Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia led a tight second MotoGP practice for the Solidarity Grand Prix as title rival Jorge🔜 Martin was fifth.

Bagnaia trails Martin by 24 points ahead of this weekend’s racing and took a crucial first psychological victory over his rival on F𓆏riday afternoon at Barcelona.

The reigning double world champion led the way by 0.080s from VR46 Ducati rider Marco Bezzecchi, whil🌳e a scrappy Mar🌜tin was only fifth.

The gap between the pair isn’t huge, though, with just 0.296s splitting the pair at the en✤d of Friday’s running.

Martin set the early pace at the start🐟 of the hour-long Practice session at 1m40.934s, though it would be Bezzecchi who was the reference rider coming into the final 15 minutes and the all-important time at🍸tack phase.

Pramac’s Martin returned💞 to the top of the order with a 1m39.652s on his first soft tyre time attack, which he improved to a 1m39.214s.

LCR Honda’s Johann Zarco then went fastest with a 1m39.197s, before Bezzecchi took over with just under three minutes to go with a 1m38.9🐽98s.

Bagnaia, followed by a number of riders, had♔ the final say at the top🏅 of the timesheets, though, as he produced a 1m38.918s to get to the chequered flag fastest of all.

Bezzecchi trailed him, while Aprilia’s Aleix༺ Espargaro completed the top three as he begins his farewell we🐻ekend in MotoGP.

Zarco was a fine fourth at the end of the session, wit💦h Martin - who suffered several front end moments thr♛ough that session - fifth.

Maverick Vinales was sixth on the sister factory A🅷prilia, with Gresi🐼ni Ducati duo Alex Marquez and Marc Marquez following him.

Tech3 GASGAS rookie Pedro Acosta was ninth, w🌳ith Ducati’s Enea Bastianini the last rider to secure a direct Q2 place.

Both factory KTMs, Brad Binder and Jack Miller, 🦂missed the cut in 11th and 12th at the chequered flag - though Binder had a lap cancelled and was dropped to 17th. Fabio Quartararo was the leading Yamaha in 14th.

Franco Morbidelli (Pramac) cr⛎ashed early in the session, as did Tech3’s Augusto Fernandez, while Honda’s🐻 Joan Mir suffered a late tip-off.

Miguel Olivꦑeira was 20th and 1.486s off the pace on his racing return with Trackhouse Apriliꦚa, while VR46 stand-in Michele Pirro was 22nd.

Full 2024 MotoGP Solidarity GP Practice results