Marquez Dominates Opening MotoGP Practice in Thailand

In the opening practice session of the 2025 MotoGP season at the Thai Grand Prix, Marc Marquez of Ducati showcased his dominance with a lap time of 1m29.423s, placing him nearly half a second ahead of his closest competitor, Franco Morbidelli, who surged to second with a late push. Marquez's teammate, Pecco Bagnaia, struggled throughout the session, finishing 10th and posting a time 0.7 seconds slower due to multiple off-track incidents. The practice session, crucial for determining riders' positions for direct access to Qualifying 2, also featured impressive performances from riders like Fabio Quartararo, Jack Miller, and rookie Ai Ogura.

The absence of reigning champion Jorge Martin due to hand injuries allowed Lorenzo Savadori to step in for Aprilia, while Fabio di Giannantonio returned to the VR46 team after recovering from his own injury at the Sepang test. The session underscored the need for competitors to adapt quickly, as established riders adjusted to new teams and machinery alongside the debut of rookies. With Marquez's early advantage raising concerns among the competition, the first round of the season promises to be highly competitive as teams refine their strategies and setups for the upcoming races.