Sports · Motorsport · 59 mins ago
Bezzecchi takes Qatar GP pole with record lap ahead of Marquez
Marco Bezzecchi took pole for the Qatar Grand Prix after setting a lap record in qualifying at Losail.
The Aprilia rider beat Ducati’s Marc Marquez, who will start second, while Fabio Di Giannantonio qualified third.
Bezzecchi’s record lap was 1 minute 50.065 seconds, nearly three tenths faster than Marquez’s best.
Qualifying decides the riders’ starting positions for the race, so pole gives Bezzecchi the first place on the grid.
Jorge Martin qualified 11th, a difficult result for Bezzecchi’s team-mate and Marquez’s nearest championship challenger.
Martin was reportedly feeling his injuries more than the day before and appeared upset after an incident with Pedro Acosta.
The Qatar Grand Prix race is next, with Bezzecchi set to start at the front and Martin facing a challenge from further back.
Marco Bezzecchi took pole position for the Qatar Grand Prix, ahead of Marc Marquez.
Bezzecchi set a lap record in qualifying, although the reports give different times for his final lap.
The Race reported Bezzecchi’s time as 1m50.028s and said Marquez was 0.266 seconds behind.
Fabio Di Giannantonio qualified third, while Bezzecchi’s team-mate Jorge Martin was 11th.
The Yamaha withdrawal reduced the grid to 18 riders.
- Who
- Marco Bezzecchi of Aprilia took pole, with Marc Marquez of Ducati second.
- What
- Bezzecchi set the fastest time in qualifying for the Qatar Grand Prix.
- When
- November 7, 2026.
- Where
- Losail, Qatar.
- Why
- Bezzecchi set the fastest qualifying lap; the sources do not state a further reason.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Pedro Acosta and Fermin Aldeguer advanced from Q1 to Q2.
Brad Binder crashed on a push lap, bringing out a yellow flag.
Marquez set a record lap before Bezzecchi moved ahead with a faster time.
Bezzecchi secured pole ahead of Marquez, with Di Giannantonio third.
- Pole position
- Marco Bezzecchi
- Second place
- Marc Marquez, 0.266 seconds behind according to The Race
- Bezzecchi’s lap time
- 1m50.028s according to The Race; Motorsport.com reported 1m50.065s
- Third place
- Fabio Di Giannantonio
- Jorge Martin
- 11th on the grid
- Grid size
- 18 bikes after the Yamaha withdrawal