14:22
Marquez shuts it down at Turn 10 too. That was crucial!
Pedro Acosta, KTM Factory Racing, 2026 Catalan MotoGP
© Gold and Goose
MotoGP Catalunya LIVE: Reaction after Alex Marquez wins the sprint
Live coverage of qualifying and the sprint at the 2026 MotoGP Catalan Grand Prix
KEY MOMENTS
- Alex Marquez wins closest ever sprint
- Bezzecchi only ninth
- Martin crashes for fourth time this weekend
- Acosta on pole
The 2026 MotoGP Catalan Grand Prix, the sixth round of the season, continues on Saturday 16 May with qualifying and the sprint.
Pedro Acosta put KTM on top of the Friday practice for the 2026 Catalan MotoGP at Barcelona on Friday, ahead of defending winner Alex Marquez.
Brad Binder made it two RC16s in the top three, with Raul Fernandez the leading Aprilia rider in fourth and Johann Zarco top Honda in fifth.
But the big shock of the day was Jorge Martin. The French Grand Prix winner suffered a heavy crash in FP1, and looked off-colour on Friday afternoon in Practice.
A second fall late in the session left him outside of the top 10 and facing Q1 for the first time this season. It ends the French Grand Prix winner's 100% Q2 appearance record this year.
He will join Pecco Bagnaia - who was on pole at Le Mans - in Q1 on Saturday morning, as well as Ai Ogura - who was third in the French Grand Prix - who crashed in Practice.
The top two at the end of Q1 on Saturday morning will advance to Q2 and fight for pole position.
Qualifying will be followed by the sprint later on Saturday afternoon.
2026 Catalan MotoGP: Saturday schedule
FP2 - 9:10am BST - 9:40am BST
Q1 - 9:50am BST - 10:05am BST
Q2 - 10:15am BST - 10:30am BST
Sprint - 2pm BST
16 May 2026
18:26
"Tough" day for Marco Bezzecchi
Marco Bezzecchi keeps MotoGP title lead despite “tough” Catalunya Sprint
Marco Bezzecchi, 2026 Catalan MotoGP Sprint.
© Gold and Goose
17:44
Valentino Rossi sends a message to Ducati
Valentino Rossi: Ducati should “put in the same effort” as Pecco Bagnaia
Valentino Rossi, 2026 Catalan MotoGP.
© Gold and Goose
17:38
“I still need to understand the Aprilia”: Jorge Martin explains Catalunya sprint crash
Jorge Martin has explained why he crashed out of the sprint at the MotoGP Catalan Grand Prix
“I still need to understand the Aprilia”: Jorge Martin explains Catalunya sprint crash
17:09
Diggia, Binder, Mir tangle at Turn 1
Fabio di Giannantonio “didn't know how to escape” Turn 1 Catalunya Sprint clash
Binder, Mir crash at Turn 1 of 2026 Catalan MotoGP Sprint.
© Gold and Goose
16:35
Pedro Acosta talks Sprint victory battle
Pedro Acosta “missing one lap” in Catalunya MotoGP Sprint showdown
Alex Marquez, Pedro Acosta, 2026 Catalan MotoGP Sprint.
© Gold and Goose
16:26
Why Alex Marquez didn't fear a Rossi/Lorenzo repeat in Catalunya MotoGP sprint
Alex Marquez says he wasn’t concerned about being overtaken at the last corner of the Barcelona MotoGP sprint
Why Alex Marquez didn't fear a Rossi/Lorenzo repeat in Catalunya MotoGP sprint
Alex Marquez, Gresini Ducati, 2026 Catalan MotoGP
© Gold and Goose
16:07
Official: Davide Brivio to leave Trackhouse...
Trackhouse confirms Davide Brivio exit, paving way for Honda MotoGP move
Davide Brivio, Raul Fernandez, 2025 Australian MotoGP.
© Gold and Goose
14:48
Alex Marquez now has 6 MotoGP Sprint wins...
The all-time MotoGP Sprint winners' list after Catalunya
Alex Marquez, 2026 Catalan MotoGP Sprint.
© Gold and Goose
14:41
Alex Marquez wins Catalunya MotoGP sprint thriller amid Aprilia nightmare
Alex Marquez fended off Pedro Acosta by just 0.041s in the Barcelona MotoGP sprint
Alex Marquez wins Catalunya MotoGP sprint thriller amid Aprilia nightmare
Alex Marquez, Gresini Ducati, 2026 Catalan MotoGP
© Gold and Goose
14:40
Catalunya MotoGP Sprint: Points
Barcelona Sprint: New 2026 MotoGP World Championship standings
Jorge Martin, Marco Bezzecchi, Aprilia Racing.
© Gold and Goose
14:26
Catalan MotoGP: Sprint Results
2026 MotoGP Catalunya - Sprint Race Results
Pedro Acosta leads the 2026 Catalan MotoGP Sprint race.
© Gold and Goose
14:23
Chequered flag
Marquez holds Acosta at bay by just 0.041s!
Di Giannantonio is third.
Bezzecchi does get back into the points in ninth, but his championship lead only grows to two over Martin.
14:22
Marquez has shut down one overtaking spot on Acosta at Turn 5.
14:21
Ogura shuffles Bezzecchi out of the points!
14:21
Final lap
Last lap.
Marquez leads Acosta across the line. There's barely 0.2s in it. DiGia fastest of that top three.
14:20
Bezzecchi is at serious risk of scoring nothing here. Bastianini has moved into eighth, and Ogura is charging close behind.
14:20
Morbidelli has passed Bezzecchi for seventh.
14:19
DiGia takes Fernandez into Turn 1 to move up to third.
14:19
Lap 11/12
Two laps to go and this battle for the win is not over!
Marquez leads Acosta by 0.327s.
14:19
Acosta has chipped a few tenths out of Marquez.
14:18
It may only be Saturday, but the factory Aprilias are really lessening the blow for Marc Marquez being absent this weekend in the championship battle.
14:18
Bezzecchi is in danger of dropping to ninth here as Morbidelli and Bastianini gang up on him.
14:18
Lap 10/12
Three laps to go. Marquez is 0.6s clear of Acosta.
14:17
Acosta launches it on Fernandez into Turn 10 and is back up to second.