MotoGP had an electrifying Saturday in Jerez, with Marc Márquez securing pole position in an intense battle until the last seconds. The Spaniard shone at home and overcame Johann Zarco in difficult wet track conditions.
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The result marks Márquez’s first pole of the 2026 season and reinforces his strength in front of the home crowd. The session also highlighted how unstable conditions directly influenced the riders’ performance.
In the decisive phase, Márquez engaged in a direct duel with Zarco, who momentarily took the lead. However, the Ducati rider responded on the final lap and secured pole, while the Frenchman made a mistake on the last corner and finished in second place.
“It was an incredible battle until the end,” Márquez highlighted after the session, showing satisfaction with his performance at home. Zarco, who was seeking his first pole in four years and Honda’s first since 2023, ended up frustrated after running wide on his final attempt.
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Fabio Di Giannantonio completed the front row, maintaining his good form in qualifying, while Marco Bezzecchi, the championship leader, finished in fourth position. The session was also marked by significant crashes, including Franco Morbidelli, Diogo Moreira, and Brad Binder still in Q1.
In Q2, Alex Márquez and Jorge Martin also suffered accidents, with the Aprilia rider losing the chance to improve his position after going into the gravel. Francesco Bagnaia had another discreet performance and will start only from tenth position.
With the grid set, attention now turns to the Sprint in Jerez, which promises another intense battle after a qualifying session marked by errors, risks, and decisive laps on the limit.
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