Marquez Speeds Ahead but Bagnaia and Martin Soar in Emilia Romagna MotoGP Practice

Marc Marquez feels quick and at ease, yet acknowledges that Bagnaia and Martin were exceptionally swift on the track. "I sense my speed and comfort. However, upon pausing, I noticed two individuals really soaring on the circuit today."

During Friday's practice session for the Emilia Romagna MotoGP, a pair of motorcyclists managed to clock times below 1 minute and 31 seconds while equipped with previously worn

Regrettably, Marc Marquez, the victor of San Marino, did not find himself among them.

Instead, Francesco Bagnaia and Jorge Martin outperformed the Gresini competitor, excelling in both race pace and quick laps on soft tyres.

Bagnaia, who finished second in both 'Misano 1' events, shattered the lap record en route to victory, with San Marino Sprint champion Martin trailing by 0.198 seconds.

Marquez secured the third spot, trailing Bagnaia by only 0.299 seconds, with the largest gap observed when using medium tires.

Bagnaia recorded a time of 1 minute and 30.902 seconds on medium tires that had been used for more than 11 laps. Similarly, Martin posted a time of 1 minute and 30.844 seconds on tires that had covered a comparable distance.

Marquez achieved his second fastest time with a 1 minute 31.292 seconds, closely followed by a 1 minute 31.490 seconds as his third quickest.

"Being in the top three is definitely a good thing. I'm feeling quick and at ease. However, when I took a break, I noticed two riders were really tearing it up out there on the track," Marquez shared with MotoGP.com. "Pecco and Martin were incredibly quick."

The move by Bagnaia and Martin caught many off guard, especially since Marquez had established a new race lap record using the medium tires just a fortnight earlier.

"Marquez acknowledged that while there are minor adjustments he can make, there is indeed a recurring trend this season. He noted, "When the race track has better grip, they outpace me."

"The traction today was exceptionally strong. You could tell by the times recorded per lap. Cooler weather conditions lead to improved traction, but also make everything feel more 'intense'. That's when I tend to feel slightly more uneasy, yet I managed to adjust effectively."

On Friday, Marco Bezzecchi was the second highest performing GP23 racer, right after Marquez, securing the seventh position. His team member and sibling, Alex Marquez, finished in 14th place.

At the Misano 1 event, Michelin expects that competitors will opt for a medium compound tyre on the front and a soft one at the rear for the Sprint race.

For Sunday's grand prix, the medium rear tire will be utilized, provided that the temperatures don't drop too low.

On Saturday, Marc Marquez is determined to steer clear of a recurrence of his ninth-place finish on the San Marino grid, following a crash during the qualifying round.

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