MotoGP: Two 2026 heavyweights treat us to a qualifying fight to remember to set the scene for a Tissot Sprint and Grand Prix blockbuster.
Not one, but two 1:44s from a bruised but simply brilliant Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) ensured the Italian beat reigning World Champion Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) to pole position at the Michelin Grand Prix of Aragon. Bezzecchi’s new all-time lap record, a 1:44.962, was 0.089s quicker than the #93’s best effort as the duo treated us to a Q2 bout to remember at MotorLand. Joining the pair on the front row will be Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP), who will be a key contender in the gold medal and 25-point hunts that are approaching at MotorLand.
Q1 – BAGNAIA & MOREIRA PROGRESS
Following the first flying laps in the opening part of qualifying, it was rookie Diogo Moreira (Pro Honda LCR) front the pack from a previous Aragon GP winner Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), with Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) lingering just 0.039s adrift of a top two place.
In the second run, Pecco responded immediately to climb to P1, as Moreira then crashed at Turn 2 with two minutes to go. That was session over for the second place Brazilian, so could anyone spoil the rookie’s Saturday morning Q1 attack?
The most likely candidate was HRC stablemate Joan Mir. The Honda HRC Castrol star set a couple of red sector splits in S1 and S2, but the lap time drifted in the second half of the lap. That meant Moreira survived, Bagnaia delivered, and the pair then entered the Q2 fray.
Q2: BEZ VS MM93 LIGHTS UP MOTORLAND
And when we got going for the pole position shootout, Marc Marquez landed a glorious opening flyer. A 1:45.136 was the reigning World Champion’s initial benchmark, a new all-time lap record, as we then strapped in to witness our first MotorLand 1:44 lap, courtesy of Bezzecchi.
Alex Marquez was just up the road from the former championship leader and went P2 very briefly, before Bezzecchi’s phenomenal 1:44.984 was landed by the wounded Italian. Over to you Marc, said Bez.
It wasn’t the opening stint World Championship leader Martin was asking for though. While his teammate was breaking records, Martin seemingly had an issue with his number one RS-GP and was P11 with six minutes on the clock. That became P8 after the 2024 World Champion completed his first proper flying lap.
Speaking of flying laps, Marc Marquez began his second run, and despite running slightly deep into Turn 1, the World Champion was well in touch with Bezzecchi’s lap record. Through the third split, the gap was +0.091s to Bezzecchi’s provisional pole, and over the line it was just over half a tenth – before the Aprilia star moved the goalposts further.
Not by a lot, 0.022s extra, but enough… for now. 0.089s was the gap back to Marc Marquez now, as Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) hit the deck at Turn 8 while on a personal best time.
Now, all eyes locked onto Marc Marquez. One last attempt at stealing pole position from Bezzecchi, but through Sector 1 the gap was +0.141s. Then it was +0.013s. Game on. Then, game over. A big front-end moment through Turn 14 cost Marc Marquez a shot at pole position; the front Michelin tyre cried no more, which signalled pole was Bezzecchi’s.
THE GRID
Two stunning 1:44s see Bezzecchi lead Marc and Alex Marquez on the front row, with the #93 surprisingly beaten to a Saturday morning P1 at a very happy hunting ground. Still, the Marquez brothers are right in the mix.
A pair of Aprilias front the second row with Silverstone winner Raul Fernandez (SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team) starting P4 ahead of Martin, as Acosta holds onto P6 despite his crash.
Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) launches from P7, and the Italian is joined on the third row by Pecco and the impressive returnee Johann Zarco (Castrol Honda LCR). Zarco’s teammate Moreira rounded out the Q2 top 10, as Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) and Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) make up Row 4 alongside the Brazilian.
COMING UP: SPRINT TIME IN ARAGON
It looks like we’ve got a proper battle to strap in for a little later on. Don’t miss a beat when the Tissot Sprint bursts into life at 15:00 local time (UTC +2)!
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