The Qatar Grand Prix at Lusail is in the books, with Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) bouncing back from a Sprint race crash to claim victory in Sunday’s Grand Prix. Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team), winner of Saturday’s Sprint, finished second, while Raul Fernandez (SuperFile Trackhouse Aprilia) completed the podium. Read the teams’ post-race PR below.
More, from a press release issued by Aprilia Racing:
First victory for Aprilia Racing in Qatar. Marco Bezzecchi wins the Qatar Grand Prix, Jorge Martin seventh. Raúl Fernández also on the podium, third for SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team.
Aprilia Racing closed the weekend at the Lusail International Circuit in Qatar with a victory and two RS-GP26s on the podium.
Starting from pole, Marco Bezzecchi was the undisputed star of the race, leading from the first corner to the last. It was the Italian’s sixth win of the season, following those at Buriram, Goiânia, Austin, Mugello and Indonesia, and his twelfth in the top class. Bezzecchi became the first rider in history to achieve his first twelve top-class wins at twelve different circuits. The win also brought him to 30 career podiums in the top class and his twelfth of the season, drawing him level with Sete Gibernau, 28th on the all-time list in the top class.
Jorge Martín finished seventh after a gritty ride from the fourth row. The Spaniard showed real determination all weekend, taking third in the sprint as well and staying competitive despite the pain and not yet being back to full fitness after his crash in the Phillip Island sprint.
The SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team riders were also outstanding, with Raúl Fernández completing the Aprilia Racing podium in Qatar on his return from injury. Ai Ogura finished fourth. These results put four Aprilia Racing RS-GP26s in the top ten in the Qatar Grand Prix.
Bezzecchi’s win took Aprilia Racing to nine victories this season and 17 in the top class. The Qatar win also brought the Noale manufacturer to 311 wins in the FIM World Motorcycle Championship. It was Aprilia Racing’s best result ever at the Lusail circuit, where it had never previously stood on the podium in the long race.
Marco Bezzecchi: “In the first few laps, I tried to push and get clear of the group. After that, it was all about managing the race, because with the tyre wear, front and rear, it wasn’t easy. I’m very happy with this win. We’ve done a good job and we’re enjoying it. Now we go home to rest, so we’re ready for Portimão.”
Jorge Martin: “The fracture is improving every day, and I’m sure I’ll be close to 100% at Portimão. I gave it everything in the race, but starting that far back it was hard to try a comeback like Saturday’s. I couldn’t make the most of the bike’s potential, because physically I still didn’t have the strength to stop it the way I needed to. So I kept losing a few tenths. I gave it a go, and in the circumstances, I think seventh is a good result.”
More, from a press release issued by Ducati Lenovo Team:
Marc Márquez takes second place in the Grand Prix of Qatar with the Ducati Lenovo Team.
Marc Márquez and the Ducati Lenovo Team secured second place in the Grand Prix of Qatar, claiming a crucial podium finish in the 2026 Riders’ Championship battle and setting up a new match point at the Grand Prix of Portugal.
Márquez retained second place at the start but was passed by Fernández a few corners later and then by Acosta on lap three. Marc overtook the latter again on lap six before increasing his pace from the halfway point onwards. At the start of the third-to-last lap, he reclaimed second place from Fernández and held on to it until the chequered flag.
Francesco Bagnaia is currently travelling back to Italy to undergo surgery following yesterday’s Sprint crash, which resulted in fractures to the fourth and fifth metatarsals of his right foot. The procedure is expected to take place between tomorrow and Tuesday.
As the twentieth Grand Prix of the season draws to a close, Marc Márquez leads the Riders’ standings with 431 points, holding a 60-point advantage over Martín. Francesco Bagnaia is ninth with 173 points. The Ducati Lenovo Team is second in the teams’ standings with 504 points, while Ducati sits atop the constructors’ championship with 569 points.
The next Grand Prix on the calendar for the Ducati Lenovo Team will take place at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimão from November 20th to 22nd.
