Bezzecchi Secures Thai GP Pole as Marquez Shows Promise
Marco Bezzecchi of Aprilia Racing will start the MotoGP Thailand Grand Prix from pole position after a dramatic qualifying session at the Buriram Circuit on Saturday, February 28, 2026. Despite a late crash, Bezzecchi’s earlier lap time of 1 minute 28.652 seconds proved unbeatable, edging out Ducati’s Marc Marquez by a mere 0.035 seconds.
A Tight Qualifying Battle
The qualifying session saw intense competition, with riders battling for position throughout. Raul Fernandez secured third place, completing the front row. The session was divided into Q1 and Q2, with Q1 determining the final entrants for the pole position shootout.
Q1 Drama: Bagnaia Struggles
Q1 featured a surprising number of prominent riders, including Francesco Bagnaia, Fabio Quartararo, Maverick Vinales and Toprak Razgatlioglu. Bagnaia initially showed pace but ultimately struggled to find a clear lap, failing to advance to Q2. Raul Fernandez ultimately topped Q1 with a time of 1 minute 28.784 seconds, joining Franco Morbidelli in progressing to Q2.
Bezzecchi’s Dominance and Late Crash
Bezzecchi had already established himself as the rider to beat, setting the fastest time early in Q2. Although, he crashed although attempting to improve his lap time in the final sector, a fall that visibly shook him. Fortunately, his earlier time was sufficient to maintain his pole position.
Marquez’s Impressive Performance
Marc Marquez demonstrated strong pace throughout qualifying, ultimately finishing just 0.035 seconds behind Bezzecchi. His performance signals a strong start to the 2026 season for the reigning world champion.
Full Qualifying Results
Here’s the complete qualifying order for the MotoGP Thailand Grand Prix:
- Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Factory)
- Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo)
- Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse Aprilia)
- Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina VR46 Ducati)
- Jorge Martin (Aprilia Factory)
- Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM)
- Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Ducati)
- Ai Ogura (Trackhouse Aprilia)
- Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina VR46 Ducati)
- Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol)
- Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM)
- Johann Zarco (Castrol Honda LCR)
- Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo)
- Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol)
- Diogo Moreira (Pro Honda LCR)
- Fabio Quartararo (Monster Yamaha)
- Maverick Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech3)
- Jack Miller (Pramac Yamaha)
- Alex Rins (Monster Yamaha)
- Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech3)
- Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pramac Yamaha)
- Michele Pirro (BK8 Gresini Ducati)
FAQ
Q: Who secured pole position for the MotoGP Thailand Grand Prix?
A: Marco Bezzecchi secured pole position.
Q: What was the margin of victory for Bezzecchi?
A: Bezzecchi finished just 0.035 seconds ahead of Marc Marquez.
Q: Did Francesco Bagnaia make it into Q2?
A: No, Bagnaia did not advance to Q2.
Q: Who was the fastest rider in Q1?
A: Raul Fernandez was the fastest rider in Q1.
Q: How many riders participated in the qualifying session?
A: 22 riders participated in the qualifying session.