Francesco Bagnaia accepted responsibility after failing to secure a direct Q2 spot during Friday practice at Buriram. The Ducati rider said setup changes went the wrong way and he rushed a lap as rain threatened the session. He now faces Q1 to recover his weekend, repeating last year’s situation at the Thai Grand Prix.
Fabio Quartararo admitted he expected more from Yamaha’s new V4 bike after pre-season testing. The 2021 champion said the machine remains far behind rivals, with long-run pace still lacking. Changing weather in Buriram also disrupted his programme after early tyre use. Despite the difficulties, Quartararo said he continues pushing to help development ahead of the season.
Francesco Bagnaia struggled for pace throughout Friday at Buriram. The Ducati rider ended the session 15th and missed automatic Q2 qualification. He will now have to progress through Q1 on Saturday. Compared with his teammate’s strong result, Bagnaia’s opening day was one of the biggest surprises in the field.
Marc Marquez spent much of the session outside the top ten but improved late to finish second. The Ducati rider steadily built speed as the track evolved and secured direct entry into Q2. It marked a solid start to his title defence weekend despite an earlier difficult run during the session.
Marco Bezzecchi set the fastest time in Friday practice at the Thai Grand Prix with a 1:28.526 lap, finishing over four tenths clear of world champion Marc Marquez. The Aprilia rider led comfortably in the first competitive session of 2026. Meanwhile, Francesco Bagnaia ended outside the top ten and must go through Q1 qualifying.
Marco Bezzecchi set the pace in the first practice at Buriram with a 1:29.346 lap, ahead of Fabio Di Giannantonio and Jorge Martin. Marc Marquez finished sixth, just ahead of Francesco Bagnaia. Pedro Acosta was the top KTM in fifth, while Alex Rins led Yamaha in 13th. Rookie Toprak Razgatlioglu placed 21st in his first MotoGP weekend.
Fabio Quartararo says deciding his 2027 MotoGP future has eased pressure while Yamaha struggles for speed. The French rider admitted the new V4 M1 still feels similar to early tests and lacks a base setup. He finished 17th at Buriram, over a second off the pace, and heads to Thailand with no clear result expectations.
Honda rider Luca Marini has addressed rumours linking him with a Yamaha move for 2027. He said he has no confirmed deal yet but highlighted his strength in developing bikes. Marini has helped Honda’s recent progress, while several rider changes are expected next season. His future remains open as the transfer market begins to form.
MotoGP stewards, led by Simon Crafar, released updated rules on how incidents will be judged in 2026. Slow riding that blocks rivals in qualifying usually brings penalties after a warning. Racing contact may be classed as a normal incident, but dangerous overtakes or causing a crash can mean long-lap or double long-lap penalties, especially on opening laps.
The 2026 season starts at Buriram after busy pre-season testing. Marc Marquez said some riders showed stronger pace in tests. Rookies Toprak Razgatlioglu and Diogo Moreira get ready for their first race weekend. Jorge Martin arrives after injuries and limited running, aiming to rebuild fitness as teams still evaluate their true performance level.