Italian rider Enea “The Beast” Bastianini on the Ducati Desmosedici GP21 led the early charge of the formidable Ducati squad as Fabio Quartararo of Yamaha, the world championship leader, watched the pace unfold at Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli in Romagna during the San Marino Grand Prix opening practice.
Up to four Ducatis sat ahead of Quartararo, with the remaining two completing the top nine while the only Spaniards besides the leader were Aprilia riders who finished among the field. Maverick Viñales and Aleix Espargaró placed sixth and seventh respectively.
In the morning session Viñales had shown strong pace on the Aprilia RS-GP, but this time Espargaró and Quartararo were the fastest in the first session, setting a high bar for the afternoon runs.
Notably, Francesco Bagnaia, the local talent nicknamed Pecco, struggled with a difficult session that saw him briefly fall behind in the title fight. A collision risk and a late crash at Turn thirteen after the opening laps disrupted his rhythm. The accident prompted a quick swap to a second bike as the team worked to recover performance.
Bagnaia escaped harm, but the incident disrupted his setup and slowed progress until repairs could be completed. In the meantime Quartararo continued pressuring his rivals, pushing forward and reclaiming the lead with an aggressive push.
As the session wore on, Quartararo capitalized on a soft rear tire strategy to extend his advantage, maneuvering past Viñales and setting a target time with less than a quarter of the session remaining. The effort kept Quartararo in the fight for pole, despite Viñales and a handful of Ducatis staying close behind.
With the lap times tightening, Quartararo opened with a 1:31.878 but the contest ahead promised tougher rounds. The eight or nine riders at the sharp end included Ducati riders who were ready to challenge the world champion, with Pecco Bagnaia among the main rivals.
On the day, Enea Bastianini led the Ducati pack, finishing fastest, followed closely by Bagnaia, Jack Miller, and Johann Zarco, who completed the top four. The results underscored Ducati’s plan to position multiple bikes ahead of rivals, inserting strong contenders behind Quartararo’s efforts for the best possible time. Viñales and Aleix Espargaró, along with Spanish rider Jorge Martín and Italian Marco Bezzecchi, trailed in a bit further, but stayed in the fight.
Franco Morbidelli, driving a Yamaha YZR M 1, sat near the edge of direct access to the second classification before slipping back. Other riders such as Pol Espargaró, Miguel Oliveira, Alex Rins, Alex Márquez, and Raul Fernandez encountered a variety of challenges, including crashes and mechanical issues, which affected their positions.
Meanwhile, Kazuki Watanabe stood in for the injured Joan Mir aboard the Suzuki and achieved a respectable qualifying performance, improving markedly from the morning session where the rider focused on easing back into competition after the injury.
Moto2 and Moto3
Celestino Vietti remained the rider to beat in Moto2 after a rough crash in the second free practice session on Kalex, maintaining the top spot from the morning. Alonso López, Mattia Pasini, Augusto Fernández, and Jake Dixon completed the top five as the opening day progressed.
In Moto3, Dennis Foggia led on the first day of free practice on a Honda, with Sergio García Dols beating the field behind him on a GasGas machine. Ayumu Sasaki of Japan stood in second, while Tatsuki Suzuki and others chased behind. Guevara, Masiá and others also took part in a competitive session with varied results.
These outcomes reflect the intensity across the track as riders prepare for the qualifiers and the main races. The San Marino Grand Prix weekend showcased Ducati strength and the ongoing battles across the three classes as teams seek every advantage ahead of the next rounds in Europe. The action provided a snapshot of the current form and the evolving dynamics that will shape the championship by the season’s end, with teams analyzing tire strategies, bike setups, and race tactics for all classes. The atmosphere around Misano was vibrant, with fans closely watching the evolving competition and the evolving storylines that define MotoGP today. The competition remains fierce as riders push to maximize performance while managing the risks that come with high-speed racing on a demanding circuit.