Pedro Acosta emerged as the standout performer in Friday’s Valencia MotoGP practice, narrowly beating Marco Bezzecchi by just 0.053 seconds.
The session was marked by fierce battles for track position, impressive lap consistency, and a few dramatic moments that shaped the competitive landscape as all 20 riders pushed their machines to the limit under the bright lights of Valencia.
From the outset, Aprilia’s Marco Bezzecchi set the early pace, leading the initial half-hour of the session with confident and swift lap times.
However, his momentum suffered a setback when he crashed at Turn 4 while closely shadowing Acosta. This incident sent a ripple through the field, providing an opening for other riders to challenge at the front.
Similarly, Ai Ogura suffered a fall at Turn 3, adding to the drama of the session but demonstrating resilience by quickly bouncing back to post a strong performance.
As the session progressed, VR46 Racing Team riders Fabio Di Giannantonio and Franco Morbidelli made significant strides, climbing to first and second place respectively.
Yet, Pedro Acosta raised the bar with a series of impressive laps that lifted him two-tenths clear of the Ducati duo and eventually to the top position.
Acosta’s ability to repeatedly hit competitive lap times with remarkable consistency distinguished him from the pack, showcasing his growing mastery in the premier class.
With 15 minutes remaining, Acosta extended his advantage further to over half a second, setting a very competitive time that put pressure on the rest of the field.
Prima Pramac Yamaha’s Jack Miller responded by climbing to second place, only to be overtaken later by Morbidelli, who pushed hard to challenge for a top spot but remained some distance behind Acosta’s blistering pace.
Full 2025 Valencia MotoGP Practice Results – Friday
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The battle for top positions intensified in the closing minutes as Alex Marquez, Di Giannantonio, and Fabio Quartararo pushed their way above Morbidelli, tightening the field behind Acosta.
The forecast of a tight battle was affirmed as Bezzecchi managed to reduce Acosta’s lead to just 0.236 seconds with his session-best lap, nearly matching the KTM rider’s time.
Other notable moves came from Ai Ogura, who surged from 15th to 3rd place in the final stages, highlighting the competitive depth of the field and the possibility of surprises on race day.
Francesco Bagnaia, however, struggled to find the pace, finishing 14th and outside the top ten—a position likely to force him through Q1 in qualifying and complicate his path for the final showdown.
Overall, the top ten riders by the end of the Friday afternoon’s Valencia MotoGP practice were Pedro Acosta, Marco Bezzecchi, Ai Ogura, Alex Marquez, Jack Miller, Fabio Di Giannantonio, Fermin Aldeguer, Joan Mir, and Fabio Quartararo.
The close grouping—with only half a second separating the fastest lap from the 14th place—highlighted the incredible competitiveness of this MotoGP grid.
The session also confirmed KTM’s strong form, with Acosta leading and multiple KTM riders featuring prominently, underscoring the brand’s growing dominance in the sport.
Below the top tier, other riders put in commendable efforts with Acosta’s KTM teammate Brad Binder taking 11th ahead of Trackhouse’s Raul Fernandez.
Honda test rider Aleix Espargaro ended the session in 13th, just ahead of Bagnaia, with Honda duo Johann Zarco and Luca Marini following in 15th and 16th.
Yamaha’s Alex Rins secured 17th, while KTM Tech3 pair Maverick Vinales and Enea Bastianini settled in 18th and 19th, respectively.
Yamaha’s Augusto Fernandez and Miguel Oliveira followed in 20th and 21st, with Jorge Martin taking 21st following his return from injury. Somkiat Chantra and Nicolo Bulega rounded out the field.
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