Marc Marquez Sets Blistering Pace on Day 1 in Aragon
The 2024 MotoGP World Championship leader, Marc Marquez, has laid down the gauntlet on the first day of practice in Aragon, setting a scorching pace to leave his rivals in his wake. According to Superbike-News, Marquez’s best lap of 1:46.397 was good enough to see him finish 0.204 seconds clear of his title rival, Alex Marquez.
The Ducati Lenovo Team rider’s pace was unmatched, with Maverick Viñales, riding for Red Bull KTM Tech3, the only other rider able to get within a second of Marquez’s time, eventually finishing 0.556 seconds adrift. As Superbike-News reports, Marquez’s advantage over Alex Marquez was a significant one, with the #93’s lap time being a whopping 1.1 seconds quicker than second place, Brad Binder.
The day’s practice saw a number of riders jostling for position, with Pedro Acosta, riding for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, initially holding second place before being demoted as Marquez and Viñales improved their times. As the session drew to a close, Marquez’s dominance was clear, with the 2020 World Champion, Joan Mir, on his Honda HRC Castrol bike, setting a fantastic late lap to earn fourth place and direct Q2 entry.
Binder’s teammate, Acosta, made it two KTMs inside the top five, while Johann Zarco, on his CASTROL Honda LCR bike, ended the day in a positive sixth place. The top ten was rounded out by rookie Fermin Aldeguer, on his BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP bike, Francesco Bagnaia, on his Ducati Lenovo Team bike, and Franco Morbidelli, on his Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team bike.
A number of high-profile riders, including Fabio Quartararo, on his Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP bike, and Marco Bezzecchi, on his Aprilia Racing bike, were forced to navigate the perilous Q1 session after failing to crack the top ten. As Superbike-News notes, all five Yamahas, including Quartararo, face a tough challenge in Q1.
The question on everyone’s mind is, can anyone stop Marc Marquez in Aragon? The answer will have to wait until tomorrow, when qualifying takes place at 10:50 and the Tissot Sprint gets underway at 15:00. With Marquez’s blistering pace on Day 1, it’s clear that he’s the one to beat in Aragon. As Superbike-News reports, Marquez’s incredible form has him in a strong position to take the win.
The stage is set for an exciting day of racing in Aragon, with Marquez looking to continue his dominance and his rivals eager to mount a challenge. One thing is certain, though – Marc Marquez is the man to beat, and it’s up to the rest of the field to try and catch him.
In related news, fans can stay up to date with all the latest MotoGP news by visiting the official MotoGP website, www.motogp.com. Alternatively, fans can check out the dedicated MotoGP news page on Superbike-News for all the latest updates and analysis.
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