2024 Spanish MotoGP, Jerez - Friday Practice Results

*Rookie.

Official Jerez MotoGP records  
Best lap: Francesco Bagnaia 1m 36.170s (2022)  
Fastest race lap: Francesco Bagnaia 1m 37.669s (2022) 

Francesco Bagnaia strikes back to lead Friday practice for the 2024 Spanish MotoGP with a new Jerez lap record, while Brad Binder and Dani Pedrosa are among those to miss the top ten cut and will be forced to take part in Qualifying 1.

In an hour-long session that saw nine fallers - Bezzecchi, Raul Fernandez, Vinales, Quartararo, Alex Marquez, Pedrosa, Oliveira, Miller and finally Binder - yellow flags were a persistent hazard.

Binder’s tumble, through the fast turn 7, was most costly. The South African had no time to return on his spare KTM and - like team-mate Jack Miller and wild-card star Pedrosa - was pushed out of the top ten.

By contrast, GASGAS rookie Pedro Acosta surged directly into Qualifying 2 by snatching sixth on his final run, having been in danger of a first Q1 appearance.

Aprilia’s double COTA winner Maverick Vinales got closest to reigning champion Bagnaia. Marc Marquez was under Pecco’s record time heading into the final sector, but lost his advantage and slotted into third.

• Spanish Moto2: Latest Results
• Spanish Moto3: Latest Results

Home star and 31-time MotoGP race winner Dani Pedrosa headlines three wild-card entries this weekend, alongside Honda’s Stefan Bradl and Aprilia’s Lorenzo Savadori.

The trio are all race-testing some new parts. Pedrosa remains tight-tipped on the KTM developments, Savadori is described as riding a 'lab bike' (but no sign of the carbon fibre frame) and Bradl's Honda visibly features extensive aero updates.

Weather forecasts warn of possible rain on Saturday.

*Rookie.

Official Jerez MotoGP records  
Best lap: Francesco Bagnaia 1m 36.170s (2022)  
Fastest race lap: Francesco Bagnaia 1m 37.669s (2022)  

The Marquez brothers make a dream start to their home Spanish MotoGP with first and second in opening practice at Jerez.

Marc headed Alex at the top of the timesheets for almost the entire 45-minute session, before Alex became the only rider to fit new soft rubber front and rear and blasted half-a-second clear with a 1m 36.630s in the closing minutes.

The Aprilias of COTA winner Maverick Vinales and factory team-mate Aleix Espargaro were best-of-the-rest behind the Gresini Ducatis, after fitting new medium rear at the end. Franco Morbidelli was a strong fifth for Pramac Ducati, followed by sixth for Marco Bezzecchi (VR46 Ducati).

Wild-card Dani Pedrosa couldn’t repeat last year’s stunning P1 in opening practice, but still claimed top RC16 honours with a competitive seventh ahead of KTM regular Brad Binder and Pramac title leader Jorge Martin.

On his way to tenth, Rookie Pedro Acosta got his wish of following Pedrosa for a few laps at the end of the session.

Defending Jerez winner and reigning champion Francesco Bagnaia - looking for his first podium since the Qatar opener - pitted early with possible technical issues on his factory Ducati and spent much of FP1 towards the tail end of the timesheets before rising to 12th.

Johann Zarco was the first faller of the weekend, losing the front of his LCR Honda at Turn 8 at the midway stage of the morning. Tech3’s Augusto Fernandez brought out more ‘yellows’ in the closing minutes.