ALEX MARQUEZ LEADS MARCO BEZZECCHI IN SILVERSTONE MOTOGP FP1

Alex Marquez kicked off the British Grand Prix fastest of all in FP1

Alex Marquez led the way in FP1 at Silverstone
© Gold and Goose

Gresini Ducati MotoGP rider Alex Marquez was fastest of all by 0.173s in opening practice for the MotoGP British Grand Prix ahead of the returning Marco Bezzecchi.

The first round after the summer break takes place at Silverstone, which has seen 11 different winners in the last 11 editions of the British Grand Prix.

Alex Marquez will be looking to add his name to that list this weekend, having taken a sprint victory previously at the former RAF airbase.

Alex Marquez, 2026 Silverstone MotoGP.
© Gold and Goose

He got his weekend off to the best start on the Gresini Ducati, posting a 1m58.692s to lead the field by 0.173s.

The younger Marquez brother headed the leading Aprilia of Marco Bezzecchi, who is making his comeback following a collarbone injury in Germany ahead of the summer break.

Last year’s British Grand Prix winner completed 13 laps on his RS-GP and was faster than KTM’s Pedro Acosta, who was the only crasher in FP1.

Bezzecchi set the early pace at the start of the 45-minute FP1 at 2m01.807s, before Aprilia counterpart Raul Fernandez - fresh from signing a new two-year deal with Trackhouse - took over with a 1m59.807s.

Alex Marquez hit the front for the first time with just under 10 minutes of the session gone with a 1m59.436s, before Jorge Martin edged ahead on the sister factory team Aprilia with a 1m59.372s.

Gresini’s Marquez would post his session-topping 1m58.692s lap with around 30 minutes to go, and would not be challenged through to the chequered flag.

Bezzecchi moved up to second, while Acosta fitted some fresh rubber to move up to third with a 1m58.974s after a crash at Stowe with 20 minutes remaining.

Fernandez was fourth on the Trackhouse Aprilia, while Fabio Di Giannantonio was fifth on the VR46 Ducati.

Marc Marquez was sixth on the factory team Ducati, while Ai Ogura was only seventh on the Trackhouse Aprilia despite a switch to fresh medium rubber late on.

A FAST crash for @37_pedroacosta at Stowe 🫢#BritishGP 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/ylxm1Ui2hp

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) August 7, 2026

Championship leader Martin was eighth on a 1m59.372s, while Franco Morbidelli was ninth on the second of the VR46 Ducatis.

Pecco Bagnaia completed the top 10 on the second of the factory team Ducatis.

Joan Mir was Honda’s leading campaigner in 11th, while Fabio Quartararo led the Yamaha charge in 15th.

Gresini stand-in Iker Lecuona was 16th, while Pol Espargaro was 21st for Tech3 as he stands in for Pol Espargaro.

Home hero Cal Crutchlow was 22nd on the LCR Honda.

- Lewis Duncan

DUCATI STATEMENT REVEALS HINT INTO PEDRO ACOSTA MOTOGP SIGNING

Ducati calls Pedro Acosta “one of the most talented riders in MotoGP” after confirming the KTM rider’s signature

Pedro Acosta, 2026 Czech MotoGP.
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Ducati admits that signing Pedro Acosta was a target “for some time” after finally confirming the KTM rider for the 2027 MotoGP season. 

Acosta has put pen to paper on a two-year deal with the Italian manufacturer, where he will replace the outgoing Francesco Bagnaia, who is expected to join Aprilia Racing. 

Ducati announced Bagnaia’s departure on Wednesday morning, before confirming the news that had been expected since the opening few races of 2026.

Pedro Acosta, Francesco Bagnaia, 2025 Japanese MotoGP.
© Gold and Goose

Acosta will line-up alongside Marc Marquez, who himself committed his future to Ducati with a new two-year deal of his own on Monday.

Acosta and Marquez will form one of the most talented rider pairings the sport has ever seen, and it will be the most high-profile since Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo at Yamaha. 

Ducati was known to be a big admirer of Acosta in previous years, so it’s therefore no surprise that the Bologna-based company pushed hard to sign the Spaniard when it did. 

Signing Acosta comes at a particularly interesting time, with MotoGP set to transition into the new 850cc era in 2027. 

Alongside Marquez, Acosta will no doubt be expected to lead Ducati over the next two years by challenging for race wins and the title.

Pedro Acosta, 2026 Czech MotoGP.
© Gold and Goose

However, it’s also clear that Ducati sees Acosta as the long-term future of their MotoGP project given he is only 22 years of age.

Speaking about the signing of Acosta, Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali said: “Pedro is undoubtedly one of the most talented young riders in the MotoGP paddock. 

“At just 22 years old, he is the kind of rider with whom a new and exciting chapter can be written. 

“We have always liked him and have been following him for some time, both for what he has achieved on track and for his direct and easy-going personality, which we are sure will make Ducatisti fall in love with him once he is dressed in red. 

“We believe that, alongside Marc, he represents the ideal complement for a team that - building on its history and on the results achieved in recent years - wants to continue playing a leading role in the future and remain a source of admiration, respect and support for Ducati fans all around the world”.

- Robert Jones

LCR BOSS PROVIDES JOHANN ZARCO UPDATE AFTER CATALONIA TURN 1 INCIDENT

LCR MotoGP boss gives Johann Zarco update after scary Turn 1 crash

Johann Zarco crashes at the 2026 Catalan MotoGP
© Gold and Goose

LCR MotoGP team boss, Lucio Cecchinello, says Johann Zarco has pain “in the femur area” after a scary incident during Sunday’s Catalan Grand Prix.

