Marc Marquez topped MotoGP World Championship practice Friday morning at Termas De Río Hondo, in Argentina. Riding his Michelin-shod Lenovo Ducati Desmosedici GP25, the Spaniard turned a lap of 1:38.937 around the 2.99-mile (4.81 km) track and led the 22-rider field.
Frenchman, Johann Zarco was second-best with a 1:38.963 on his CASTROL Honda LCR RC213V.
The Spanish rider, Alex Marquez was third with a lap of 1:39.208 on his BK8 Gresini Racing Ducati Desmosedici.
More, from a press release issued by Dorna:
Marquez charges to P1 in Termas FP1 ahead of Zarco. The Championship leader was back at the head of the field as MotoGP™ returns to Argentina, with less than a second covering the top ten.
The first MotoGP™ session in Argentina since 2023, the premier class hit the circuit for the first time during the weekend in tricky but drying conditions. Overnight rain had left the track damp but after Moto3™ and Moto2™’s Free Practice, slick tyres were donned throughout and lap times improving right the way through the 45-minute session. Carrying on his Buriram form, Championship leader Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) leading the charge in Termas.
Early tricky conditions soon abated and whilst the sun remained hidden, the track was soon rubbered in; Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) led the way for plenty of the session but Marquez was soon in his stride and in the final ten minutes, put in a string of fast laps to go P1 despite a big save at Turn 9. Teammate Francesco Bagnaia struggled on Friday morning in P14 but won’t be concerned as it’s often the case. Zarco took P2 with Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) once again in the top three in P3, ahead of Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team). Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) loves Termas and put himself and Aprilia in P5, aiming to once again challenge at the front.
There were three Hondas inside the top ten again as Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol) secured sixth and teammate Joan Mir in ninth. Splitting them, the top Yamaha of Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) and the top KTM of Maverick Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech 3), ensuring all five manufacturers got representation inside the top eight. Bookending the top ten, Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) on his maiden MotoGP™ voyage at the Termas de Rio Hondo circuit.
That’s all for FP1 so check out the results, Practice up next at 15:00 Local Time (UTC – 4).