Marco Bezzecchi Claims Lusail Pole Position for 2026 MotoGP Qatar Grand Prix
Marco Bezzecchi secured pole position for the 2026 MotoGP Qatar Grand Prix after posting a lap time of 1 minute 50.028 seconds during Q2 at the Lusail International Circuit, detikSport reported.
Earlier in the weekend, Fabio Di Giannantonio of the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team set a pace of 1 minute 50.406 seconds during Practice, breaking the all-time lap record previously held by Marc Marquez. Marc Marquez finished Practice in second position, just 0.142 seconds behind, despite encountering a technical issue when his motorcycle’s drive chain detached.
Grid Lineups and Qualifying Results at Lusail
During the Q1 session, Fermin Aldeguer led the timesheets with a 1 minute 50.876 second lap, followed closely by Pedro Acosta, who finished 0.211 seconds slower to claim the second advancing spot into Q2. Once the final qualifying session got underway, Marc Marquez initially set the benchmark at 1 minute 50.361 seconds before Bezzecchi surpassed it.
Bezzecchi’s final marker of 1 minute 50.028 seconds cemented the top grid spot. Marc Marquez and Fabio Di Giannantonio completed the front row in second and third places respectively. Raul Fernandez took fourth, while Francesco Bagnaia rounded out the top five on the grid for the main event.
Ai Ogura secured a Q2 spot in ninth position, followed by Brad Binder in tenth. Johann Zarco took eighth for Castrol Honda LCR, while Enea Bastianini finished sixth as the best-performing rider on an RC16 machine.
| Position | Rider | Time / Status |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marco Bezzecchi | 1 Minute 50.028 seconds |
| 2 | Marc Marquez | Front Row |
| 3 | Fabio Di Giannantonio | Front Row |
| 4 | Raul Fernandez | Second Row |
| 5 | Francesco Bagnaia | Second Row |
Marc Marquez Leads Jorge Martin into Lusail Finale
Marc Marquez arrived at the twentieth round of the 2026 season leading the riders’ standings with 399 points, holding a 44-point advantage over Aprilia Racing’s Jorge Martin, as reported by ANTARA News. Martin collected 355 points while working back to full fitness following an arm injury that caused him to miss the preceding round in Malaysia.
CNN Indonesia noted that the Grand Prix weekend runs from November 6 to November 8, 2026, utilizing the 5.38-kilometer Lusail layout featuring 16 turns for its traditional evening schedule. The 11-lap Sprint Race serves as a preliminary points-scoring opportunity ahead of Sunday’s full-distance grand prix.
Prior to the sprint event, riders participated in the first qualifying session at 18.40 WIB and the second qualifying session at 19.05 WIB to determine starting positions. The Sprint Race itself is scheduled for Saturday at 23.00 WIB with live broadcast coverage on Trans7.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2026 Qatar Grand Prix
When did the Lusail International Circuit begin hosting MotoGP?
The venue has hosted the Qatar Grand Prix since 2004 under its distinctive floodlit night racing format.
What was the margin between Fabio Di Giannantonio and Marc Marquez in Practice?
Fabio Di Giannantonio edged Marc Marquez by 0.142 seconds to set the practice lap record of 1 minute 50.406 seconds.
How many points separate the top two riders heading into Qatar?
Marc Marquez leads the championship standings with 399 points, maintaining a 44-point gap over Jorge Martin.
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