MotoGP: Marquez ahead of everyone after the first free practice in Thailand, then Martin and Bastianini. Bagnaia 4th, all very close

Table of Contents

• 1 Marc is the favourite: “A lot will depend on qualifying”
• 2 Martin confesses: “I only have one thing on my mind, the world championship”
• 3 Bastianini: “Marquez and Martin make the difference”
• 4 Ducati bullies, Aprilia tries with Vinales
• 5 Quartararo and a Yamaha that makes no progress
• 6 Francesco, can you share some insights into the data analysis process that your team utilizes to enhance performance‍ during race weekends?

Marc Marquez is still ahead of everyone and – just like last Sunday in Australia – Martin closes behind the Catalan. But this time Bastianini takes the last step of the (virtual) podium from Bagnaia at the end of the first day of free practice on the circuit of Buriram. Jorge and Pecco, fighting for the title, seem to have resolved some set-up problems that had emerged during the morning session: in the end they were separated from each other by just 85 thousandths. Tomorrow, before the qualifications (scheduled for 5 am Italian time, the sprint is at 10 am), they will also try to get to the bottom of the unknowns which as always – but especially on this Thai track which requires impressive ‘breakaways’ – are linked to the choice of tires. Today the 4 fastest are within less than 2 tenths: in the sporting battle between Martin and Bagnaia there are good reasons to believe they will fit in Marquez and Bastianini. Everything suggests that it will be a very balanced weekend: it is impressive to note that between the best time and the tenth – we are talking about the drivers who go directly to Q2 – there is a gap of half a second. And Binder, 11th on the KTM, is out by just one thousandth.

Marc is the favourite: “A lot will depend on qualifying”

Marc Marquez smiles and explains: “In Austria there was the turning point of my season: there we found something that allowed us to be more competitive, because already on Friday we go fast and everything becomes easier.” Is it the big favorite here in Thailand? “I don’t know, I always race to win and then it depends on many things. At the moment the pace is good, I feel good even if I have to improve in the first part of the track. Much will depend on the qualifications.”

Martin confesses: “I only have one thing on my mind, the world championship”

Jorge Martin confesses: “I did nothing but think about this world championship and I woke up at 6 in the morning with only that in mind: I needed the track, I couldn’t wait to ride to stop tormenting myself.” Today he rode around for a long time, barely touching his Ducati. “I preferred to understand the bike, which because of the track went wild like a horse: physically, in this heat, it will be a challenging weekend. I wanted to try the tires, find. The time attack didn’t go badly either, but the other 3 are very strong: tomorrow and after will be really tough.”

Bastianini: “Marquez and Martin make the difference”

Bastianini is halfway satisfied: “In the morning I didn’t feel very good, but then I continued to improve. There was some good progress, despite my mistake at the start of the second session. But we’re still missing something: we need stability, not brakes like Marquez and Martin, who at the moment are stronger and making the difference.”

Ducati bullies, Aprilia tries with Vinales

All the Ducatis, except that of Di Giannantonio (who will return to Europe to undergo shoulder surgery), enter Q2: between Bagnaia and Morbidelli Vinales’ Aprilia enters (5th), Acosta with the Ktm is 7th and Zarco takes Honda to 10th place. In the first session the fastest was Bezzecchi, who finished 9th at the end of pre-qualifying. At a certain point Bagnaia seemed worried, looking for the right set-up: then he calmed down, finishing close to a Martin who was very confident from the start. Bastianini immediately crashed in the second session due to a distraction, but then he made himself felt. Marquez did a great lap, even in terms of pace he seemed to be up to par with the other 3.

Quartararo and a Yamaha that makes no progress

Among the riders forced into Q1 is Quartararo, who at a certain point seemed to have found the right rhythm with the M1. “In reality my time is the same as what we did with Yamaha 5 years ago. We continue to make no progress, I’m always at the limit, I slip in all the corners and in acceleration”, moans the Frenchman.