What happened in wet first MotoGP practice at Misano

Pramac Ducati rider Johann Zarco led the way in a wet-weather opening MotoGP practice session at Misano, which kicked off the series’ second race weekend at the track this year.

---

Key moments:

• Zarco nearly a second and a half clear
• Late crash but strong pace for title contender Bagnaia
• Points leader Quartararo only 14th
• Crashes for the younger Marquez, Binder and Savadori

---

Though the MotoGP grid was met by a damp track surface from the very get go, there was plenty of running early on – but the rain intensified after 10 minutes, leaving the track properly soaked and freezing the classification for a good while.

It meant the factory Ducati factory pairing of Jack Miller and Francesco Bagnaia maintained a 1-2 for the team until the closing minutes, when improved laptimes began to trickle in again.

And with Bagnaia among those pushing for a late improvement, the title-contending Italian folded the front tipping into the hairpin-like Turn 8, hitting the deck.

Title contender down! 😱@PeccoBagnaia's session ends in the gravel trap! 💢#EmiliaRomagnaGP 🏁 pic.twitter.com/wuKd5Ub5vV

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) October 22, 2021

Zarco had already taken the lead by then, and improved at the chequered flag to end the session 1.417s clear, with Marc Marquez (Honda) moving up to second at Miller’s expense at the chequered flag.

The other Pramac rider, Jorge Martin, was fourth, while new Yamaha factory rider Franco Morbidelli completed the top five, with Bagnaia shuffled down to sixth place.

Three KTM riders completed the top nine, but the remaining KTM man, Brad Binder, was only 23rd, having presumably had his confidence dented by an early crash at the same Turn 8 that later caught out Bagnaia.

There was also a minor early highside for LCR Honda’s Alex Marquez at Turn 2, while Aprilia’s Lorenzo Savadori – making it a three-strong RS-GP contingent this weekend – fell late on.

Championship leader Fabio Quartararo continued to find the going tough in wet conditions, and finished the session 18th, three seconds off the pace.

Quartararo is 52 points clear of Bagnaia in the standings, and needs to be 51 points ahead come the chequered flag on Sunday – which is projected to feature dry conditions – to be crowned 2021 champion.

Practice 1 Results