Italian MotoGP FP1: Bezzecchi and Acosta fastest in opening Mugello practice

Aprilia’s Marco Bezzecchi and KTM’s Pedro Acosta set identical times to top 2025 Italian MotoGP FP1, setting the tone for what promises to be an electrifying race weekend in Mugello.

Friday morning’s practice was conducted under sweltering conditions with the Tuscan sun beating down on the undulating track. The heat added an extra layer of complexity, challenging the riders’ endurance and the teams’ ability to manage tire performance and bike setup.

The session began with Francesco Bagnaia, the winner of the last three Italian Grands Prix, immediately setting the early pace on his factory Ducati.

Bagnaia, riding high after his recent breakthrough at Aragon, looked determined to defend his Mugello dominance. However, he faced a series of challenges throughout the session experimenting with smaller brake discs rather than the 355mm setup that had served him well previously.

This adjustment combined with a few front-end moments left Bagnaia visibly frustrated as he struggled to maintain his rhythm in the closing stages ultimately finishing the session in eighth place.

As the session progressed, current championship leader Marc Marquez asserted his authority by climbing to the top of the timesheets just past the halfway mark.

Marquez, piloting the Ducati Lenovo GP25, opted for a consistent approach by staying on the same rear tire throughout FP1. His strategy seemed to pay off as he delivered a strong lap time of 1m46.293s, holding the provisional benchmark.

However, the closing moments of FP1 delivered a dramatic twist as sensational KTM rookie Pedro Acosta unleashed a blistering lap on fresh medium rubber, clocking a 1m46.199s.

Acosta’s performance was particularly notable as he was not running a rear aero package, a setup decision carried over from the Aragon test. His raw speed and adaptability were evident, and he appeared poised to claim the top spot until his final flying lap saw him run wide and into the gravel at the last corner, preventing any further improvement.

Yet, the final word belonged to recent British Grand Prix winner and home favorite Marco Bezzecchi who delivered a sensational last lap on his Aprilia to match Acosta’s time to the thousandth of a second—1m46.199s.

Meanwhile, Acosta’s KTM teammate Brad Binder rounded out the top three with another impressive display of speed and consistency.

Behind the leading trio, Marc Marquez secured fourth place as the highest-placed Ducati rider while Fabio Di Giannantonio completed the top five for VR46 Racing.

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Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo showed a welcome return to form by finishing sixth as Maverick Viñales continued KTM’s strong showing by securing seventh place, making it three KTMs in the top seven.

As previously mentioned, Francesco Bagnaia ended the session in eighth, his early dominance undone by a series of missed apexes and setup frustrations. Alex Marquez and Johann Zarco rounded out the top ten, ensuring all five manufacturers were represented in the upper echelon of the timesheets.

Full 2025 Italian MotoGP FP1 Results – Mugello Circuit