Marco Bezzecchi Dominates Thailand GP Practice With Record Lap as Francesco Bagnaia Falters in Buriram

Marco Bezzecchi tops Thailand GP practice with a record lap for Aprilia, while Francesco Bagnaia misses Q2. Full results and analysis from Buriram 2026.

By: AXL Media

Published: Feb 27, 2026, 10:00 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Motorsport.com

A Dominant Display from the Factory Aprilia Debutant

Marco Bezzecchi signaled a potential shift in the MotoGP hierarchy by delivering a crushing performance during the first competitive Friday of 2026. Riding for the factory Aprilia Racing Team, the Italian rider exploited the performance of the RS-GP to post a 1m28.526s tour, eclipsing the previous track record at the Chang International Circuit. According to session data, Bezzecchi’s margin of nearly half a second over his nearest rival represents one of the most significant gaps seen in a dry practice session in recent years, establishing him as the clear favorite for the weekend’s sprint and grand prix.

Weather Uncertainty Tests Tactical Resilience in Thailand

The 60 minute session was characterized by atmospheric instability as dark clouds and intermittent rain spots threatened to disrupt the scheduled tire evaluation programs. Riders were forced to balance the need for race pace analysis with the urgent requirement of setting a "banker" lap in case of a sudden downpour. This high pressure environment appeared to favor those who could adapt quickly to changing grip levels, while causing significant distress for riders who prefer a more methodical, incremental approach to building speed throughout the day.

Reigniting the Friday Struggles for the Factory Ducati Garage

In a stark contrast to Bezzecchi’s success, world champion Francesco Bagnaia endured a difficult start to his campaign, finishing a lowly 15th on the timing screens. This result mirrors the inconsistent Friday form that plagued the Italian throughout the 2025 season, forcing him to compete in the unpredictable Q1 knockout session tomorrow. Team insiders suggested that Bagnaia struggled with the timing of his final qualifying simulation, missing the optimal track window and ultimately ending the day 1.298s adrift of the top spot.