Qualifying for the 2026 Australian MotoGP Grand Prix was completed in wet conditions on October 24. After crashing on his first flying lap in the second phase, Q2, Marc Márquez returned on his second bike and took pole in 1:34.203, 1.494 seconds ahead of his brother Álex. Johann Zarco was third and Jorge Martín fourth.
Q1: Miller beats Zarco by just 0.001 seconds
Jack Miller and Zarco advanced from the first qualifying phase, Q1. The track was wet but gradually drying for a time. Zarco set the early pace, before Francesco Bagnaia, Brad Binder and Miller improved their positions in turn. Miller ultimately led in 1:35.461, with Zarco only 0.001 seconds behind, putting both through to Q2.
Binder was third in Q1 and missed advancement, followed by Iker Lecuona, Maverick Viñales and Bagnaia. Q1 and Q2 are separate timed phases; Q2 determines the top twelve positions after advancement, so their times are listed separately.
Q2: A crash, a bike change and another fastest lap
MotoGP's official account recorded renewed rain at the start of Q2. Marc Márquez crashed at Turn 4 and had to use his second bike. Zarco briefly led before Marc Márquez returned to the top; Zarco and Miller then improved in turn. On the decisive lap, Marc Márquez raised the pole benchmark to 1:34.203, with Álex moving to second late on.
Zarco held third in 1:35.706, only 0.009 seconds slower than Álex Márquez. Martín improved to fourth late on, ahead of Miller and Raúl Fernández. Pedro Acosta, Fabio Di Giannantonio and Marco Bezzecchi form row three, with Diogo Moreira, Enea Bastianini and Ai Ogura tenth through twelfth.
Two striking qualifying gaps came in different places: Marc Márquez led second by 1.494 seconds, while second and third were just 0.009 seconds apart. They describe the leader's separation from the other front-row riders in this Q2 session; sustained race pace will still depend on weather and running conditions. The Sprint is scheduled for October 24 at 12:00 China Standard Time (UTC+8), and the race for October 25 at 11:00 China Standard Time (UTC+8). Luca Marini is absent through illness.
Q2 results
| Q2 position | Bike number | Rider | Team | Fastest lap | Gap to session leader (seconds) | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 93 | Marc Márquez | Ducati Team | 1:34.203 | — | 7 |
| 2 | 73 | Álex Márquez | Gresini Racing | 1:35.697 | +1.494 | 7 |
| 3 | 5 | Johann Zarco | Castrol Honda LCR | 1:35.706 | +1.503 | 8 |
| 4 | 89 | Jorge Martín | Aprilia Racing | 1:35.780 | +1.577 | 8 |
| 5 | 43 | Jack Miller | Pramac Racing | 1:35.984 | +1.781 | 7 |
| 6 | 25 | Raúl Fernández | Trackhouse Racing | 1:36.150 | +1.947 | 8 |
| 7 | 37 | Pedro Acosta | Red Bull KTM Factory Racing | 1:36.500 | +2.297 | 8 |
| 8 | 49 | Fabio Di Giannantonio | VR46 Racing Team | 1:36.506 | +2.303 | 8 |
| 9 | 72 | Marco Bezzecchi | Aprilia Racing | 1:36.520 | +2.317 | 8 |
| 10 | 11 | Diogo Moreira | Honda LCR | 1:37.884 | +3.681 | 8 |
| 11 | 23 | Enea Bastianini | Red Bull KTM Tech3 | 1:38.647 | +4.444 | 7 |
| 12 | 79 | Ai Ogura | Trackhouse Racing | 1:39.389 | +5.186 | 8 |
Q1 results
| Q1 position | Bike number | Rider | Team | Fastest lap | Gap to session leader (seconds) | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 43 | Jack Miller | Pramac Racing | 1:35.461 | — | 7 |
| 2 | 5 | Johann Zarco | Castrol Honda LCR | 1:35.462 | +0.001 | 8 |
| 3 | 33 | Brad Binder | Red Bull KTM Factory Racing | 1:35.996 | +0.535 | 8 |
| 4 | 27 | Iker Lecuona | Gresini Racing | 1:36.296 | +0.835 | 8 |
| 5 | 12 | Maverick Viñales | Red Bull KTM Tech3 | 1:36.687 | +1.226 | 8 |
| 6 | 63 | Francesco Bagnaia | Ducati Team | 1:36.759 | +1.298 | 9 |
| 7 | 47 | Augusto Fernández | Pramac Racing | 1:36.778 | +1.317 | 8 |
| 8 | 42 | Álex Rins | Yamaha Team | 1:36.911 | +1.450 | 8 |
| 9 | 20 | Fabio Quartararo | Yamaha Team | 1:37.240 | +1.779 | 8 |
| 10 | 21 | Franco Morbidelli | VR46 Racing Team | 1:37.904 | +2.443 | 6 |
