Marco Bezzecchi stole the spotlight in the Japanese Grand Prix practice sessions, setting the fastest time and imposing his pace in a session full of surprises, crashes, and drama. Behind him, rookie Pedro Acosta confirmed his talent, while Marc Márquez, after many struggles, managed a strong final lap to save face.
The day quickly turned into a nightmare for Francesco Bagnaia. After a brilliant morning performance, the Turin rider faced technical issues on his Ducati. Even the second bike didn’t inspire confidence, leading to gestures of frustration and an early return to the garage.
It went no better for Álex Márquez, who crashed and couldn’t find his rhythm. For the first time this season, Marc’s younger brother will have to go through Q1—a harsh blow for him and the Gresini team.
Among the other riders, Jorge Martín suffered two minor falls with no injuries, while Fabio Quartararo held everyone’s attention by controlling a spectacular slide. Marini and Di Giannantonio also performed well, staying at the top.
The finale was thrilling: Zarco and Quartararo secured direct access to Q2, leaving Bastianini and Aldeguer out.
The top ten moving directly to Q2 are: Bezzecchi, Acosta, Marc Márquez, Mir, Di Giannantonio, Marini, Bagnaia, Quartararo, Raúl Fernández, and Zarco. Q1 will feature big names like Martín, Bastianini, Álex Márquez, and Miller.