Marc Marquez and Pecco Bagnaia Face Challenges in Thailand’s…

The inaugural day of the 2025 MotoGP season in Thailand was marked by a surprising performance from Alex Marquez, who topped the timesheets, while his brother Marc faced setbacks due to yellow flags. Francesco Bagnaia struggled significantly, finishing in 13th place after experiencing issues with lap cancellations. The competitive nature of the field was evident, as several riders emerged as strong contenders ahead of crucial qualifying sessions.

The 2025 MotoGP season commenced with an unconventional first Friday in Thailand, where the anticipated dominance of Ducati’s Marc and Alex Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia faced unexpected hurdles. While Marc Marquez led early in the day, it was his brother Alex who eventually clinched the fastest lap, demonstrating the fierce rivalry within the family.

Marc briefly held the fastest time before Alex edged him out with a lap at 1m29.020s on a similar Ducati setup. Despite late yellow flags that nullified Marc’s best lap of 1m28.891s, he expressed a mix of competitiveness and camaraderie with his brother. “When it’s your brother, it’s ok…The biggest surprise of the pre-season was my brother, but it’s not a surprise anymore.”

Francesco Bagnaia experienced a particularly challenging day, starting quietly and struggling for pace due to a series of unfortunate incidents. His promising lap was incorrectly canceled due to misreported yellow flags, leading him to finish the day in 13th place. He acknowledged that he had closed the gap somewhat to Marc’s pace, despite experiencing difficult conditions in practice.

The first day’s practice showcased strong performances from various manufacturers, with notable times including Pedro Acosta from KTM in third and Joan Mir from Honda securing sixth. Bagnaia’s performance, while limited by the day’s setbacks, indicated he could potentially make a comeback, expressing, “I think Bez and Alex Marquez are quite strong but I’m happy with my performance.”

As the MotoGP riders prepare for qualifying, the intensity and competition are expected to rise. While Ducati seems well-positioned, Honda’s Joan Mir revealed positive momentum, claiming, “light at the end of the tunnel” for the team. The possibility of a competitive season hinges on riders overcoming their practice struggles and the performance of the new bike setups.

Major names like Fabio Quartararo from Yamaha and Marco Bezzecchi from Aprilia demonstrated their capabilities, suggesting a thrilling season ahead. With Ducati’s dominance in question and a more competitive field emerging, the opening round in Thailand could set the tone for the remainder of the season.

In summary, the first day of the 2025 MotoGP season in Thailand highlighted the intense rivalry between the Marquez brothers and the challenges faced by Francesco Bagnaia. While Marc and Alex Marquez demonstrated excellent pace, Bagnaia struggled with setbacks that pushed him down the rankings. As the competition heats up, Ducati remains a strong contender but will need consistent performance from all riders to maintain their edge against a competitive field. The stage is set for promising battles and unexpected turns as the season unfolds.

Original Source: www.crash.net