The Season Opener at Chang International Circuit has logged in ripe with excitement. Ducati, the reference point for some seasons past, could not help but play catch up with Aprilia, which has shown consistent pace so far. Marco Bezzecchi claimed his third consecutive pole position with Aprilia Racing for the first time in his MotoGP stint despite a crash in Q2. Marc Márquez, put together a flying lap to secure P2 after a less than stellar Free Practice 2. Raúl Fernández rounded up the top three, making it his 4th Front Row start in MotoGP.
Fernández and Morbidelli Through to Q2 as Bagnaia Misses Out
Fernández was the first and only rider in Q1 to reach the 1.28s, securing a spot in Q2 with 9 minutes left on the clock. Francesco Bagnaia, despite being the earliest on track, missed out on Q2 and will begin from P13, being unable to put in another clean lap after his first. His compatriot, Franco Morbidelli, on the other hand, secured the second spot in Q2 despite crashing at Turn 3 during what was looking to be the fastest first sector of the session.
Bezzecchi Secures Third Consecutive Pole
The first run of hot laps in Q2 saw Aprilia the fastest with Bezzecchi and Jorge Martín claim P1 and P2 respectively for Aprilia Racing and Fernández slipping into third with Trackhouse MotoGP Team. The second half of Q2 rolled in with M. Márquez claiming P2, reaching the 1.28s and proving just why he cannot be disregarded even after a slow Friday.
Bezzecchi brought out the second Yellow Flag in Qualifying with a hard crash at Turn 12 where his front end washed out, slamming his right side into the asphalt. Yet he retained Pole Position in spite of an unfortunate end to his qualifying. Fernández remained third at the end of Q2, meaning he will join Bezzecchi and M. Márquez on the front row. Fabio di Giannantonio and Jorge Martín rounded up the top 5.
What to Watch Out for in the Saturday Sprint
Bezzecchi will begin the first Sprint Race of 2026 with bruises and a blow to his confidence, while M. Márquez and Fernández enter the hunt knowing the pressure they can exert on the pole sitter. All fours Aprilia bikes contested in Q2, signifying their pace. What remains to be seen is how well they hold out during the race. With excitement already setting the pace of the weekend, the Qualifying left the sweet taste of unexpected surprises for the Saturday Sprint.