12:19
Bezzecchi now crosses the line and posts a 1m50.028s to cement pole!
Marc Marquez looks to set up title shot in Qatar sprint
© Gold and Goose
LIVE
Qatar MotoGP LIVE: Qualifying and sprint updates from Lusail
Live updates from qualifying and the sprint at the 2026 Qatar Grand Prix
KEY MOMENTS
- Qualifying is underway
- Acosta and Aldeguer topped Q1
- Yamaha is not taking part due to security concerns
The 2026 MotoGP Qatar Grand Prix continues on Saturday 7 November with qualifying and sprint action, as Marc Marquez nears his first chance to win the title.
The factory Ducati rider will set up his match point in the 2026 title battle for Sunday in today's sprint, depending on where he finishes relative to Aprilia duo Jorge Martin and Marco Bezzecchi.
To win the title this year, Marquez has to outscore Martin by 30 points and Bezzecchi by eight points.
And that won't be easy, as both Aprilia riders looked quick after Friday practice, while Marquez isn't the only Ducati up at the sharp end in the Lusail desert.
Fabio Di Giannantonio brushed aside a 30hp deficit on his VR46 Ducati to lead the Friday times with a new lap record over Marquez, while Pecco Bagnaia eased into Q2 in fourth.
Based on race running in Practice, Marquez is predicting a tough battle, with the Ducati rider admitting that winning the title this weekend is "still far".
Martin's physical condition has vastly improved two weeks on from fracturing his wrist in a crash at Phillip Island. He was seventh on the times on Friday, but is expected to take a step forward, while he reckons he's not far from the podium.
The big scalp on Friday afternoon was KTM's Pedro Acosta, who failed to make it into the top 10 and will go through Q1 in qualifying today.
2026 Qatar MotoGP Saturday schedule
FP2 - 11am GMT
Qualifying - 11:40am GMT
Sprint - 4pm GMT
07 Nov 2026
12:20
Chequered flag
The chequered flag is out.
12:19
Bez is flying!
12:19
Marquez crosses the line and posts a 1m50.294s but stays second.
12:18
Bez is up in sector one now too.
12:18
Marquez is still up in sector two, but he is having to work hard here.
12:17
Marquez is up in sector one.
12:17
Marquez starts a flying lap to try and challenge Bez's time.
12:15
After a brief pause, the track is lively again with five minutes to go.
12:13
A replay of Binder's crash.
12:12
Fernandez is third on the Trackhouse Aprilia from Di Giannantonio, Acosta, Zarco, Bagnaia, Martin, Ogura, Bastianini, Aldeguer and Binder.
Seven minutes to go.
12:12
That was a special lap from Bez, who is 0.296s clear of Marquez. Over to you, Marc - what have you got?
12:11
Bezzecchi crosses the line and goes top with a 1m50.065s! What a response!
12:10
Bezzecchi is pushing hard on this lap. He's very close to Marquez's lap currently.
12:10
Acosta has gone up to second, but is 0.5s behind Marquez.
12:09
Marquez posts a new lap record of 1m50.361s to go fastest on his first flying lap!
12:09
That crash for Binder will help Acosta to maintain he record of beating his team-mates in every qualifying session in MotoGP.
12:08
Crash - Brad Binder
Binder has crashed at Turn 1. He was trying to follow Marquez at the start of this lap. He's up and OK.
12:05
Q2 green flag
The pole battle is GO!
12:05
It was an Aprilia 1-2-3-4 at the end of FP2. But it's worth noting that Marquez on the Ducati did not use a new soft rear tyre.
12:04
Q2 group
These are you 12 riders fighting for pole in Q2:
- Zarco
- Bastianini
- Fernandez
- Binder
- Acosta
- Di Giannantonio
- Aldeguer
- Bagnaia
- Bezzecchi
- Ogura
- Martin
- Marquez
12:00
Fabio Di Giannantonio set a new lap record on Friday night with a 1m50.406s. That could well fall in this upcoming Q2 session.
12:00
Right, now it's time to turn our attention to the pole fight!
11:59
Impressive stuff from Dixon to qualify 17th ahead of Tech3's Maverick Vinales, who almost won the Qatar Grand Prix last year.
Dixon was just over a tenth behind full-time Honda rider Diogo Moreira.
11:57
Acosta does improve to a 1m51.087s to cement second.
So, Aldeguer and Acosta go into Q2.
Morbidelli will start 13th from Marini, Lecuona, Moreira, Dixon and Vinales.