Live updates from the Friday practice sessions at the 2026 MotoGP Czech Grand Prix at Brno. Practice is due to start at 15:00 local time.
Marco Bezzecchi arrives at the Czech MotoGP leading the championship by 20 points over Jorge Martin after both factory Aprilias crashed out of the Hungary race two weeks ago.
The cause of that double-DNF was Martin's loss of control entering the first turn. Bezzecchi said yesterday that there is no change in the atmosphere at Aprilia after the incident, while Martin offered a different opinion on the cause of the crash to Aprilia Racing CEO Massimo Rivola, who blamed a Martin error for the crash immediately after the race at Balaton.
Both factory Aprilia riders struggled this morning. Martin suffered a technical issue on one of his bikes and ended up 14th, while Marco Bezzecchi ran off at the penultimate turn on his first lap and could only manage 16th in the end.
The consequence in the championship of the two Aprilias not scoring in Hungary is that Marc Marquez closed his points deficit down to 72 points compared to Bezzecchi. The reigning champion was the winner at Brno last year, beating Bezzecchi and Pedro Acosta in what was a commanding performance. Hungary was Marquez's first win of the season, although the long corners of Brno should theoretically be more suited to the Aprilia.
In comparison to the two Aprilias, Marquez was in emphatic form this morning, finishing 0.2 seconds clear of the field despite a late crash, having been the only rider to lap in the 1m53s for most of the session.
Marc Marquez is not the only Marquez brother on the grid this weekend as Alex Marquez makes his return after his Catalunya crash. The Gresini rider was passed fit yesterday but will have to undergo another medical assessment after FP1 to verify his capacity to continue the weekend. Speaking yesterday, Marquez explained the importance of returning this weekend after a month without racing. This morning, Marquez finished 18th, 1.2 seconds off the pace.
Johann Zarco is still not yet ready to come back from his knee injury from Catalunya and will be replaced again by Cal Crutchlow this weekend, the British rider entering his third round of the season. Crutchlow is also due to replace Zarco at the Dutch TT next weekend.
On Monday there is a post-race test with the 850cc bikes and Pirelli tyres and it has already caused some controversy, mostly because not all riders are eligible to take part because some are moving brands next year. Fabio Di Giannantonio described this as "not fair" yesterday, while Francesco Bagnaia's idea for riders changing teams next year should be able to ride 1,000cc machines in the test was thwarted.
Martin has pulled off track, looks like a technical problem for the 2024 champion. Not a great start to the day for him.
Looks like the bike cut out as he was practicing the long lap loop. He has to serve two in the race on Sunday as a result of the Balaton crash.
Marquez improves again at the top, he's 0.7s clear of the field now and still the only rider in the 1m53s.
Martin improves his time but only P14 and 1.3s off the pace. Fernandez currently the leading Aprilia in P6 but 0.7s off the pace.
Both factory riders of course have some degree of physical limitation this weekend after the Balaton crash. Bezzecchi yesterday noted that he hadn't been able to ride since Hungary, so today is his first time riding since the crash.
Vinales also back out on-track, his first lap is 2.9s off the pace. Moreira the only rider without a lap time now.
A lot of riders back in the pits now. Acosta one exception after his crash earlier and he's just gone fifth, albeit 0.7s off the pace.
Only the top eight at the moment within a second of Marquez.
Championship leader Bezzecchi P10 and +1.2s.
Marc Marquez the first rider into the 1m53s and over half-a-second clear of the field.
Pedro Acosta just heading back out of the pits on his spare bike.
Good start for Ducati. Top-four currently all on Desmosedici: Aldeguer ahead of Bagnaia, Di Giannantonio, and Marc Marquez.
Binder the leading non-Ducati in fifth. Decent start for Quartararo in P6 as well.
Moreira has also crashed. Turn eight for the Brazilian. It is exceptionally hot for an FP1 session, track temperature is already at 39C, so perhaps that is having an impact.
Already a crash early on here, Pedro Acosta has gone down at turn nine. Just lost the front as he came towards the exit.
Vinales has gone down as well. Not a great start for KTM.
Bezzecchi has also run off the track at the penultimate corner but hasn't gone down, just a run through the gravel. Bizarre start to this session.
Pit lane is open in Brno and we are underway for FP1.
Alex Marquez makes his return to MotoGP today after his Catalunya crash a month ago.
The Spaniard said yesterday that he remembers "everything" about the crash and that he felt it was important to try to return this weekend after a month away.
Full story here.
The incident at Balaton involving the two factory Aprilias leads to questions of a change of atmosphere between Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martin.
Bezzecchi yesterday said, simply, "no" in response to these suggestions, although his lack of any kind of elaboration perhaps draws more conclusions than the monosyllabic opinion of the Italian.
Full story here.
Since Balaton the subject of the cause of the turn one incidents has been central to MotoGP discourse.
Start devices have taken a degree of blame from many riders, but Marc Marquez said yesterday that he thinks the quantity of starts riders do in a weekend now means that incidents are more likely.
Full story here.
Welcome to live coverage of the Friday practice sessions from the 2026 Czech MotoGP. FP1 is due to start in around 45 minutes at 10:50 local time.