Marc Marquez believes he is not the fastest MotoGP rider in this weekend’s Thailand Grand Prix despite topping Friday practice with a new lap record.

Returning to the scene of his sixth and most recent MotoGP World Championship title victory in 2019, Marquez was in slick form throughout the day en route to the overall top spot in Friday afternoon’s P2 session.

Stopping the clock at 1m29.165s on the Gresini Ducati, his effort was enough for him to edge out championship Jorge Martin by just over a tenth of a second and lower the erstwhile lap record.

Coming after he notched up his third victory of the season in Phillip Island less than a week ago, a buoyant Marquez is keen to make that precursor to achieving his objective of improving his qualifying performances.

However, Marquez suggested that practice results did not provide a true picture of the pecking order, insisting that riders like Pramac’s Martin again hesitated from showing their true pace on Friday.

“I’m happy to have started the weekend in this way, which is important,” he said. “It’s true that the pace is good, it’s not the fastest one like in Australia.

“I think Martin is faster than us and [Enea] Bastianini, when he is fast on Friday it means that he will be super fast all weekend, but let’s see what we can do.”

Jorge Martin, Pramac Racing

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

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The positive opener leaves Marquez optimistic of a similar challenge towards the sharp end in qualifying, an area where the Spaniard has struggled for consistency in his first season racing Ducati machinery.

The 31-year-old has qualified on the front row only three time since the summer break, with an average starting position of 6.25 during this period.

“I have the potential that from the initial moment I am riding very fast,” he added. “In the first part of the season I was always struggling on the Friday and I’d improve a lot over the weekend.

“Now I am starting Friday with a good pace so the way to improve is safe. Already the lap record, so if I can do a 1m 29.1s [in qualifying] I will sign up for it.”

Marquez is keeping a lid on his expectations for Saturday’s qualifying session, saying he will be happy as long as he is able to qualify inside the first two rows on the grid.

“Here everyone is pushing and trying to get the maximum,” he said. “Both Martín and Pecco Bagnaia are raising the bar very high, but we also have our personal battle between me and Enea Bastianini and that, for my part at least, leads me to take quite a few risks to try to be there with them.

“I had a very good lap and it’s really positive to start a Friday like this. But tomorrow is the day we have to set a clear and realistic goal, which is to try to be on the second row.”

Marquez remains the only rider to score a grand prix victory on last year’s Ducati GP23 bike in a season that has been dominated by the latest iteration of the Desmosedici.

While a fouth victory would make 2024 his most successful season his last title-winning campaign in 2019, he reiterated that his goal is to build on his recent results and put himself in the best possible position for his year with the factory Ducati team.

“Obviously the more victories the better, but it is an irrelevant fact, which you remember now because I am there, but otherwise nobody remembers [in the future],” he said.

“Obviously if I can win four races it is better than three, but the important thing is to continue with this consistency that I am showing, since Austria I have taken a small step and I am confirming it in all the circuits I go to.”

Aprilia Racing has revealed new technical director Fabiano Sterlacchini will make his first appearance with the team at the penultimate round of the 2024 MotoGP season in Malaysia.

The Italian manufacturer confirmed Sterlacchini’s appointment earlier this month following the news that its current technical chief Romano Albesiano will exit in favour of a move to Honda next season.

Though Albesiano will remain with Aprilia to see out the 2024 MotoGP before departing for pastures new, Aprilia told Motorsport.com that he has agreed to step aside from his role to allow Sterlacchini to get up to speed in Sepang and then the Valencia finale.

“Fabiano will be with us in Malaysia in an observer role, to take notes and start working for the future, [Albesiano] will remain in the Aprilia garage until Sunday in Valencia,” a spokesperson exclusively told Motorsport.com.

The confirmation comes following a decision for Albesiano to not join Aprilia in making the trip to Buriram for this weekend’s Thailand Grand Prix. Despite his absence, Aprilia Racing rider Maverick Vinales says it is business as usual all the same.

“The truth is that I haven’t noticed anything strange,” he responded when asked about Albesiano’s absence. “We are always looking for every last screw to make the bike work at 120 per cent. 

