Marco Bezzecchi sets Lusail lap record and takes pole for Qatar GP
Bezzecchi set a 1:50.02 lap to take pole at Lusail; sprint race starts at 17:00.
Marco Bezzecchi set a new lap record at the Lusail circuit and took pole position for the Qatar Grand Prix in the MotoGP championship. The sprint race is scheduled to run at 17:00.
Qualifying highlights and starting grid
Bezzecchi posted a fastest lap of 1:50.02 in qualifying to secure the top starting spot. He will lead the first row alongside championship leader Marc Márquez on the Ducati and Fabio di Giannantonio.
Raúl Fernández qualified fourth, ahead of Francesco Bagnaia, Ai Ogura, Joan Zarco and Pedro Acosta, who completed the top eight. Jorge Martín — Bezzecchi’s main title rival, still managing an injured arm — ended qualifying down in 11th place.
The new lap record at Lusail and Bezzecchi’s pole were highlighted on social media by MotoGP: "Pole position + all-time lap record Bez is on a roll! #QatarGP" — MotoGP, November 7, 2026.
Teams and riders will now turn their attention to the sprint at 17:00 and the full Grand Prix, with Bezzecchi aiming to convert his pace into strong race results that could influence the remaining rounds of the title fight.
Photo: Denkmit / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
