Watch Emilia Romagna MotoGP — Practice 1 Free.

What's at Stake

As MotoGP returns to the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, the opening practice session is critical for establishing a competitive baseline. With the championship battle intensifying in the latter half of the season, securing a direct route into Q2 is paramount for the title contenders. Every fraction of a second found in this session will shape the setup strategy for a weekend where grid position heavily influences the final race outcome.

Form Guide

This second consecutive round at the Misano circuit brings a unique dynamic, as teams and riders carry over valuable data from the previous race weekend and subsequent official test. The riders who dominated the front of the field during the last outing hold a distinct advantage, while those who struggled are under immense pressure to utilize their fresh telemetry to close the gap immediately in Practice 1.

Key Players to Watch

• Francesco Bagnaia — The reigning champion is exceptionally strong on his home turf and will look to establish dominance from the very first lap.
• Jorge Martin — As a primary title protagonist, his explosive natural speed makes him a constant threat to top the timesheets in early sessions.
• Marc Marquez — Having shown masterclasses in adaptability and race craft recently, he remains a key threat as he refines his setup for the Misano layout.

Prediction

Ducati's local specialists are expected to set the benchmark early in this session due to their extensive data library at the circuit. Francesco Bagnaia is predicted to top the leaderboard in Practice 1, closely followed by Jorge Martin, as the title favorites immediately assert their authority. The familiarity of the track will likely result in incredibly tight lap times across the entire grid.