In a rain-soaked Friday practice session at the Tissot Grand Prix of Czechia, Marc Marquez of the Ducati Lenovo Team emerged as the fastest rider, clocking a time of 2:03.935. This marks a strong return for the championship leader, who demonstrated impressive speed despite challenging wet conditions. Johann Zarco finished as the best of the rest, achieving second place with a time of 2:04.404 on his CASTROL Honda LCR, while Fabio Quartararo secured third with a time of 2:04.465 on his Monster Energy Yamaha YZR-M1.
Marco Bezzecchi showcased his skills as he finished the session fourth (2:04.492) riding for Aprilia Racing, followed closely by Jorge Martin, who made a notable comeback, finishing fifth. Both Bezzecchi and Martin are eager to capitalize on the new surface at Brno, which has been reported to provide better grip, enhancing the riders’ overall performance as the rain subsided.
The session was marked by interruptions due to heavy downpours, initially causing delays, but once practice resumed, riders were quick to adapt to the wet surface. Throughout the session, it became evident that conditions were changing; however, many found it challenging to improve upon their times as the track remained slippery in several areas.
A key moment came when Alex Marquez, who had slid off at Turn 7, scrambled back to the pits, allowing him to get back on track just in time. He secured a remarkable P9 finish with a time of 2:04.993, guaranteeing his spot in the upcoming qualifying session.
As the competition heats up, Saturday promises to deliver more excitement with qualifying followed by the Sprint race, where fans will see if Marquez can maintain his leadership or if his competitors can close the gap.
The rain might have challenged the riders, but it has also set the stage for thrilling races ahead, as competitors adapt and strategize in what looks to be an exhilarating weekend of MotoGP action in Brno.