Marc Márquez (#93 Ducati Lenovo Team) – 2nd: “It was a crucial weekend because we knew that our rivals were very competitive here at Lusail. When we’re fighting for the title, we’re able to bring out something unexpected. After all, we’re the ones who scored the most points, so we can say we won the battle here in Qatar. At the start of the race, I didn’t attack at either Turn 1 or Turn 2. I had my race plan in mind, and I knew Martín could have bounced back, but I started closing the gap to Raúl (Fernández) as soon as I felt comfortable. There was a moment when I thought that third place would be enough, but then I saw that he was struggling and decided to give it a go. After all, four more points can only do us good.”
More, from a press release issued by Ducati Lenovo Team:
Enea Bastianini leads KTM charge with fifth under the Lusail lights.
Enea Bastianini finished as the top KTM at the Grand Prix of Qatar on Sunday when he took an impressive fifth place while Maverick Viñales got faster as the race progressed to finish 13th.
Conditions at the Lusail International Circuit were perfect for the 22-lap race, with temperatures cooling to 31 degrees as a reduced field of 16 riders lined up for the latest start on the MotoGP™ calendar (19:00 local time).
Bastianini had a strong start to gain two places on the first lap and sit seventh. Despite feeling some vibrations in the track’s five left corners, he was quickly involved in an exciting fight for the final podium spot with Marc Marquez, Pedro Acosta and Ai Ogura.
The Italian’s race was complicated further when his earplug fell out late on. While he couldn’t match the late-race pace of Márquez or Ogura, ‘La Bestia’ passed Acosta for fifth on lap 19 to come home as the top KTM.
This keeps Bastianini’s excellent recent run of form going. As well as equalling his second-best result of 2026, this was the 28-year-old’s third top five result in the past four Grand Prix outings.
There was reason to smile for Viñales, too. After starting steadily, the Spaniard gained two further places over the course of the race. He set his fastest time on lap 15 of 22, which showed he managed his energy well through the weekend. ‘Top Gun’ will now have medical checks on his left shoulder to assess its condition before the next round.
After a busy recent overseas run, Red Bull KTM Tech3 can now enjoy a few days of rest before heading to the Algarve International Circuit in Portugal for the penultimate round of 2026 from 20-22 November.
Enea Bastianini: “It was a tough race. I was happy with my start; I kept a good line and was in a strong position for Turn 1. After that I tried to stay close to Pedro and Marc and fight for the podium. I was trying to stay calm and save the tyre for the end. But in the middle of the race, Marc disappeared. The worst area for us was the left corners, where we had a lot of chatter. This was something we had the whole weekend, but it seemed to get worse in the Sprint yesterday and today. Also, my earplug fell out so I was confused at the end! We did a good job. We were the first KTM. I’m trying to fight for the podium at the moment. I’ve been closer in this last part of the season. We have two more chances and I want to give my team a top three finish before the season is over. That’s the aim going to Portugal.”
Maverick Viñales: “Today was tough! I had to use a lot of my right arm to finish and I started getting arm pump. But I’m quite happy because I finished and also managed to keep a good rhythm in the middle of the race. This was something I wasn’t expecting. I tried to go forward but it was very complicated. Now the plan is to go to the doctor’s next week to do the medical checks and see how the shoulder is. Obviously, something isn’t right because I don’t feel anything has improved lately, plus I am in more pain now than before. Let’s see the results there.”
Nicolas Goyon, Team Manager: “We’re really happy with the strong result here in Qatar for the Red Bull KTM Tech3 team, and Enea has delivered another great weekend. It wasn’t an easy weekend, and we expected it to be difficult, but Enea was fast at every important moment. He went straight into Q2 on Friday, finished a strong eighth on Saturday, and today, thanks to another really strong end to the race, he finished fifth and was the first KTM. The whole team is delighted, and Enea has once again secured his place in the championship Top 10. That’s a second top five in a row after Sepang, and he’s clearly found the confidence with the bike that he’s been chasing for a year and a half. It’s a real pleasure to see him riding our KTM.
“On the other side of the garage, congratulations also to Maverick. We know how difficult it is for him to ride at the moment, and we didn’t really know what to expect today. He fought until the end and finished both the Sprint and the Grand Prix, which hasn’t happened in the last few races. Job done.
