MotoGP Aragon GP: Marquez remains on top in second practice

Marquez carries his form into second practice of the day, as all four Aprilias make it directly into Q2

Marc Marquez took the first step towards ending a 1000-day MotoGP dry spell by rushing to first place in second practice for the Aragon Grand Prix, shaving over two tenths of a second from the all-time lap record at MotorLand Aragon.

The slick condition of the new asphalt improved for the main practice and in the wake of fresh milestones for both Moto3 and Moto2 in their respective sessions on Friday. The surface was warmer and laden with more Pirelli rubber and the MotoGP field marked the difference compared to tentative times set in the morning.

Gresini rider Marquez led the pack for most of the chrono and set his MotorLand landmark on his 23rd lap of 24. The Catalan has not won a grand prix since Misano in 2021 and will now head directly into Q2 optimistic of his first pole position since the opening fixture of 2023 in Portugal.

Aleix Espargaro took the factory Aprilia from the bottom of the classification in FP1 to second place with an effort only four hundredths from world champion Francesco Bagnaia’s 2022 record. He fronted team-mate Maverick Vinales who was fastest in every single sector apart from the long, looping lefthanded Turn 16, where Marquez had the upper hand on the GP23.

Jorge Martin was the first Ducati GP24 racer in fourth ahead of Alex Marquez who benefited from his brother’s slipstream. Bagnaia improved to sixth, while Ducati team-mate Enea Bastianini had his final flying lap scrubbed due to a crash by KTM’s Jack Miller at Turn 16 which drew out the yellow flags.

Franco Morbidelli secured seventh ahead of a surprising speed by LCR Honda’s Johann Zarco; the Frenchman slotted the maligned HRC motorcycle into eighth for the first direct entry to Saturday’s Q2 for the Japanese firm this year. Trackhouse Aprilia duo Raul Fernandez and Miguel Oliveira filled the other automatic Q2 spots respectively.

Fabio Quartararo crashed into the fast approach to Turn 6 and was mired down in 20th. Augusto Fernandez, close to confirming his role as a Yamaha test rider for 2024, fell on the final corner, Turn 16.

Q1 gets underway at 10.50 local times CET (09.50 GMT) and Q2 at 11.15 CET on Saturday.

MotoGP Aragon GP - FP2 results:

1 - 2
Cla	Rider	#	Bike	Laps	Time	Interval	km/h	Speed Trap
1	M. Marquez Gresini Racing	93	Ducati	24	1'45.801		172.784	339
2	A. Espargaro Aprilia Racing Team	41	Aprilia	21	+0.272 1'46.073	0.272	172.341	340
3	M. Viñales Aprilia Racing Team	12	Aprilia	22	+0.316 1'46.117	0.044	172.270	337
4	J. Martin Pramac Racing	89	Ducati	22	+0.578 1'46.379	0.262	171.845	345
5	A. Marquez Gresini Racing	73	Ducati	17	+0.605 1'46.406	0.027	171.802	334
6	F. Bagnaia Ducati Team	1	Ducati	20	+0.790 1'46.591	0.185	171.504	341
7	F. Morbidelli Pramac Racing	21	Ducati	23	+0.904 1'46.705	0.114	171.320	339
8	J. Zarco Team LCR	5	Honda	23	+0.931 1'46.732	0.027	171.277	342
9	R. Fernández Trackhouse Racing Team	25	Aprilia	22	+1.039 1'46.840	0.108	171.104	338
10	M. Oliveira Trackhouse Racing Team	88	Aprilia	20	+1.054 1'46.855	0.015	171.080	342
11	B. Binder Red Bull KTM Factory Racing	33	KTM	21	+1.083 1'46.884	0.029	171.034	341
12	P. Acosta Tech 3	31	KTM	22	+1.131 1'46.932	0.048	170.957	346
13	F. Di Giannantonio Team VR46	49	Ducati	18	+1.145 1'46.946	0.014	170.934	334
14	M. Bezzecchi Team VR46	72	Ducati	24	+1.228 1'47.029	0.083	170.802	339
15	E. Bastianini Ducati Team	23	Ducati	23	+1.230 1'47.031	0.002	170.799	340
16	J. Miller Red Bull KTM Factory Racing	43	KTM	21	+1.468 1'47.269	0.238	170.420	341
17	L. Marini Repsol Honda Team	10	Honda	22	+1.479 1'47.280	0.011	170.402	338
18	A. Fernandez Tech 3	37	KTM	19	+1.501 1'47.302	0.022	170.367	339
19	A. Rins Yamaha Factory Racing	42	Yamaha	20	+1.599 1'47.400	0.098	170.212	337
20	F. Quartararo Yamaha Factory Racing	20	Yamaha	20	+1.600 1'47.401	0.001	170.210	336
21	J. Mir Repsol Honda Team	36	Honda	21	+2.042 1'47.843	0.442	169.513	340
22	T. Nakagami Team LCR	30	Honda	22	+2.640 1'48.441	0.598	168.578	335
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