The first MotoGP session for the Australian GP had only limited significance. Even before the big chase began, heavy rain began. Good for Ducati Corse: Bagnaia finished FP1 in second place.
After a stormy Australian GP, MotoGP was back in Southeast Asia. Matching conditions include high temperatures but a potential risk of rain. After it rained heavily on Friday night, there was still a streak of moisture at the start of the first session in the shadow of the huge main grandstand – but all relevant areas of the race track were dry.
In addition to the 19 regular drivers, the three replacement drivers also took to the track. As in Australia, Michele Pirro represents Marc Marquez, Pol Espargaro represents Maverick Vinales and Lorenzo Savadori controls Jorge Martin’s machine. Also back at the start: Augusto Fernandez. The Spaniard, who finished well tenth in the Malaysia GP in 2024 as a regular driver, is driving the new M1 with a V-engine for the second time in Misano in his role as Yamaha test driver.
The fact that KTM in particular has an exceptional replacement driver was once again shown by Pol Espargaro, who was at the top of the time monitor after ten minutes. Things were less optimal in the neighboring box because Pedro Acosta slipped in turn 2 right at the start of FP1. The fifth-place finisher was able to get the RC16 going again straight away.
When all pilots had zeroed in on the Sepang International Circuit after 15 minutes, Fermin Aldeguer and – to the relief of Ducati Corse – Pecco Bagnaia and two bikes from Bologna took the first positions. When Joan Mir improved to 3rd place and Luca Marini to 5th, the Honda drivers had once again had a promising start.
At the halfway point of FP1 the picture had changed little. With the two Desmosedici at the front, Mir, Espargaro and Marini, Yamaha rider Quartararo was able to find himself in 7th place behind Alex Marquez. Pedro Acosta and Marco Bezzecchi completed the top 10. At this point the 2:00 minute mark had not yet been broken. For comparison: the best lap ever driven in Sepang belongs to Pecco Bagnaia, who stormed around the course in 1:56.337 minutes in 2024.
Then excitement in the Gresini box. Co-favorite Alex Marquez crashed in turn 7. Twenty minutes before the end, the Ducati of the uninjured World Championship runner-up arrived for repairs. Five minutes later Jack Miller, who tried to improve further from 9th place, crashed in the finish corner.
With twelve minutes on the clock, the hustle and bustle on the slopes came to an abrupt end. The sky had opened and rain was drumming on the slopes. All pilots headed for their teams.
Australia winner Raul Fernandez was not able to shine, at least in FP1. The Trackhouse athlete ended up in 19th place, 1.5 seconds behind. Augusto Fernandez reached position 22 on the development Yamaha. He was already 2.7 seconds behind.
In terms of lap times, the start was over after half an hour. With Aldeguer (1st), Mir (3rd), Espargaro (4th), Bezzecchi, who was able to improve to 5th place shortly before the rain, and Fabio Quartararo (8th), all manufacturers were also in the top positions in Malaysia.
Quartararo, Espargaro, Bezzecchi and a few other brave souls took to the track again with rain tires. But it was raining so heavily that it was no longer possible to speak of regular conditions.
Results MotoGP Sepang, FP1 (October 24)
1. Aldeguer (E), Dukes, 2:00.199 min
2. Francesco Bagnaia (I), Ducati, +0.256 sec
3. Joan Mir (E), Honda, +0.349
4. Pol Espargaro (E), KTM, +0.382
5. Marco Bezzecchi (I), Aprilia, +0.392
6. Luca Marini (I), Honda, +0.403
7. Alex Marquez (E), Ducati, +0,521
8. Fabio Quartararo (F), Yamaha, +0.534
9. Jack Miller (AUS), Yamaha, +0.607
10. Pedro Acosta (L), KTM, +0.664
11. Franco Morbidelli (I), Ducati, +0.964
12. Brad Binder (ZA), KTM, +1,062
13. Ai Ogura (J), Aprilia, +1,076
14. Johann Zarco (F), Honda, +1,114
15. Enea Bastianini (I), KTM, +1.139
16. Miguel Oliveira (P), Yamaha, +1,200
17. Fabio Di Giannantonio (I), Ducati, +1.266
18. Alex Rins (E), Yamaha, +1,380
19. Raul Fernandez (E), Aprilia, +1,558
20. Michele Pirro (I), Ducati, +2.197
21. Lorenzo Savadori (I), Aprilia, +2,649
22. Augusto Fernandez (E), Yamaha, +2,753
23. Somkiat Chantra (T), Honda, +2,786