Maverick Vinales, Aprilia Racing, Aleix Espargaro, Aprilia Racing

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

“Albesiano continues working as always. I don’t know when Sterlacchini will come, I can only say that since it was announced in Japan that he will leave next year, Romano’s commitment has remained intact. He hasn’t gone any further with the bike, but everything is normal.” 

Sterlacchini’s arrival for Sepang gives him the opportunity to set the groundwork for a fresh era at the factory Aprilia team next season when it welcomes an all-new line-up comprising current MotoGP championship leader Jorge Martin and Marco Bezzecchi, both of whom join from the Ducati stable.

Vinales will switch to the Tech3 KTM squad, with current team-mate Aleix Espargaro due to join Honda as a test rider following his retirement from racing.

Sterlacchini moves to Aprilia after a short stint with KTM, having joined the Austrian marque in June 2021 to lead its engineering department.

In July this year, the Austrian marque announced it had been unable to reach an agreement to renew Sterlacchini’s contract and he will leave the brand this year.

Prior to KTM, he spent 17 years at Ducati, rising to the role of MotoGP technical director.

Formula 1 drivers are set to review the United States Grand Prix battle between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris in Mexico’s driver briefing amid questions over how the FIA’s racing rules are applied.

Verstappen and Norris fought a hard battle for third position in Austin until they both went off at Austin’s Turn 12 with four laps to go. Norris passed his title rival off the track, which netted him a five-second penalty, while Verstappen went unpunished for pushing his colleague off.

According to the racing standards guidelines as they are written, Verstappen was in the right as the defending car and did not have to leave Norris racing room. McLaren launched a right of review petition on Thursday to revisit the case, with Norris arguing that because he was already ahead of Verstappen he was the defending party rather than the Dutchman.

While the stewards appeared to apply the rules as they stand correctly, several leading drivers have taken issue with the practice of drivers being able to launch up the inside with no regard of whether or not they are able to make the corner, as long as they are ahead of their rival at the apex.

“It’s always been a grey area,” said Lewis Hamilton. “They probably need to make some adjustments for sure. Also we do have inconsistencies through rulings depending on which stewards are there. And as a sport, we do need to level up on all areas.

“I experienced it many times with Max. You shouldn’t be able to just launch the car up the inside and then go off and still hold the position.”

Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20

Photo by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images

Hamilton’s team-mate George Russell says he’s interested in learning how the FIA looks at the incident now, and whether their interpretation means Verstappen was totally in the right or was exploiting an unintended loophole in the current guidelines – or “taking the piss” as Sauber driver Valtteri Bottas described it.

“I don’t think you can write a set of regulations that covers every single possible scenario, it is a very fine line,” drivers’ association director Russell said.

“I’m really interested to see if the FIA believe, having reviewed everything again, if Max should have been penalised for what he did or not. In my view, he should have been penalised. Therefore, there isn’t really a loophole. If they say: ‘Based on our regulations, he should not have been penalised’, then he is exploring a loophole.”

Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz said he also had questions over how aggressive a defending car can be.

“That is a very good question that I need to ask the stewards, because obviously it changes the way we go racing,” he said. “It means the guy defending on the inside can brake as late as they want and they can fake the fact that you are trying to hit the apex when you are maybe not.

“It needs to be clarified because in that case they were both to blame; Max for running wide and Lando for gaining a position off the track. That is why that specific scenario is a very complicated one on how to rule on it.”

Russell and Sainz both agreed that a gravel strip on the outside of Turn 12 would largely fix the underlying issue, and few drivers are expecting similar issues this weekend at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City.

“The root cause of the problem is having a circuit that allows you to run wide,” Russell said. “And if we take Austria last year as an example, you had, I don’t know, 300 track limit problems. They put gravel in, and there’s no problems.

“If you put gravel on that corner, Lando doesn’t go off and overtake, and Max doesn’t brake that late and go off as well.”

Sainz added making circuit changes would be much more straightforward than endless discussions about racing rules.

“If you think about it, the solution might be solved by itself by circuit standards or modifications. We keep going around in circles with guidelines that might be easier to solve with certain, slight changes to the track, which some tracks have already performed.”

Austin’s Circuit of the Americas, which also hosts MotoGP that has different run-off requirements, is understood to be in discussions with the FIA over potential changes for 2025.

