MotoGP FP1 results as Fabio Di Giannantonio sets Italian GP benchmark on Marc Marquez’s return

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Fabio Di Giannantonio set the pace in the first free practice session at the 2026 Italian Grand Prix as Marc Marquez made his return to action with the factory Ducati team.

All eyes were on the LCR garages ahead of the first session of the weekend, with Cal Crutchlow making his return to MotoGP machinery in place of the injury-stricken Johann Zarco.

Marc Marquez was also back in action during FP1 at Mugello. The reigning world champion was absent last time out in Barcelona after undergoing two separate surgeries following his crash at the French Grand Prix last month.

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Once the grid got their initial laps on the boards, championship leader Marco Bezzecchi set the early benchmarks as he crept into the lower 1:47s ahead of Francesco Bagnaia.

Gresini rider Fermin Aldeguer then broke into the 1:46s with his fifth lap of the session, while Bagnaia followed him as the two Ducatis held the top spots heading into the final 10 minutes.

The lap times came tumbling down as riders sought out some qualifying simulations. Bagnaia ended up having an off at turn one, as Fabio Di Giannantonio stole the top spot on the leaderboards.

Upon his return to two wheels, Marquez set the 15th fastest time of the session as he looked to get back up to speed alongside his rivals. It wasn’t a terrible effort, considering Bezzecchi’s best lap only secured him P14 in FP1.

Full FP1 timesheet at the 2026 MotoGP Italian Grand Prix