Marc Marquez topped the timesheets around the Buriram International Circuit in the first MotoGP practice session of the 2025 season.
The Spaniard’s fastest lap time was 1.29.423s, 0.158s quicker than second-placed finisher Franco Morbidelli and Yamahas Fabio Quartararo.
Marquez sprung his new GP25 Ducati into life throughout the early parts of the session, completing multiple fastest laps in succession and remained at the top throughout the session.
Until the rest of the grid produced quicker lap times in the closing minutes of the session, Marquez previously held a 0.4s advantage over the rest of the field.
Reigning MotoGP champion Jorge Martin will not be participating this weekend due to injury, meaning Aprilia’s test rider, Lorenzo Savadori, will get more testing time on the RS-GP.
Three debutants officially started their new life in the premier-class, and due to the grid facing its biggest shakeups in recent years, several experienced riders began the adaptation process with their new teams.
Pramac Yamaha rider Jack Miller finished a tenth behind Quartararo to provide further optimism to the Japanese marque considering its difficult 2024 campaign.
Marco Bezzecchi finished the session in fifth place, 0.428s adrift of Marquez, despite running as high as second throughout most of the session.
Aprilias satellite entity Trackhouse saw the first debutant Ai Ogura finish the highest out of the rookies. The former Moto2 champion finished 0.070s adrift of Bezzecchi as both continue the adaptation process.
Gresini’s Alex Marquez completed the session in seventh despite displaying even stronger performances in both pre-season tests.
Miguel Oliveira and Maverick Vinales started their new ventures at Yamaha and KTM, respectively, completing the session in eighth and ninth place.
Two-time MotoGP champion Francesco Bagnaia finished 0.7s off his new teammate. The Italian gradually grows into the weekend as he looks to find his optimal setup aboard his Bologna bike.
Johann Zarco continued as Hondas best rider after the first session of 2025, thanks to an 11th place finish. The HRC duo of Luca Marini and Joan Mir cemented 12th and 13th place, as all three riders separated themselves by 0.020s.
Fermin Aldeguer’s first MotoGP session with Ducati resulted in a 14th place, and Alex Rins crafted together his strongest lap to finish 15th.
Despite Vinales’ competitive lap to finish ninth, his nearest challenger from his own team was Pedro Acosta, who delivered 16th with the Austrian marque.
Somkiat Chantra finished in 17th for his first session with LCR Honda after a difficult pre-season adapting to his new premier-class machinery.
Fabio Di Giannantonio took it easy around the Sepang streets despite being declared fit to race after his pre-season test crash. He finished as the distant last Ducati finisher in 18th.
KTMs Brad Binder and Enea Bastianini finished 19th and 20th, respectively, 0.4s ahead of the second Trackhouse rider of Raul Fernandez and a further second margin between themselves and Savadori.
The session’s classification charts may not reflect on-track performance, but all riders gathered important data for the upcoming sessions.
