Opening Round Qualifying Drama

Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) will start the 2026 MotoGP season opener from pole position, but the margin was incredibly tight. The Italian rider secured the top spot with a lap time of 1:28.652, just 0.035 seconds ahead of reigning World Champion Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team).

Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) rounded out the front row, achieving a strong qualifying performance after topping Q1.

Q1 Battle: Fernandez and Morbidelli Advance

The first qualifying session saw Raul Fernandez lead the way with a time of 1:28.784, securing his place in Q2 alongside Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team).

Reigning champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) faced a challenging session and ultimately failed to advance, starting the race from P13.

Q2 Showdown: Bezzecchi and Marquez Duel

Bezzecchi initially set the pace in Q2, but Marquez quickly closed the gap. Despite a late crash at Turn 12, Bezzecchi’s earlier time remained unbeatable.

“I’m okay, but when the airbag exploded, my ass was a little bit painful!”

Marco Bezzecchi

Marquez pushed hard, coming within 0.035 seconds of Bezzecchi’s pole time. Fernandez secured third place, giving Aprilia two riders on the front row.

“Yeah, it was tough, especially because on the first tyre I felt not so good…The front row was the main target, and I thought that 28.6 was enough for the first row.”

Marc Marquez

Starting Grid for Round 1

• Pole Position: Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing)
• Second: Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team)
• Third: Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team)

Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) and Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing) will start from the second row, followed by Pedro Acosta (KTM) and Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP).

Sprint Race Ahead

The Tissot Sprint race is scheduled for 15:00 local time, promising more thrilling action as the 2026 MotoGP season gets underway.

FAQ

Who secured pole position at the Thailand Grand Prix?

Marco Bezzecchi secured pole position.

How close was the qualifying session?

The top 12 riders were separated by just 0.8 seconds.

What happened to Francesco Bagnaia in qualifying?

Bagnaia failed to advance from Q1 and will start the race from P13.