Additional reporting by Alex Kalinauckas and Erwin Jaeggi

Lancia has officially launched its Ypsilon Rally4 car that will guide the World Rally Championship’s most successful manufacturer back to competitive motorsport.

The Italian car maker, a winner of a record 10 WRC constructors’ titles (1974-1976, 1983, 1987-1992), has created an all-new Rally4 car that is set to compete in the European Rally Championship and a newly created one-make Lancia Rally Trophy competition in Italy next year.

Lancia’s return to rallying arrives 50 years after it won its first WRC title with the legendary Stratos in 1974. The brand added its fourth title in 1983 with its Group B, 037, before dominating Group A with the Delta.  

The Ypsilon Rally4 is based on the high performance all-electric Ypsilon HF, although the Rally4 version will be powered by a 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder internal combustion engine that will develop 212 horsepower. It will include a five-speed mechanical transmission and a mechanical limited-slip differential.

Lancia, owned by the Stellantis Group, already has two representatives in Rally4: the Peugeot 208 Rally4 and the Opel Corsa Rally4. Both cars are based on the same platform and use the most important common elements – engine, gearbox and suspension concept.

“2025 will mark the return of Lancia to motorsport as we aim to reestablish our presence in contemporary motorsport competitions,” said Lancia CEO Luca Napolitano.

“With a mix of tradition and innovation, Lancia looks to the future with passion and ambition. With 2026 set to be the year of the Gamma flagship, which will be produced in Stellantis’ Melfi factory, 2025 is dedicated to the return of the haloed HF name, which will first make an appearance on the Ypsilon and later show up on the Gamma and the new Delta with the “HF Integrale” label. 

“Whenever the HF gets mentioned, one can’t help but recall the legendary Stratos, 037, and Delta, which dominated rally racing for 20 years, winning a total 15 World Championships in Drivers’ and Constructors’ competitions – a record which has yet to be broken. 

“We have always been leaders in motorsport and rally, but now, with the trademark elegance and simplicity which sets us apart, we are making a comeback to Rally 4, the developmental category for tomorrow’s professional drivers, as we look to improve upon our past with passion and pride.”

Lancia Ypsilon Rally4

Photo by: Lancia

Lancia’s new rally car is aimed at young drivers, costing €74,500 with the first models set to reach customers at the end of January. 

The car maker turned to its most successful WRC driver and two-time world champion Miki Biasion (1988-1989) to fine tune its latest rally car.

“If you dreamt of track as a child, you dreamt of the red of a Ferrari. However, if you dreamt of becoming a rally driver, then you dreamt of Lancia,” said Biasion.

“I am honoured to have worked together with the Lancia and Stellantis Motorsport teams in fine-tuning the Ypsilon HF and Ypsilon Rally 4.

“I hope to inspire all the young drivers who hit the road with our Lancia Ypsilon Rally 4 HF to become professionals and future champions. The Lancia legacy of victories and racing is back and I am happy to be a part of it.” 

The car is set to make its debut in the new Lancia Rally Trophy that will be part of the Italian Rally Championship, featuring a prize pool of €300,000. The winner will then have a chance to drive the Lancia Corse HF team’s official Ypsilon Rally4 HF in the 2026 European Rally Championship.

Lancia Ypsilon Rally4

Photo by: Lancia

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Jorge Martin’s lead over Francesco Bagnaia has grown to 20 points ahead of this weekend’s race at the Chang International Circuit.

The Pramac rider also won the last edition of the event in 2023 by 0.253s over Bagnaia.

Event	Date
	10:45
Thailand GP FREE PRACTICE 1
Thailand GP PRACTICE Advertisement
Thailand GP FREE PRACTICE 2
Thailand GP QUALIFYING 1
Thailand GP QUALIFYING 2
Thailand GP SPRINT Advertisement
Thailand GP WARM UP
Thailand GP Race

2024 MotoGP Thailand Grand Prix session timings in different timezones

2024 MotoGP Thailand Grand Prix session timings in local time

Friday 25th October 2024

• Free Practice 1: 10:45 – 11:30 local time
• Free Practice 2: 15:00 – 16:00 local time

Saturday 26th October 2024

• Free Practice 3: 10:10 – 10:40 local time
• Qualifying: 10:50 – 11:30 local time
• Sprint: 15:00 local time

