Pedro Acosta leads Jack Miller in delayed FP1 at Brazil MotoGP
Pedro Acosta led the way in first practice at the Brazilian GP
MotoGP championship leader Pedro Acosta led a damp opening practice for the 2026 Brazilian Grand Prix, following a lengthy delay due to the weather.
The Ayrton Senna circuit in Goiania welcomes MotoGP back to Brazil for the first time since 2004, though has done so on the backdrop of flooding issues at the track.
Friday’s track action was delayed by an hour after heavy overnight rain led to a lengthy clean-up operation.
While the rain had ceased by the time MotoGP headed out for its extended hour-long FP1, the circuit was still damp, with only a handful of riders using slicks during the session.
KTM’s Pedro Acosta set the best pace on wet rubber with a 1m26.688s, while Pramac Yamaha’s Jack Miller shadowed him on slicks with a late 1m26.775s.
Thailand Grand Prix winner Marco Bezzecchi was third fastest on the leading factory Aprilia, while Marc Marquez was fourth on the factory Ducati.
The reigning world champion led the timesheet after 10 minutes of running on a 1m28.708s, which would stand as the benchmark for some time as the circuit steadily dried out.
Marquez improved to a 1m27.775s with around half an hour to go, while at this stage only Miller had elected to switch to slicks.
Brad Binder (KTM), Alex Rins (Yamaha), Johann Zarco (LCR) and Luca Marini (Honda) joined Miller in eventually running slicks, though none of them managed to make a significant jump in the standings.
LIVE TEXT: Brazilian MotoGP Friday
Aprilia’s Jorge Martin took over from Marquez at the top of the pile with 10 minutes to go on a 1m27.576s, before improving a few moments later to a 1m27.546s.
Marquez looked on course to end the session fastest of all with a 1m26.975s late on, but was vaulted by Acosta, Miller and Bezzecchi as the chequered flag came out.
Franco Morbidelli was fifth on the VR46 Ducati in what counts as a home race for the three-time race winner, owing to his Brazilian roots.
Maverick Vinales was sixth on the Tech3 KTM ahead of Martin, while the returning Fermin Aldeguer was eighth for Gresini Ducati as he spun his first MotoGP laps in 2026 following a femur break in the winter.
Pecco Bagnaia survived a huge scare at the start of the session when he was almost thrown from his Ducati to finish the session ninth, while Gresini’s Alex Marquez rounded out the top 10.
Diogo Moreira kicked off his home round 18th on the LCR Honda, while Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo was almost three seconds off the pace in last.
Despite the tricky conditions, there were no crashes in FP1, though a number of riders did take trips into the circuit’s various gravel traps.
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