Marco Bezzecchi Secures Pole Position at MotoGP 2026 Season Opener

The 2026 MotoGP season kicked off with Marco Bezzecchi from Aprilia Racing taking pole position at the Thailand Grand Prix. Despite a late crash, Bezzecchi's time of 1:28.652 edged out reigning champion Marc Marquez by a mere 0.035 seconds. Raul Fernandez also impressed, securing third place on the grid. The qualifying session showcased intense competition, with only 0.4 seconds separating the top seven riders. Tune in to Eurosport for the main race on March 1 to catch all the action.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 1, 2026, 16:56 IST

Bezzecchi Takes Pole Despite Late Challenge

In a thrilling start to the 2026 MotoGP season, Marco Bezzecchi from Aprilia Racing clinched pole position for the opening race, despite a late crash at Turn 12. His time of 1:28.652 narrowly edged out reigning World Champion Marc Marquez from the Ducati Lenovo Team, who clocked in at 1:28.687, just 0.035 seconds behind. Raul Fernandez from the Trackhouse MotoGP Team secured a front-row start in third place, making it two Aprilias and one Ducati at the top of the grid.

Thailand Grand Prix Action Awaits

The MotoGP 2026 season kicks off with the Thailand Grand Prix, with the main race scheduled to air exclusively on Eurosport and Eurosport HD starting at 10:15 AM on Sunday, March 1.

Qualifying Highlights: Fernandez and Morbidelli Shine

The first qualifying session of the season saw Raul Fernandez leading with a significant margin of 0.3 seconds over Franco Morbidelli from the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team, thanks to a time of 1:28.784. Francesco Bagnaia from the Ducati Lenovo Team struggled to keep pace, ultimately finishing in P13 after a late mistake.

Bezzecchi vs. Marquez: A Close Contest

As the pole position shootout unfolded, Bezzecchi's momentum was challenged by Marquez, who initially struggled but improved his time to secure P2. The top seven riders were closely matched, with only 0.4 seconds separating them. Bezzecchi's final lap solidified his pole position, while Fernandez's performance ensured a strong showing for Aprilia.

Final Qualifying Grid Positions

The final grid positions saw KTM's lead rider qualifying in P6, while Alex Marquez ended up in P7. The third row features Ai Ogura and Morbidelli in eighth and ninth, respectively. Joan Mir, Brad Binder, and Johann Zarco will start from P10, P11, and P12.