Gresini Ducati rider Marc Marquez dominated the opening practice session for MotoGP's returning Aragon Grand Prix.
Key moments:
- Marquez in control
- Strong early showing for KTM/Gas Gas
- Bagnaia anonymous
The Motorland Aragon venue near Alcaniz, back on the calendar after a year out, had been resurfaced fully during its MotoGP absence - and the pre-weekend expectation was that opening practice would be dedicated to cleaning the track and putting down grip.
It was wholly unsurprising, then, that Marquez thrived in those conditions, both as a master of Aragon and a rider with a particular affinity for a 'green' track early in the weekend.
The six-time premier-class champion was half a second clear of nearest rival Pedro Acosta (Tech3 Gas Gas) at the halfway point, and reinforced his position with a laptime improvement further into the session.
He ended up on a 1m48.289s, 0.483s clear of championship hopeful Jorge Martin (Pramac Ducati).
Acosta held on to third, half a tenth up on Brad Binder (KTM) and Fabio Di Giannantonio (VR46 Ducati). Di Giannantonio was due to be reviewed by the medical staff post-session as to his fitness following his Red Bull Ring shoulder dislocation - and, having logged 14 laps and proven competitive, was duly declared fit to continue.
Miguel Oliveira (Trackhouse) was the lead Aprilia rider in seventh, while the Honda and Yamaha camps were led by former Suzuki team-mates Joan Mir and Alex Rins in 13th and 14th respectively.
It was a very muted session for the works Ducati team. While Enea Bastianini did ultimately lift himself up to ninth, his championship-leading team-mate Pecco Bagnaia concluded a particularly messy-looking practice on his part in 21st.
Yet, despite being two seconds off Marquez's pace, he was somehow a second up on 22nd-placed Aleix Espargaro, the Aprilia rider reportedly struggling for front feeling and taking few risks with the track still not at optimum condition.
