MotoGP Jerez 2026 FP1: Di Giannantonio tops the times, Ducati straight to the front

MotoGP Jerez 2026 FP1 results: standings and times from the first session

JEREZ – Friday at the 2026 Spanish Grand Prix opens with Ducati in the spotlight. In the first free practice session (FP1), it is Fabio Di Giannantonio who sets the fastest time with a solid 1:36.954, immediately putting pressure on the entire field.

Behind him is Franco Morbidelli (+0.288), author of a very consistent session, while Alex Marquez (+0.378) finishes in third place, confirming an excellent feeling with the Andalusian track in front of the home crowd.

MotoGP Jerez 2026 FP1 standings (Top 5)

Fabio Di Giannantonio – 1:36.954

Franco Morbidelli +0.288

Alex Marquez +0.378

Marco Bezzecchi +0.393

Marc Marquez +0.542

Ducati the star of FP1: strong signs at Jerez

The top five confirms the great competitiveness of the Borgo Panigale manufacturer, with three bikes in the leading positions. Marco Bezzecchi finishes fourth, just 393 thousandths off, while Marc Marquez is fifth, a little over half a second down, a sign of an extremely tight field.

Balance on track: tiny gaps between the best

The top five riders are split by just 0.5 seconds, a fact that shows how unpredictable the Spanish weekend could become from the next sessions onwards.

FP1 Jerez analysis: race pace, tyres and track conditions

The conditions of the Jerez asphalt, notoriously abrasive and technical, pushed the teams to work mainly on race pace. Even so, Di Giannantonio's time is particularly significant, set in a session where many avoided a pure time attack.

Tyre strategies and wear management

Several teams tested alternative solutions for tyre management, a factor that could prove decisive both in the Sprint Race and in Sunday’s race.

MotoGP Jerez 2026: the key themes of the weekend

Ducati in sparkling form

Solid, consistent performances: the Italian manufacturer confirms itself as the technical benchmark also at Jerez.

Morbidelli on the rise

An important second place that boosts the ambitions of the Italian-Brazilian rider.

Marquez under the spotlight

A performance close to the best, but his race pace in the fight for victory still needs to be assessed.

Next MotoGP Jerez sessions: FP2, qualifying and Sprint Race

FP2 will be decisive for direct access to Q2, while qualifying and the Sprint Race will define the first concrete pecking order of the weekend.