On a drying track at Termas de Rio Hondo, Marc Marquez set the best time in the first practice session – Francesco Bagnaia took no risks and did not post a fast lap.
After a one-year break, MotoGP is back in Argentina. Marc Marquez set the best time in the first practice session under less than ideal track conditions. The Ducati factory rider was a touch faster than Johann Zarco (LCR-Honda).
After rain during the night, the track was still damp in the morning. Added to that was the dirty asphalt, as not many race series race at Termas de Rio Hondo. However, at the start of the MotoGP training, slicks could be fitted.
However, it was still damp off the racing line. The lap times in the first session were not particularly meaningful. By way of comparison, the best time in the first practice session two years ago, when the last race was held at this track, was 1:39.107 minutes.
With an air temperature of only 18 degrees Celsius and a track temperature of 21 degrees Celsius, it was a cool and very cloudy morning, especially compared to the conditions in Thailand two weeks ago. The main aim was to complete a few laps and work out the ideal line.
Everyone rode with the soft front tire and the medium rear tire. After a quarter of an hour, Raul Fernandez caused the first yellow flag in turn 1. The Trackhouse-Aprilia rider went straight into the gravel trap and tipped over there.
Zarco showed a very good rhythm, leading the classification by up to six tenths of a second at halftime. As the ideal line built up more and more grip during the course of the training session, the best lap times were set in the last ten minutes.
More improvements on the horizon as @JohannZarco1 sets a 1:39.397! ArgentinaGP pic.twitter.com/8kczU5tycK
— MotoGP™ (@MotoGP) March 14, 2025
Finally, it was Marc Marquez who set the best time with a 1:38.937 minutes. The championship leader was thus faster than Zarco by a mere 0.026 seconds. The Ducati duo Alex Marquez (Gresini) and Franco Morbidelli (VR46) followed in third and fourth place (for the complete result).
Aprilia factory rider Marco Bezzecchi ended the session in fifth place, six-tenths of a second behind. He was followed by Luca Marini (Honda), Jack Miller (Pramac-Yamaha), Maverick Vinales (Tech3-KTM), Joan Mir (Honda) and Pedro Acosta (KTM).
Francesco Bagnaia not showing anything yet
In the closing stages, only three riders changed to fresh tires: Miller, Enea Bastianini (Tech3-KTM) and Brad Binder (KTM). Since not all of them went out to set times, the time gaps in the field were relatively large.
Definitely not @PeccoBagnaia‘s best work
ArgentinaGP pic. twitter.com/7HQhj7x1Ga
— MotoGP™ (@MotoGP) March 14, 2025
Francesco Bagnaia took no chances in these conditions. The second Ducati factory rider was 1.3 seconds behind his teammate, leaving the former world champion in only 16th place.
As usual, two start attempts from the starting grid were practiced after the training session. All of them made use of it. Bagnaia’s first attempt failed, but the second was fine.
Woops @marcmarquez93 ArgentinaGP pic. twitter.com/19tJv1TavY
— MotoGP™ (@MotoGP) March 14, 2025
After that, some drivers practiced a flag-to-flag change to the second motorcycle in the pit lane. When Marc Marquez jumped off his first Ducati, his arm got caught on the windshield, breaking it.
The afternoon session starts at 7:00 p.m. CET. Then it’s on to the direct qualification for Q2.