“I’d like to thank the whole team for their hard work through these three races in a row. It’s a really intense time of the year and everyone did a great job. Now we head home for a well-deserved week off before Portimão.”
More, from a press release issued by Castrol Honda LCR:
Castrol Honda LCR rider Johann Zarco finished 9th in Sunday’s race at the Lusail International Circuit.
- Frenchman Johann Zarco made a strong start and immediately joined the fight for the top five.
- Throughout the race, he battled hard against his rivals, defending his position with determination.
- Managing tyre wear carefully and avoiding mistakes, Zarco crossed the line in 9th place, securing valuable championship points and rounding off a solid weekend in Qatar.
More, from a press release issued by Honda HRC Castrol:
Dixon delivers first MotoGP points on Honda debut.
With Luca Marini and the Honda HRC Castrol team electing to withdraw him from Sunday’s Qatar GP due to his physical condition, Jake Dixon stepped up to score points on his Honda MotoGP debut under the floodlights.
Despite the relentless demands of the desert, the Honda HRC Castrol team kept their focus throughout a complicated Sunday at the Lusail International Circuit. Warm Up, held with the sun still high in the sky, gave Honda’s factory team a final opportunity to adjust the setting of their Honda RC213V machines and better understand Luca Marini’s physical condition.
Having continued to struggle physically as he did during the Australian and Malaysian Grands Prix, Luca Marini and the Honda HRC Castrol team chose to withdraw the #10 after Sunday Warm Up. Unable to put his maximum physical effort in for more than a handful of laps, Marini will return to Italy and undergo a series of tests with his doctors to best understand his condition and prepare for the final pair of races.
Promoted to 15th on the grid due to the withdrawal of his teammate and Bagnaia, all eyes were on Jake Dixon as the sole representative of the Honda HRC Castrol team. Starting well and with Saturday’s learnings at the front of his mind, Dixon made an aggressive start to pass both Lecuona and Morbidelli into the first corner. Latching on to the back of his fellow WorldSBK regular, Dixon and Iker Lecuona tried to break away from Viñales and Morbidelli.
Lap four would see Dixon lose contact with the group after running on at Turn 1, the British rider keeping his head down and worked to close back in. Matching the pace of those ahead of him, a fading duo of Diogo Moreira and Brad Binder would promote Dixon into the points, the #96 going on to cross the line in 14th and earn his first points in the premier class. Rider and team were left satisfied with the result achieved in Qatar.
Just two Grands Prix remain in the 2026 MotoGP World Championship, a single week off before a Portugal – Valencia double sees out the season. After three physically and mentally demanding races in a row, it will be a welcome chance for the Honda HRC Castrol team to catch their breath and refocus ahead of the final push of the year.
More, from a press release issued by BK8 Gresini Racing Team:
Iker Lecuona secures top-10 finish, Fermin Aldeguer scores points.
- RACEDAY
IKER LECUONA 10º
FERMIN ALDEGUER 12º
- WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
ALEX MARQUEZ 8º (197)
FERMIN ALDEGUER 11º (129)
IKER LECUONA 21º (18)
- TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
BK8 GRESINI RACING 6º (344)
Iker Lecuona: “I’m physically drained, but I have to thank the team for another amazing weekend. I’m really pleased with how things went: points yesterday and a top-10 finish today. My race pace was really strong, although I lost some time in the early stages fighting with other riders and working my way through the field. In the end, we managed to collect some valuable points. I leave Qatar feeling like a better rider, and that’s all thanks to this team and the incredible support they’ve given me.”
Fermin Aldeguer: “It was a challenging race. I was expecting to feel more comfortable and have better pace, but I struggled quite a bit with the front tyre. It soon became more about making it to the finish, but it was still a valuable opportunity to get more mileage under my belt and build back some rhythm ahead of the final two races of the season. From a physical standpoint, I’m really pleased to have made it through the entire weekend without any problems.”
More, from a press release issued by Pro Honda LCR:
- Brazilian rider Diogo Moreira made a strong start and immediately joined the fight for the points and a top-10 finish.
