Bagnaia Claimed Podium Position at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya

Sports

Nov 15

Written By FP Team

Clocking a lap time of 1:38.918 ahead of Bezzecchi and Espargaro, while Martin rounded out the top five.

Sports | MotoGP

Words by FP Team

MOTOGP

Francesco Bagnaia showcased an impressive performance in the final practice session of the Motul Solidarity Grand Prix of Barcelona, finishing with the best time. His remarkable lap of 1:38.918 placed him just 0.080 seconds ahead of Marco Bezzecchi, who also had a strong showing throughout the session. Notably, Aleix Espargaro, racing in his final MotoGP weekend, secured the third-fastest time, adding a sentimental touch to the competitive atmosphere. Following him were Johann Zarco and Jorge Martin, who completed the top five.

MOTOGP

This crucial Friday afternoon session was filled with drama and excitement, with Bagnaia demonstrating his skills by clocking a last-minute fast lap to take the lead. Bezzecchi had taken the early lead but ultimately finished second, just behind his fellow countryman. Espargaro’s return to form was celebrated as he ended the session in third, a mere 0.107 seconds off the pace.

The session saw its share of tension right from the start, as both Franco Morbidelli and Augusto Fernandez experienced crashes early on. Bezzecchi took a brief lead in the standings after an impressive lap before time attacks ramped up the competition. Zarco finished in fourth place, contributing to a strong day for the LCR team, while Martin, despite a late scare at Turn 5, managed to end the day in fifth, remaining competitive in the championship race.

MOTOGP

Further back, Alex Marquez finished seventh, leading his brother, Marc Marquez, in a race where both aimed for better positioning. Pedro Acosta and Enea Bastianini completed the top ten, with Bastianini narrowly avoiding Q1 after a challenging practice.

Among those who will need to put in more work were Jack and Brad Binder from Red Bull KTM, with Morbidelli finishing in 15th after a particularly dramatic session. Meanwhile, Miguel Oliveira returned to action, placing 20th.

Join us this Saturday for updates, on qualifying starting at 04:50 PM (EST) to set the grid ahead of the unmissable Tissot Sprint at 09:00 PM (EST). In the meantime, check out Francesco Bagnaia testing the new Ducati Panigale V4 in the video below.

motogp.com