Aprilia MotoGP rider Maverick Vinales led the way in the opening practice session of the Italian Grand Prix weekend at Mugello.
Key moments:
- Vinales leads Quartararo on new rubber
- Marquez and Bagnaia the standouts on old rubber
- Crashes for Acosta and Rins
Vinales struggled massively in last weekend's meeting at the low-grip Barcelona, toiling with a lack of front-tyre feeling and badly outmatched by team-mate Aleix Espargaro, but has showed an early return to form at the high-grip Mugello circuit.
His 1m46.140s left him two tenths clear of Yamaha's Fabio Quartararo, the M1s looking competitive in the 45-minute session, having tested at Mugello earlier this month.
Franco Morbidelli, Quartararo's former Yamaha team-mate, was third as the lead Ducati rider, while Pedro Acosta (Tech3 Gas Gas) made it four different bikes in the top four despite a late crash at Scarperia.
Morbidelli's points-leading Pramac team-mate Jorge Martin was fifth, followed by his works Ducati seat rival Marc Marquez.
But Marquez, riding a year-old Ducati for Gresini, was one of the riders to forego a tyre swap during the session, so - having led the proceedings after initial run - settled for a sixth-place finish, just over four tenths off the pace.
Pecco Bagnaia (Ducati) was in a similar position, the reigning champion sticking with the same tyre set and ending up eighth, a spot behind Aprilia's Aleix Espargaro - who made two trips into the Turn 1 (San Donato) gravel.
Alex Rins made it two Yamahas in the top nine despite a fall.
Rins, whose 2023 was compromised by a bad leg break suffered in a Mugello crash, fell off at San Donato while leading the session, but soon returned to the track.
Alex Marquez (Gresini Ducati) and Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse Aprilia) were two other riders who ended up with a decent result despite sticking with the same tyre set as they rounded out the top 11.
KTM wildcard Pol Espargaro began his first MotoGP weekend since the 2023 finale by placing 15th.
Luca Marini was the top Honda in 19th, the Japanese manufacturer having also tested at Mugello.
FP1 times
| Pos | Name | Car | Best Time | Gap Leader |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maverick Viñales | Aprilia | 1m46.140s | |
| 2 | Fabio Quartararo | Yamaha | 1m46.328s | +0.188s |
| 3 | Franco Morbidelli | Ducati | 1m46.428s | +0.288s |
| 4 | Pedro Acosta | KTM | 1m46.459s | +0.319s |
| 5 | Jorge Martin | Ducati | 1m46.587s | +0.447s |
| 6 | Marc Marquez | Ducati | 1m46.587s | +0.447s |
| 7 | Aleix Espargaró | Aprilia | 1m46.590s | +0.450s |
| 8 | Francesco Bagnaia | Ducati | 1m46.657s | +0.517s |
| 9 | Alex Rins | Yamaha | 1m46.719s | +0.579s |
| 10 | Alex Marquez | Ducati | 1m46.816s | +0.676s |
| 11 | Raul Fernandez | Aprilia | 1m46.911s | +0.771s |
| 12 | Jack Miller | KTM | 1m47.016s | +0.876s |
| 13 | Marco Bezzecchi | Ducati | 1m47.108s | +0.968s |
| 14 | Brad Binder | KTM | 1m47.116s | +0.976s |
| 15 | Pol Espargaró | KTM | 1m47.133s | +0.993s |
| 16 | Fabio Di Giannantonio | Ducati | 1m47.197s | +1.057s |
| 17 | Miguel Oliveira | Aprilia | 1m47.291s | +1.151s |
| 18 | Enea Bastianini | Ducati | 1m47.296s | +1.156s |
| 19 | Luca Marini | Honda | 1m47.582s | +1.442s |
| 20 | Augusto Fernandez | KTM | 1m47.586s | +1.446s |
| 21 | Takaaki Nakagami | Honda | 1m47.742s | +1.602s |
| 22 | Joan Mir | Honda | 1m47.812s | +1.672s |
| 23 | Johann Zarco | Honda | 1m47.904s | +1.764s |
| 24 | Lorenzo Savadori | Aprilia | 1m48.112s | +1.972s |