The race was red-flagged on lap 12 of 24 for a terrifying collision involving Pedro Acosta, whose KTM encountered an issue, and Gresini’s Alex Marquez on the back straight between Turns 9 and 10.

Alex Marquez was taken to hospital for checks, while the race was restarted again.

On this restart, Johann Zarco collided with Luca Marini and Pecco Bagnaia at Turn 1 at the start, and got tangled up with one of the bikes.

A red flag was flow again while Zarco received medical attention, with the Frenchman taken to hospital for further checks.

Replays of the second Red Flag crash 🚩

All riders conscious 🙌#MotoGP | #CatalanGP | Live on TNT Sports and HBO Max pic.twitter.com/1KQt78sk8j

— TNT Sports Bikes (@bikesontnt) May 17, 2026

2026 Catalan MotoGP incident
© Gold and Goose

Speaking to TNT Sport, Cecchinello offered an update on Zarco’s condition.

“Well, at the moment, he’s been taken to the local hospital,” he said.

“They will perform an MRI and scan to check exactly what he has.

“He has pain in the left leg. He has pain around the knee.

“But, fortunately, he has no concussion, he has no injuries in the upper part of the body, in the feet, in the ankle.

“Looks like he has pain, just in the femur area. I really hope there will be no bad news coming.”

Zarco had been having a strong weekend up to that point, qualifying fifth and finishing there in the sprint.

Prior to the first red flag, Zarco was inside the top six.

“Look, I was commenting that it was a perfect weekend for us: fifth in Friday practice, fifth in qualifying, fifth in the sprint, sixth with 2.8s after half a race,” Cecchinello added.

“It was really, really a pity that our weekend ended like this.”

Zarco suffered bruising on his foot from hitting debris when Marquez and Acosta collided, but was cleared to restart.

The FIM stewards' document notes that Zarco is due to face a hearing on the incident, but will only do so once he is available. 

- Lewis Duncan

KTM BOYS | MOTOGP 2025

 

FINAL MOTLGP STANDINGS

 

MOTOGP STANDINGS

 

MARC MARQUEZ FASTEST IN FIRST MOTOGP AUSTRIA PRACTICE

Marquez topped the first session in Austria - Credit: Ducati Media House

Marc Marquez continued his dominant form to once again top the timesheets in the first MotoGP practice at Austria.

The Spaniard produced a quick effort of 1.29.376s on the factory Ducati to start the weekend.

His closest challenger was his team-mate Francesco Bagnaia, who finished 0.3s adrift of the six-time MotoGP champion.

Aprilia rider Marco Bezzecchi continued his pre-break purple patch to finish the session in third place, an impressive start to the weekend given the nature of the stop-go Spielberg track.

Alex Marquez and Gresini secured fourth place, finishing quicker than VR46 Ducati rider Franco Morbidelli.

Joan Mir posted an impressive lap to secure sixth place for Honda, followed closely by Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo and reigning MotoGP champion Jorge Martin.

KTM rider Pedro Acosta slotted himself in ninth place, as Tech3 rider Enea Bastianini lapped 0.001s behind to round off the top 10.

Luca Marini and Alex RIns secured 11th and 12th for Honda and Yamaha, respectively, finishing faster than GP25 Ducati rider Fabio Di Giannantonio.

Brad Binder posted a lap to see him 14th, lapping quicker than Gresini’s Fermin Aldeguer and LCR rider Johann Zarco.

Raul Fernandez and Ai Ogura secured 17th and 19th for Trackhouse Racing, with Pramac Yamaha rider Jack Miller lapping between the satellite Aprilia duo.

Maverick Vinales finished 20th on his rushed MotoGP return, finishing ahead of the second Pramac rider of Miguel Oliveira.

MOTOGP WILL HAVE 13 WORLD CHAMPIONS (FIVE IN THE PREMIER CLASS)

© Michelin / PhotoPSP / Lukasz Swiderek

The MotoGP season kicks off in just over a week with the Thai GP… and the grid will feature 13 world champions – five of them with titles in the premier class.

Jorge Martín (Aprilia) was the MotoGP champion last year and will defend his crown, but he had already won the Moto3 title in 2018. Besides the Spaniard, other riders who have claimed the most coveted title include Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha), Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati), Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol), and Marc Márquez (Gresini).

Then, there are riders who have only won championships in the lower classes so far – notably Ai Ogura (Trackhouse/Aprilia), who enters MotoGP after winning the Moto2 title last year.

The promising Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM) and Álex Márquez (Gresini/Ducati) have yet to win a MotoGP title. Could one of them achieve it this year?

Additionally, five other riders have only won titles in the lower classes: in Moto2, Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech3), Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46/Ducati), and Johann Zarco (Castrol Honda LCR); and in Moto3, Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM) and Maverick Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech3).

Motorcycle World Champions on MotoGP 2025 grid

• MotoGP
• Fabio Quartararo
• Francesco Bagnaia
• Joan Mir
• Jorge Martín
• Marc Márquez

• Moto2 and Moto3
• Álex Márquez
• Pedro Acosta
• 
  
• Only Moto2
• Enea Bastianini
• Franco Morbidelli
• Johann Zarco
• Only Moto3
• Brad Binder
• Maverick Viñales

- BERNARDO MATIAS

RiDERS' CHAMPIONSHIP | MOTOGP

 

MOTOGP 2 WORLD CHAMPION 2023 | PEDRO ACOSTA