, just ahead of another Honda rider, Diogo Moreira.

Then came another Ducati rider, with their satellite team BK8 Gresini providing Fermin Aldeguer in ninth spot, while tenth was taken by another Aprilia, with Raul Fernandez claiming the place in his Trackhouse bike.

Tenth place is the cut-off point for riders who want to start in Q2, leaving the remainder of the pack to compete in Saturday morning’s Q1 qualifying session, live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.

The two sessions decide the grid placing for both Saturday’s Sprint race and Sunday’s full-length event.

However, there are only two spots in Q2 available to riders who take part in the first session, which means Jorge Martin has it all to do in his Aprilia.

The former world champion is 20 points behind Bezzecchi in the standings for the 2026 world title chase, but he was 11th fastest on Friday afternoon.

Another prominent racer, Alex Marquez, was 15th fastest, though Marc Marquez’s younger brother may simply be happy to be back on his bike.

The BK8 Gresini man suffered a huge crash a month ago at Grand Prix Catalunya, suffering a fractured vertebrae and broken collarbone, but after surgery he was declared fit to return to action for Grand Prix Czechia.

Although he looked stiff on his bike compared to his fluid best, TNT Sports pundit Neil Hodgson wrote that he believes the younger Marquez brother will have no fear getting back onto his bike as he looks to rediscover his best form on the track.

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