MotoGP FP1 results as Alex Marquez sets the pace at Catalan Grand Prix and Jorge Martin crashes

Add as preferred source on Google

Gresini ace Alex Marquez set the pace in the first practice session at the 2026 MotoGP Catalan Grand Prix, beating Jorge Martin of Aprilia who was very shaken after a crash.

The MotoGP field has moved straight from Le Mans to Montmelo after Jorge Martin won the French Grand Prix last Sunday to become the first rider to do the double in 2026. Martin had even won the Sprint Race last Saturday, and he now trails Marco Bezzecchi by just one point.

Reigning MotoGP champion Marc Marquez is missing in Montmelo, though, after the Ducati ace fractured the fifth metatarsal in his right foot. Team boss Davide Tardozzi has confirmed Marquez’s surgery went well, after also undergoing an operation on his shoulder last Sunday.

KTM Tech3 star Maverick Vinales had missed the French GP owing to his ongoing shoulder injury, but the Spaniard has made his return at the Catalan GP. Vinales elected to return from his injury in Barcelona to avoid feeling raw around Mugello later this month at the Italian GP.

Alex Marquez tops FP1 at the Catalan Grand Prix! Will he replicate another one of his wins from 2025 this weekend in Barcelona?

Comment

Like or Comment

Have your say Sign-in now for free

Alex Marquez goes fastest in first practice at the 2026 MotoGP Catalan Grand Prix

Grey clouds loomed heavily over the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya at the start of FP1 at the 2026 Catalan Grand Prix on Friday. The early conditions seemed to suit KTM’s Pedro Acosta, as the Spaniard set the early pace with a 1:40.807, which remained a solid early benchmark.

But Aprilia racer Jorge Martin continued his promising form from the French GP into FP1 at the Catalan GP this Friday, as the Madrid native lowered the benchmark pace to a 1:40.299. VR46’s Fabio Di Giannantonio continued to emerge as the top Ducati in the early phase, too.

Works Ducati rider Francesco Bagnaia struggled to start FP1 at the Catalan GP strongly, and the two-time champion even showed inferior pace through the first half an hour than Enea Bastianini of Tech3, Pramac’s Jack Miller, KTM’s Brad Binder and Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo.

Martin had a moment due to traffic into Turn 1 midway through FP1 at the Catalan GP, with the Aprilia rider having to thread the eye of a needle to avoid crashing into Gresini’s Fermin Aldeguer, Tech3’s Enea Bastianini and Honda’s Joan Mir as they all arrived at once at Turn 1.

Cautious looks hit the faces of the Aprilia mechanics with 18 minutes remaining of FP1 after Martin crashed at Turn 12 and looked very shaken up. Martin lost the front end of his Aprilia RS-GP midway through the long, right-hand turn, and he followed his bike into the air fence.

Acosta also crashed with 17 minutes remaining after losing the front of his KTM RC16 late in Turn 2. The Mazarron native was quick to rush back to the pit lane to get on his second bike. Martin also returned to the Aprilia garage looking fresh, after a quick change of his leathers.

Martin did not return to the circuit after his crash, which left the door open for Gresini rider Alex Marquez to usurp the Aprilia ace and set the pace in the final two minutes of FP1 at the Catalan GP. Marquez posted a 1:39.950 to usurp Martin’s earlier quick lap by 0.349 seconds.

Full FP1 timesheet at the 2026 MotoGP Catalan Grand Prix