2026 MotoGP Qatar qualifying — Bezzecchi takes record pole, Martin 11th

Marco Bezzecchi secured pole for the 2026 MotoGP Qatar Grand Prix at Lusail on November 7. The Aprilia rider set a circuit-record 1m50.028s, beating Ducati’s Marc Marquez by 0.266s. Fabio Di Giannantonio completed the front row with a 1m50.327s.

Q1: Aldeguer takes over late as Acosta also advances

Acosta held a clear lead after the opening Q1 runs, but Aldeguer took over with 1m50.876s in the final two minutes. Acosta led a four-rider group into the last attacks and improved to 1m51.087s, still 0.211s behind. Both advanced; Morbidelli and Marini finished third and fourth and missed Q2. The top two earn places in the next session, where their eventual grid positions are determined.

Q2: two records for Bezzecchi as Marquez falls short

Marquez set the first Q2 benchmark before Bezzecchi broke Di Giannantonio’s Friday record with 1m50.065s, leading Marquez by 0.296s with Fernandez provisionally third. With three minutes left, Marquez tried again and was about 0.08s up in the opening sectors, but lost ground in sector three and finished roughly two tenths short. Bezzecchi then found another 0.037s for the 1m50.028s record and a final 0.266s margin.

Martin starts 11th as the contenders separate

Raul Fernandez had provisionally held third, but a major moment spoiled his final lap and Di Giannantonio ultimately pushed him to fourth. Bagnaia and Ogura took fifth and sixth, followed by Zarco, Acosta, Aldeguer and Bastianini. Martin was still trying to improve from 11th late on, but encountered Acosta close ahead in the final sector and could not improve. Binder was unhurt in an early crash and finished 12th.

Qualifying placed the three title contenders in contrasting positions, with Bezzecchi and Marquez on the front row and Martin facing a recovery from row four. The subsequent Sprint brought further red-flag, contact and injury developments, with race participation covered by the latest official updates. Q1 and Q2 are listed separately below, preserving their distinct classifications.

At the end of qualifying, before the Sprint, Bezzecchi trailed championship leader Marquez by 67 points. MotoGP’s stated scenario required Marquez to outscore Martin by at least five points in the Sprint to create a title opportunity for Sunday. Pole put Bezzecchi at the front for his attempt to reduce the deficit, whereas Martin faced a charge from 11th. Those are the pre-Sprint circumstances; the subsequent Sprint result is reported separately and changes the points picture.

Q1

Q2