PT GRAND PRIX OF THAILAND
English translation of the original source. Select TH to read the original Thai text.
Tens of thousands of fans attended the opening day of the OR Thailand Grand Prix, MotoGP's 17th round. Prima Pramac Racing's Jorge Martin led the premier class, while Idemitsu Honda Team Asia's Somkiat Chantra placed fourth after the first two Moto2 practice sessions.
On 28 October 2023, the OR Thailand Grand Prix, MotoGP's 17th round, entered its official programme at Chang International Circuit. The first two practice sessions drew large crowds of racing fans.
Prima Pramac Racing’s Jorge Martin led the opening day of MotoGP practice with a lap of 1:29.826. Aprilia Racing’s Maverick Vinales was second, 0.098 seconds back, followed by team-mate Aleix Espargaro, 0.160 seconds behind.
Winner of the previous round, Prima Pramac Racing's Johann Zarco finished the opening day fourth, 0.180 seconds off the lead. Mooney VR46 teammates Luca Marini and Marco Bezzecchi followed in fifth and sixth, at 0.199 and 0.208 seconds respectively.
Reigning champion Francesco Bagnaia of Ducati Lenovo was seventh, 0.243 seconds behind, followed by Monster Energy Yamaha's Fabio Quartararo in eighth at 0.248 seconds. Repsol Honda's eight-time world champion Marc Marquez narrowly missed direct Q2 entry in 11th, 0.369 seconds off the lead.
In Moto2, Somkiat Chantra of Idemitsu Honda Team Asia continued to improve, finishing fourth on the combined timesheets after the first two practice sessions. His best lap of 1:36.194 was 0.209 seconds behind Pedro Acosta of Red Bull KTM Ajo. Marcos Ramirez of American Racing and Fermin Aldeguer of Beta Tools SpeedUp were second and third respectively.
Two Thai wildcards competed in Moto3. Honda Racing Thailand's Thatchakorn Buasri placed 22nd at 1 minute 43.716 seconds, 1.398 seconds behind Leopard Racing's Jaume Masia. Yamaha Thailand Racing–BOE's Krittapat Keankum was 30th at 1 minute 45.723 seconds, 3.405 seconds off the lead.
The OR Thailand Grand Prix programme listed qualifying for all classes on Saturday, 28 October, followed by the Sprint that afternoon. Sunday's races on 29 October began with Moto3 at 12:00, then Moto2 at 13:15 and MotoGP at 15:00.
