In a thrilling Q2 qualifying session for the 2026 MotoGP season, Marco Bezzecchi narrowly secured pole position over Marc Marquez by just 0.035 seconds. The Italian rider from Aprilia Racing clocked a time of 1:28.652, making him the frontrunner for the opening race in Thailand.
Q2 Results and Highlights
Bezzecchi’s performance was tested when Marc Marquez from the Ducati Lenovo Team finished close behind with a time of 1:28.687. This fierce competition highlighted the excitement of the new season. Raul Fernandez from Trackhouse MotoGP Team also impressed, earning a front-row start in third place.
Q1 Overview
The qualifying sessions began with Q1, where Raul Fernandez led the group with a time of 1:28.784. Franco Morbidelli from Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team followed closely behind. Francesco Bagnaia, the reigning World Champion, struggled and ultimately did not advance to Q2, starting from 13th position.
Key Moments in Q2
- Bezzecchi started strong, initially setting a time of 1:28.914.
- Marquez faced challenges with his first lap but later achieved a competitive time.
- Bezzecchi’s improvement to 1:28.652 secured his pole position.
- Fernandez’s performance placed him second among Aprilia riders.
With only a few minutes remaining, Marquez found his rhythm, achieving multiple sector improvements but ultimately settled for second place. Di Giannantonio and Martin completed the top five, illustrating a strong showing for the Aprilia team.
Starting Grid for Round 1
The starting grid for the first race is as follows:
| Position | Rider | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marco Bezzecchi | Aprilia Racing | 1:28.652 |
| 2 | Marc Marquez | Ducati Lenovo Team | 1:28.687 |
| 3 | Raul Fernandez | Trackhouse MotoGP Team | 1:28.784 |
| 4 | Fabio Di Giannantonio | Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team | – |
| 5 | Jorge Martin | Aprilia Racing | – |
| 6 | Pablo Acosta | – | – |
| 7 | Alex Marquez | BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP | – |
| 8 | Ai Ogura | Trackhouse MotoGP Team | – |
| 9 | Franco Morbidelli | Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team | – |
| 10 | Joan Mir | Honda HRC Castrol | – |
| 11 | Brad Binder | Red Bull KTM Factory Racing | – |
| 12 | Johann Zarco | Castrol Honda LCR | – |
As the riders prepare for the first race of the season, excitement builds for the Tissot Sprint. The competition is set to showcase the thrilling speed and skill of MotoGP racing in 2026.
