Di giannantonio stuns jerez, ducati’s grip tightens
Fabio Di Giannantonio seized the top spot in the first MotoGP practice session at Jerez, a clear signal that Ducati’s development push is finally bearing fruit. The Italian, running fresh front and rear tires, slashed nearly four tenths off Alex Márquez’s benchmark time – a testament to the incremental gains the factory team is making.
A chaotic start, but progress emerges
The weather, thankfully, provided a respite from the usual Spanish GP drama; a cloudy sky delivered a consistent 17°C track temperature, a welcome change from the fluctuating conditions of recent sessions. Augusto Fernández and Luca Savadori, guest riders for Yamaha and Aprilia respectively, added spice to the early times, injecting competitive energy into the mix.
Álex Márquez initially dictated the pace, establishing a commanding lead, but the other riders quickly closed the gap. The Ducati’s, however, were lurking, appearing just a tenth behind their younger brother.
Pecco Bagnaia’s FP1 wasn’t without its struggles. His GP26 proved difficult to tame under braking, a recurring issue he’s battled with at the last three races. Yet, he steadily climbed the order, demonstrating his trademark tenacity.
Toprak Razgatlioglu faced an early setback with a technical issue, necessitating a pit stop for a fresh set of tires. The Turkish rider immediately headed to the box, clearly prioritizing performance. Bezzecchi, the current championship leader, didn’t need to set a blistering lap to make his intentions clear – a solid, medium-compound run served as a pointed warning to his rivals.
Davide Tardozzi’s Hints of Further Development: DAZN’s cameras captured Davide Tardozzi, Ducati’s official team principal, alluding to significant electronic and setup improvements implemented over the weekend. He acknowledged the team’s persistent braking concerns, hinting at further refinements to come on Monday’s test. “We’re still feeling a lack of stopping power,” he stated bluntly.
Meanwhile, Bagnaia narrowly avoided disaster, running wide into the gravel on the first corner, a potentially costly error that highlighted the tricky nature of the circuit. Di Giannantonio, utilizing fresh medium tires, decisively overtook Márquez’s lap time, solidifying his position at the front.
Morbidelli, Raúl Fernández, Miller, and Acosta, all sporting new compounds, followed suit, showcasing a collective effort to optimize performance. The two VR46 riders occupied the top two slots. But the session ended with a dramatic fall for Jorge Martín, who crashed in the final sector – a perplexing incident that raised eyebrows.
Moto3 saw Máximo Quiles dominate, extending his lead by over three tenths. Joel Esteban, Carpe, and Almansa completed the top four. In Moto2, Baltus held onto a narrow lead, edging out Vietti by just 30 milliseconds. David Alonso suffered a crash, damaging his bike, while Dani Muñoz secured ninth place. The MSi team criticized the penalty awarded to Ferrández following his Austin crash, citing a pit lane restriction.
The session concluded with a clear demonstration of Ducati’s strength, leaving the paddock buzzing with anticipation for the remainder of the weekend. A strong start for Ducati, but the fight is far from over.