09:54
Just 0.075s covering the top two at this stage.
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
09:54
First laps on the board. Bastianini leads the way with a 1m39.130s from Bagnaia. Martin only fourth.
09:51
The all-time lap record here is a 1m37.5s. We were over a second from that yesterday.
09:50
MotoGP Catalunya: Q1 - green flag
The opening segment of qualifying is underway.
09:49
Catalunya MotoGP: FP2 Results
2026 MotoGP Catalunya - Saturday Practice Results
Joan Mir, 2026 Catalan MotoGP.
© Gold and Goose
09:47
There were barely three tenths covering the top 10 at the end of Practice yesterday.
So, this Q1 session is going to be a tight one.
Big names in here are, of course, Jorge Martin and Pecco Bagnaia. But watch for Ai Ogura and Enea Bastianini.
The Honda has looked decent over one lap this weekend, too.
09:46
MotoGP Catalunya: Who is in Q1?
| Enea Bastianini | ITA | Red Bull KTM Tech3 (RC16) |
| Francesco Bagnaia | ITA | Ducati Lenovo (GP26) |
| Ai Ogura | JPN | Trackhouse Aprilia (RS-GP26) |
| Diogo Moreira | BRA | Pro Honda LCR (RC213V)* |
| Franco Morbidelli | ITA | Pertamina VR46 Ducati (GP25) |
| Fermin Aldeguer | SPA | BK8 Gresini Ducati (GP25) |
| Jorge Martin | SPA | Aprilia Racing (RS-GP26) |
| Luca Marini | ITA | Honda HRC Castrol (RC213V) |
| Toprak Razgatlioglu | TUR | Pramac Yamaha (YZR-M1)* |
| Maverick Vinales | SPA | Red Bull KTM Tech3 (RC16) |
| Alex Rins | SPA | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) |
| Augusto Fernandez | SPA | Yamaha Factory Racing (YZR-M1) |
09:41
FP2 - Chequered flag
Chequered flag is out for FP2. Joan Mir ends the session fastest with a 1m39.425s.
Qualifying up next!
09:23
Sounds like Pecco Bagnaia has been flipping between aero packages this weekend.
Di Giannantonio on the newer Ducati aero update today.
09:20
Standings after 10 minutes of FP2:
- Mir
- Acosta
- Marquez
- Bagnaia
- Moreira
- Martin
- Binder
- Aldeguer
- Quartararo
- Bezzecchi
09:19
A replay of Zarco's crash.
09:13
Crash - Johann Zarco
Johann Zarco has crashed at the last corner as he was starting his first flying lap.
This happened last week at Le Mans and it destroyed his confidence for the rest of the weekend.
He's up and ok, but a terrible start to his morning.
09:10
FP2 - Green flag
Pitlane is open for FP2. This session runs for 30 minutes.
09:08
Good to see Aleix Espargaro here this weekend, as he continues to recover from injury from a crash earlier this year.
09:01
Bikes on track in 10 minutes.
08:55
Pedro Acosta led the timesheets on Friday, in what was a very tight afternoon session.
But championship leader Marco Bezzecchi looks in a very good shape on race pace.
Take a look at our analysis from Friday while we wait for track action to get going this morning.
Why ending his Catalunya MotoGP curse is more important than ever for Marco Bezzecchi
Marco Bezzecchi, Aprilia Racing, 2026 Catalan MotoGP
© Gold and Goose
08:52
I'm very pleased to say that conditions are sunny and dry this morning at Barcelona.
08:51
MotoGP Catalunya: Qualifying build-up
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the 2026 MotoGP Catalan Grand Prix.
It's Saturday. We have qualifying. And we have a sprint.
Track action begins in 20 minutes with FP2, followed directly by qualifying.
Pecco Bagnaia, 2026 Catalan MotoGP.
© Gold and Goose