Martin keeps moving without fireworks — and still controls the title

Jorge Martin ended Practice seventh after briefly running second. That secures direct access to Q2, Friday’s essential MotoGP objective, but leaves him behind Bezzecchi, Marc Marquez and three other rivals in the immediate order.

The leader arrives with 240 points: 31 clear of Bezzecchi, 37 ahead of Ai Ogura, who is absent after left-hand surgery, and 40 ahead of Marc. He does not need to answer every record with extra risk, although he cannot afford to surrender a large Sprint score.

Qualifying will show whether seventh reflected his work programme or a genuine one-lap limit. Aprilia has already proved its speed through Bezzecchi; Martin must turn the same technical base into track position and prevent the two Ducatis ahead from controlling the opening phase.