TNT Sports
Pedro Acosta on pole for Grand Prix Catalunya, Aprilia duo Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martin struggle after crashes
By
Published 16/05/2026 at 11:18 GMT+1
React to this story
Pedro Acosta took pole position at Grand Prix Catalunya on Saturday morning, while Aprilia's Jorge Martin and Marco Bezzecchi struggled for pace.
'How he's got away with that!' - Martin crashes for third time at Grand Prix Catalunya
Video credit: TNT Sports
The Red Bull KTM rider put down a time of 1:38.068 to start on the front row for Saturday’s Sprint race, and Sunday’s full-length version, both shown live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.
Franco Morbidelli, in the VR46 Ducati, was second fastest, after escaping Q1 in the first session of qualifying.
Third spot went to last year’s winner in Barcelona, BK8 Gresini rider Alex Marquez. Marquez’s older brother, world champion Ducati Lenovo racer Marc Marquez, was absent after undergoing foot and shoulder surgery following a crash last weekend at Grand Prix France in Le Mans.
The younger Marquez brother had been tipped as one of the favourites, after his double win in the 2025 weekend at Grand Prix Catalunya, in TNT Sports expert Neil Hodgson’s preview column.
Hodgson was also concerned that the injured sibling would now face a decision as to whether he wishes to put his body through more rehab and pain after giving up his ambition of retaining the seventh MotoGP world championship he won last year.
Trackhouse’s Raul Fernandez was the quickest Aprilia, in fourth spot, alongside Johann Zarco of Honda in fifth, and a second VR46 rider, Fabio Di Giannantonio in sixth to complete the second row.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2026/05/15/image-c745bd02-d114-4505-bde4-6164dd73fef7-85-2560-1440.jpeg)
'This man has had so many injuries' - Martin recovers after worrying Grand Prix Catalunya crash
Video credit: TNT Sports
Fabio Quartararo was seventh fastest for Monster Yamaha, with Brad Binder continuing his decent early form for the weekend, as his Red Bull KTM placed eighth.Â
Martin suffered his third crash of the season in Q2 after battling his way out of Q1 earlier, and was ninth fastest. The Aprilia rider is just one point behind his team-mate and championship leader, Bezzecchi.
Bezzecchi also crashed, and could only go 12th fastest for the Italian factory team. With him on the fourth row are Honda’s Joan Mir and Pramac’s Jack Miller.
- Acosta quickest in practice, Bagnaia and Martin to start in Q1
- 'I'm riding with one-and-a-half arms' - Tearful Marquez reveals extent of injury
- Marquez delivers positive surgery update following Le Mans crash
With Ducati unable to field Marquez, they decided not to employ a substitute rider for this weekend, meaning all eyes from the manufacturer are on Francesco Bagnaia.
The Italian two-time world champion endured a miserable 2025 season, but was second in last weekend’s Sprint in chaotic, wet conditions.
However, Bagnaia was off the pace again in Catalonia, and came in 13th place, as he narrowly failed to eclipse Morbidelli and Martin in Q1 with Friday’s stragglers pushing to make up for their earlier slower pace.
Trackhouse rider Ai Ogura had a disappointing showing, coming in 18th, while Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pramac Yamaha) continued his adjustment from World Superbikes, placing 22nd as the slowest rider of the session.
Add TNT Sports as a preferred source here to enjoy more content like this.Â
Stream every race of the 2026 MotoGP season live on TNT Sports and HBO Max
Advertisement
Advertisement