2026 MotoGP French Grand Prix: Starting grid for the sprint

The starting grid for the 2026 MotoGP French Grand Prix sprint

Pecco Bagnaia, Ducati Corse, 2026 French MotoGP
Pecco Bagnaia, Ducati Corse, 2026 French MotoGP
© Gold and Goose

Pecco Bagnaia took a first pole of the 2026 MotoGP season after beating Ducati team-mate Marc Marquez by just 0.012s at the French Grand Prix.

It marks the first time the double world champion has headed a grid since the 2025 Malaysian Grand Prix, where he converted pole to a sprint victory. 

He headed team-mate Marc Marquez by just 0.012s, as the reigning world champion came out of Q1 after a tough Friday on his factory Ducati. 

Marco Bezzecchi, the championship leader, will start third on the leading Aprilia, as Ducati's top rider in the standings Fabio Di Giannantonio will head row two on the VR46 GP26. 

Pedro Acosta is the leading KTM in fifth, while Fabio Quartararo will start sixth on the factory Yamaha. Joan Mir will go from row three on the Honda ahead of Aprilia's Jorge Martin and Trackhouse rider Ai Ogura.

The fourth row is completed by Alex Marquez, Johann Zarco and Alex Rins. 

There are currently no penalties that could affect the grid for Sunday's grand prix. 

2026 MotoGP French Grand Prix: Full sprint starting grid

PosRiderNatTeam
1Francesco BagnaiaITADucati Lenovo (GP26)
2Marc MarquezSPADucati Lenovo (GP26)
3Marco BezzecchiITAAprilia Racing (RS-GP26)
4Fabio Di GiannantonioITAPertamina VR46 Ducati (GP26)
5Pedro AcostaSPARed Bull KTM (RC16)
6Fabio QuartararoFRAMonster Yamaha (YZR-M1)
7Joan MirSPAHonda HRC Castrol (RC213V)
8Jorge MartinSPAAprilia Racing (RS-GP26)
9Ai OguraJPNTrackhouse Aprilia (RS-GP26)
10Alex MarquezSPABK8 Gresini Ducati (GP26)
11Johann ZarcoFRACastrol Honda LCR (RC213V)
12Alex RinsSPAMonster Yamaha (YZR-M1)
13Raul FernandezSPATrackhouse Aprilia (RS-GP26)
14Enea BastianiniITARed Bull KTM Tech3 (RC16)
15Luca MariniITAHonda HRC Castrol (RC213V)
16Franco MorbidelliITAPertamina VR46 Ducati (GP25)
17Toprak RazgatliogluTURPramac Yamaha (YZR-M1)*
18Diogo MoreiraBRAPro Honda LCR (RC213V)*
19Jack MillerAUSPramac Yamaha (YZR-M1)
20Fermin AldeguerSPABK8 Gresini Ducati (GP25)
21Brad BinderRSARed Bull KTM (RC16)
22Jonas FolgerGERRed Bull KTM Tech3 (RC16)

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