MotoGP Friday practice results: Bezzecchi delivers record-breaking title warning
Bezzecchi impressively went top in Aragon practice (Credit: Apex Agency)
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Connor Andrews is Formula 1 and MotoGP writer for GPblog and various outlets. Having worked in motorsport for 15 years for leading companies, he has interviewed the sports biggest names and attended multiple Grands Prix.
Marco Bezzecchi had a Friday to remember as he smashed the Aragon track record time and delivered another title warning to his rivals.
The Aprilia talent topped the timesheets with a 1'45.455, beating the previous MotoGP record by 0.38 seconds.
More tellingly, though, he was ahead of title rival Marc Marquez, who has historically dominated at the circuit and topped FP1.
Marquez was in third, below brother Alex in second, while championship leader Jorge Martin put his Aprilia seventh.
Being forced into Q1 was Marquez’s teammate Francesco Bagnaia, who could only guide his Ducati to 13th.
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There were also impressive performances from the returning Fermin Aldeguer and Johann Zarco who both avoided Q1 with top 10 finishes on their returns from long-term injuries.
Aragon Grand Prix MotoGP Friday practice results
| Pos. | No. | Rider | Time/Gap |
| 1 | 72 | Marco Bezzecchi | 1:45.455 |
| 2 | 73 | Alex Marquez | +0.010 |
| 3 | 93 | Marc Marquez | +0.038 |
| 4 | 49 | Fabio Di Giannantonio | +0.299 |
| 5 | 54 | Fermin Aldeguer | +0.440 |
| 6 | 25 | Raul Fernandez | +0.504 |
| 7 | 89 | Jorge Martin | +0.572 |
| 8 | 37 | Pedro Acosta | +0.609 |
| 9 | 21 | Franco Morbidelli | +0.763 |
| 10 | 5 | Johann Zarco | +0.843 |
| 11 | 11 | Diogo Moreira | +0.853 |
| 12 | 10 | Luca Marini | +0.921 |
| 13 | 63 | Francesco Bagnaia | +1.032 |
| 14 | 20 | Fabio Quartararo | +1.163 |
| 15 | 36 | Joan Mir | +1.168 |
| 16 | 42 | Alex Rins | +1.249 |
| 17 | 23 | Enea Bastianini | +1.494 |
| 18 | 33 | Brad Binder | +1.554 |
| 19 | 43 | Jack Miller | +1.638 |
| 20 | 44 | Pol Espargaro | +1.733 |
| 21 | 7 | Toprak Razgatlioglu | +1.902 |
| 22 | 32 | Lorenzo Savadori | +2.254 |
But Bezzecchi will undoubtedly steal the headlines should such form continue throughout the weekend.
The Italian started the season as the title favourite by winning the opening three rounds, but he went pointless for four straight rounds over the summer to tumble down the standings.
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Returning from an injury and surgery in Silverstone, he finished second in the Grand Prix to show he was far from done.
Now seemingly keeping up the form in Aragon, it's a huge boost for Bezzecchi who didn't expect as much at a track where his Spanish rival tends to dominate.
Bezzecchi didn't expect such a performance
Before the weekend, he commented: "The Silverstone race was great but tough, and immediately afterwards I suffered, especially with my left knee, which takes a long time to heal.
“Riding on it isn't the best thing, while my shoulder is better, but it's still not where I'd like it to be.
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"My shoulder is healing, but in the end it was a collarbone injury, not extremely serious, even if the fracture was large.
“The surgery took a little longer than other times I've been injured, but the real problem is my knee, due to the fluid effusion, which makes it difficult to bend my leg. I'm doing everything I can to speed up the healing, but I'll have to suffer.
“I gave it my all at Silverstone, and I'll give it my all here too. I like the track, but Marc Marquez will be very fast, like all the other Ducati riders. I'll do my best to survive."
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