- However, from lap six onwards, Moreira began to struggle, gradually losing positions as the race progressed.
- Eventually, he was forced to enter the pits and retire due to pain in his right elbow, caused by a previous injury that occasionally causes discomfort. The rider is fine and will take a few days to rest and recover before returning to action in Portimao!
More, from a press release issued by BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha:
Technical Setback Ends Guevara’s Qatar Challenge as Ferrández Gains Valuable Experience.
BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2 rider Izan Guevara was running inside the points in the Grand Prix of Qatar when a technical issue brought his race to a premature end. The retirement meant the initial 3.5-point gap to the championship leader increased to 13.5 points. Meanwhile, rookie teammate Alberto Ferrández showed determination throughout the demanding 18-lap contest, fighting hard to the finish to claim P19 in his first race under the Lusail floodlights.
It was a disappointing end to the Grand Prix of Qatar for BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2’s Izan Guevara, whose fight for a top-10 finish was cut short by a technical issue. Rookie Alberto Ferrández battled all the way to the chequered flag in his first race at the Lusail International Circuit, securing 19th place.
Following a three-place post-qualifying grid penalty, Guevara started from P10 and quickly worked his way into the top 7 in the early laps. The Spaniard remained in the fight for a top-10 finish throughout the opening half of the race, but a technical issue forced him to retire from tenth position on lap 14. It marked his first non-finish since the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix.
Starting from P22, Ferrández enjoyed a positive opening phase in his first Moto2 race at Lusail, gaining several positions and climbing to 18th. The rookie spent much of the 18-lap contest battling in a tightly contested group. He pushed until the chequered flag, overtaking Deniz Öncü on the last lap for 19th place to finish 26.091s from the winner.
After today‘s race, Guevara remains second in the Moto2 World Championship standings with 273 points, and the gap to the championship leader increased to 13.5 points. Teammate Alberto Ferrández sits joint 22nd overall with 17.5 points, while the BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2 Team holds third place in the team standings with 290.5 points.
The Moto2 paddock will now enjoy a one-week break before heading to the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve for the Grand Prix of Portugal, which takes place from 20-22 November, one week before the season finale in Valencia.
Izan Guevara: “I’m proud of the work we’ve done this weekend. I think the team has done an incredible job, especially considering the difficulties we’ve been facing with straight-line speed since Malaysia, and even during the previous Grand Prix. This has been quite unusual for us, as we have normally been very competitive in that area. The team had already started looking closely at the data after Sepang and continued investigating the situation here in Qatar.
“Unfortunately, the engine itself was not showing any clear signs of a problem, so there was no obvious solution to implement. But the lack of speed has had a huge impact on our races. For three consecutive weekends, we have been losing around five kilometres per hour compared with other riders, even when riding in their slipstream. I simply couldn’t defend my position or fight with the riders around me because they could all overtake me on the straights. That was extremely frustrating, but I tried to remain calm and focus on doing the best possible job.
“Today, I could feel something was not right. Coming out of Turn 6, when I shifted from first to second gear, the engine would hesitate before responding again. Then, with five laps remaining, as I downshifted approaching Turn 1, the gearbox stopped working properly and I had to retire. I’m obviously very disappointed because we deserved a better outcome, but I don‘t want to lose sight of the work we have done.
“We have had a very strong overseas tour, and despite this setback, we are still only 13.5 points away in the championship. Nothing is over. We need to stay calm, keep believing in our potential, and give everything in the final two rounds. We’re still in the fight, and that‘s what matters now.”
Alberto Ferrandez: “Today was a very difficult day, as once again we lost the good feeling we had found with the bike. Yesterday, I felt comfortable during qualifying, but when I started the race today, I couldn’t find the same feeling at all. I fought as hard as I could throughout the race and adapted my riding style to try to get the best possible performance, but unfortunately, we struggled a lot and it was another difficult race.
“We know that when we have the right feeling, we can be competitive, but the challenge is to find it consistently and maintain it. Now we’ll see how things go in Portimão. We have a week off, which will also be a good opportunity to recover physically, and then we’ll get back to work.”