Sunday 27th October 2024

• Warm up: 10:40 – 10:50 local time
• Race: 15:00 local time

2024 MotoGP Thailand Grand Prix session timings in the UK and Portugal

Friday 25th October 2024

• Free Practice 1: 04:45 – 05:30 BST
• Free Practice 2: 09:00 – 10:00 BST

Saturday 26th October 2024

• Free Practice 3: 04:10 – 04:40 BST
• Qualifying: 04:50 – 05:30 BST
• Sprint: 09:00 BST

Sunday 27th October 2024

• Warm up: 03:40 – 03:50 GMT
• Race: 08:00 GMT

Please note that clocks in the UK move back one hour at 2:00 on Sunday

2024 MotoGP Thailand Grand Prix session timings in Europe 

Friday 25th October 2024

• Free Practice 1: 05:45 – 06:30 CEST
• Free Practice 2: 10:00 – 11:00 CEST

Saturday 26th October 2024

• Free Practice 3: 05:10 – 05:40 CEST
• Qualifying: 05:50 – 06:30 CEST
• Sprint: 10:00 CEST

Sunday 27th October 2024

• Warm up: 04:40 – 04:50 CET
• Race: 09:00 CET

Please note that clocks in in Europe move back one hour at 3:00 on Sunday

2024 MotoGP Thailand Grand Prix session timings in the US (Eastern Time)

Thursday 24th October 2024

• Free Practice 1:  23:45 – 00:30 ET

Friday 25th October 2024

• Free Practice 2:  04:00 – 05:00 ET 
• Free Practice 3: 23:10 – 23:40 ET 
• Qualifying: 23:50 – 00:30 ET 

Saturday 26th October 2024

• Sprint: 04:00 ET 
• Warm-up: 23:40 – 18:50 ET

Sunday 27th October 2024

2024 MotoGP Thailand Grand Prix session timings in the US (Pacific Time)

Thursday 24th October 2024

• Free Practice 1:  20:45 – 21:30 PT

Friday 25th October 2024

• Free Practice 2:  01:00 – 02:00 PT
• Free Practice 3: 20:10 – 20:40 PT
• Qualifying:  20:50 – 21:30 PT

Saturday 26th October 2024

• Sprint: 01:00 PT
• Warm-up: 20:40 – 20:50 PT

Sunday 27th October 2024

2024 MotoGP Thailand Grand Prix session timings in Australia

Friday 25th October 2024

• Free Practice 1: 14:45 – 15:30 AEDT
• Free Practice 2: 19:00 – 20:00 AEDT

Saturday 26th October 2024

• Free Practice 3: 14:10 – 14:40 AEDT
• Qualifying: 14:50 – 15:30 AEDT
• Sprint: 19:00 AEDT

Sunday 27th October 2024

• Warm-up: 14:40 – 14:50 AEDT
• Race: 19:00 AEDT

2024 MotoGP Thailand Grand Prix session timings in Japan

Friday 25th October 2024

• Free Practice 1: 12:45 – 13:30 JST 
• Free Practice 2: 17:00 – 18:00 JST 

Saturday 26th October 2024

• Free Practice 3: 12:10 – 12:40 JST 
• Qualifying: 12:50 – 13:30 JST
• Sprint: 17:00 JST

Sunday 27th October 2024

• Warm-up: 12:40 – 12:50 JST
• Race: 17:00 JST

2024 MotoGP Thailand Grand Prix session timings in India

Friday 25th October 2024

• Free Practice 1: 09:15 – 10:00 IST 
• Free Practice 2: 13:30 – 14:30 IST

Saturday 26th October 2024

• Free Practice 3: 08:40 – 09:10 IST 
• Qualifying: 09:20 – 10:00 IST
• Sprint: 13:30 IST

Sunday 27th October 2024

• Warm-up: 09:10 – 09:20 IST
• Race: 13:30 IST

Can’t find your country or region in the list? Check the MotoGP schedule page for the broadcast times in your local timezone.

Can I stream the Thailand Grand Prix?

MotoGP has its own on-demand streaming service, offering live broadcast of practice, qualifying and the Sprint, as well as highlights. The MotoGP Video pass is available for an annual fee of 139.99 euros. Several local broadcasters also stream MotoGP races on their official websites