Marco Bezzecchi claimed pole position during MotoGP qualifying Saturday at Red Bull Ring – Spielberg, in Austria. Riding his Aprilia Racing RS-GP25 on the 2.7-mile (4.35 km) track, the Italian turned a lap time of 1:28.060 to lead the field of 21 riders and take his first pole of the season.

Alex Marquez was the best of the rest with a 1:28.076 on his BK8 Gresini Ducati Desmosedici GP24, and Francesco Bagnaia claimed the third and final spot on the front row with a 1:28.202 on his Lenovo Ducati Desmosedici GP25.

Row-two qualifiers included Bagnaia’s teammate, Marc Marquez (1:28.220), Red Bull KTM Tech3’s Enea Bastianini (1:28.236) and A. Marquez’s teammate Fermin Aldeguer (1:28.302).

More, from a press release issued by Dorna:

Q1 to pole: Bezzecchi takes first pole since 2023 as Marquez crashes out. The Aprilia rider heads Alex Marquez and Bagnaia as the #93 slides out and Acosta suffers an adventurous Q2. 

Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) went from Q1 to pole position in qualifying at the bwin Grand Prix of Austria, taking his first pole with Aprilia and first since the 2023 Indian GP. Tucked in behind compatriot Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), the #72 just pipped the #63 by a tenth and a half. Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) struck later to split the two and take second – with Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) sidelined from the final push for pole by a late crash.

Q1 – Bastianini attacks late to lead Bez

With just over a couple of minutes left on the clock in Q1, it looked like Aprilia Racing’s Marco Bezzecchi and reigning Champion Jorge Martin would be the duo heading through, in that order, after a couple of moments in Friday Practice kept the two from automatic places in Q2. Enter Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech3).

The ‘Beast’ put in a late flying lap to top the session and demote Bezzecchi to second, andLuca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol) then pipped Martin too – so Bastianini and Bezzechi joined Q2 as Marini takes P13 on the grid and Martin P14.

Q2 – Bezzecchi Strikes back, Marquez strikes out

The yellow flags were out early as Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) crashed, rider ok, and it didn’t cause too much drama for the rest.

The next drama was for Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing). He was fourth at the time behind Marc Marquez, Alex Marquez and Bagnaia. But the #37 didn’t crash, he either had a technical issue or was low on fuel and had to get himself and the bike back. After a few pushes to get going, Acosta was able to roll back down towards the paddock, through the entrance, and drive his RC-16 in through the back door of his box. Unconventional but effective.

As the second runs began, Bagnaia was first to set another quick lap and took over on top. But this time round Bezzecchi was right behind him and the #72 picked Pecco’s pocket to take over on top. Alex Marquez split the two before Bastianini then made a play for pole, but the #23 lost out in the final sector and slotted into fifth. Then Marc Marquez crashed.

Down at the chicane, the #93 was perfectly ok and able to rejoin – but the push for pole looked unlikely. He did get going again but there wasn’t another fast one in the locker, and neither could anyone else improve, leaving the final threat to Acosta.

Up in the first two sectors by a good margin, it was down to hundredths in sector three. Could he hold it to the line? He was pushing on, but a huge moment in the final sector saw a few tenths go begging, forcing him to settle for seventh.

Austrian GP Grid 

Bezzecchi takes pole for the first time since India in 2023, with Alex Marquez looking to bounce back from Brno in second on the grid. He also, however, has a Long Lap penalty to serve. Bagnaia, undefeated at the Red Bull Ring since 2022, starts third.

Fourth is where Marc Marquez launches from as he aims to stand on the top step in Spielberg for the first time, with Bastianini alongside in P5 and rookie Fermin Aldeguer(BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) locking out Row 2. Acosta starts seventh ahead of Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) and Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse Racing MotoGP), with Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) completing the top ten.

Check out the full results from qualifying at the Red Bull Ring HERE.

Coming UP on super Saturday: Tissot Sprint

Aprilia haven’t won here. Bagnaia hasn’t been beaten here since he was still a rider looking for his first MotoGP World Championship. Marc Marquez has always been beaten here. There’s plenty on the line in Spielberg and the points are first in play at 15:00 (UTC +2), so don’t miss it!