Bezzecchi takes Qatar MotoGP pole from Marquez

Marco Bezzecchi secured pole position for the 2026 Qatar MotoGP at Lusail, beating title leader Marc Marquez with a new lap record on his final run. Marquez had first broken Fabio di Giannantonio's Friday lap record, and di Giannantonio completed the front row.

Jorge Martin, Marquez's closest rival in the championship, could only manage eleventh after feeling held up by Pedro Acosta's KTM. Acosta claimed eighth on the grid, and HRC stand-in Jake Dixon will start from 17th, his first MotoGP race since 2021.

Marquez needs to outscore Martin by 30 points and Bezzecchi by eight points to claim a tenth world title before the season-ending rounds in Portimao and Valencia. The 11-lap Sprint starts at 4pm UK time.