Australia’s MotoGP winner, Marc Marquez of Gresini Racing MotoGP™, took Friday’s top spot once again at the Thailand Grand Prix, setting a new record at Buriram with an impressive 1:29.165 lap time. This blistering pace put him 0.110 seconds ahead of Prima Pramac Racing’s Jorge Martin, with Enea Bastianini trailing Martin by just 0.052 seconds in third. Marquez’s performance has raised the stakes for Saturday, especially as Ducati Lenovo’s Francesco Bagnaia, a leading title contender, followed closely in fourth. Remarkably, the top four in the championship standings were separated by just 0.195 seconds, promising a thrilling continuation as the weekend unfolds.
Marquez established his dominance early on Friday, leading the session with consistent speed. As the practice continued, the leaderboard saw some reshuffling, creating plenty of excitement among fans and teams alike. Fabio Quartararo of Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™ and Johann Zarco from CASTROL Honda LCR both performed strongly within the top five. In an impressive return after his crash in Australia, Pedro Acosta of Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 held a close second position during part of the session, keeping spectators on the edge of their seats.
As Friday’s action ramped up, Bagnaia found himself in fourth with only 18 minutes left, though he looked less than pleased with his standing. Jorge Martin, initially down in seventh, gained momentum after switching to a softer compound, pushing himself closer to the lead. Marquez’s hold on first place was soon tested by Brad Binder of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, who set a new benchmark with a 1:29.949 lap after switching to a medium rear tire. This moved Binder to the top, nudging Quartararo into second and narrowing the gap between the top racers.
The final minutes brought even more intense competition as Pierer Mobility Group’s Pedro Acosta briefly took the lead before being edged out by Quartararo, who thrilled his fans by beating Acosta by a slim 0.018 seconds. With Raul Fernandez of Trackhouse Racing MotoGP™ also posting an impressive 1:29.857, the field became even tighter, with the top three separated by only 0.035 seconds.
Friday’s practice showcased an incredibly close contest, with top riders pushing boundaries and records in the run-up to the main event. The thrilling rivalry among title contenders promises high-stakes action for Saturday’s sessions and beyond as the 2024 Thailand MotoGP heats up.