MotoGP: Marco Bezzecchi lays down early 2026 marker with quickest time in Grand Prix Thailand practice, Marc Marquez second fastest

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Friday's practice session at Buriram for Grand Prix Thailand this weekend saw Aprilia's Marco Bezzecchi set the fastest time, with current world champion Marc Marquez going second quickest overall. The pair collided in October at Grand Prix Indonesia, which led to Marquez requiring surgery on a shoulder - an injury that continues to hamper the Spaniard ahead of the start of the 2026 MotoGP season.

'That almost destroys the engine!' - Wild practice start from Quartararo in Thailand

Video credit: TNT Sports

Aprilia’s Marco Bezzecchi set the fastest time in the season's first practice session on Friday at Grand Prix Thailand.

The action in Buriram marked the return of racing for the 2026 MotoGP season, with riders looking to put down a marker ahead of the competition that starts on Sunday with the season opener.

Bezzecchi showed flashes of his talent and threat last year. The Italian won three races last season and finished third overall, behind BK8 Gresini’s Alex Marquez (in second) and world title winner Marc Marquez of Ducati Lenovo.

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The 27-year-old started pre-season testing well, and he had been tipped for success by TNT Sports pundit Neil Hodgson, looking ahead to the season and the opening race weekend.

Bezzecchi needed just three laps to make the fastest lap time of the season with an effort of 1:28.526 seconds, an early track record, with the promise that more intense competition to come could see that record broken a few times over the coming sessions.

Marc Marquez was second quickest, and third place went to Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina VR46 Ducati).

KTM’s Pedro Acosta, one young rider who is expected to impress again, was fourth. Ai Ogura, tipped as a wildcard challenger for the season, was ninth, suggesting that with Trackhouse, Aprilia could be well represented for the season to come.

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Video credit: TNT Sports

BK8 Gresini's Marquez was sixth quickest as he looks to improve upon last year's campaign and go one better by winning the first title for the first time in his career.

Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) was seventh, with Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM) finishing eighth-fastest. The experienced Johann Zarco (Castrol Honda LCR) was the 10th fastest in the session.

Francesco Bagnaia, the two-time MotoGP world champion, who is looking to improve after a disastrous season last year, failed to impress once again, as he was more than a second off the pace, with worries likely to mount that he could endure another tough season alongside stablemate Marquez.

Some observers expect little from Yamaha this season as they look to rebuild and put together a competitive bike, despite the regulation overhaul coming in 2027 which could lead many teams back to square one.

The quickest for the manufacturer was Monster Energy Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo in 16th.

Last year’s World Superbike champion, Toprak Razgatlioglu (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP), continued with his early-season struggles as he was 21st quickest for the session, as he looks to have been given a difficult start to his career in the division.

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As for the reigning world champion, Sylvain Guintoli noted that Marquez had looked off the pace since his return to the track, but he pulled out a much-improved time towards the end of the session.

The 33-year-old Spaniard collided with Bezzecchi at Grand Prix Indonesia last season in October, with an injury to his shoulder requiring surgery that kept him out of the last five races of that season.

However, that was not enough to prevent him from reclaiming the world title, having already amassed enough points to be certain of his seventh title in MotoGP. The first recorded session hints that there is a chance for the rest of the pack, at least this weekend.

Stream every race of the 2026 MotoGP season live on TNT Sports and discovery+

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