MotoGP Jerez FP1: Di Giannantonio Leads, Bezzecchi 4th, Ducati Reacts Strongly

MotoGP riders from the VR46 Academy dominated the opening practice session at the Spanish Grand Prix in Jerez, with Marco Bezzecchi and Fabio Di Giannantonio setting the pace for the Ducati-backed team. In Friday’s first free practice at Circuito de Jerez, Di Giannantonio clocked the fastest lap, followed closely by his teammate Bezzecchi in second. The VR46 duo outperformed the rest of the field, signaling strong early form for the Italian squad ahead of the weekend’s racing. Despite the VR46 riders’ strong showing, Ducati factory riders mounted a notable response in the session, working to close the gap after being outpaced by the satellite team’s performance. Bezzecchi, who finished fourth in the session, expressed optimism about overcoming Jerez’s historical challenges, saying he hopes to break a long-standing curse at the circuit that has eluded him in previous visits. The results from FP1 highlight the competitiveness of the VR46 riders on the Ducati machinery and add intrigue to the battle for track position as teams prepare for qualifying and the race later in the weekend. All times and positions are based on the official FP1 timing sheets from the 2026 Spanish Grand Prix.