Pedro Acosta won the MotoGP Tissot Sprint race Saturday afternoon at Chang International Circuit, in Thailand. Riding his Red Bull KTM Factory RC16 on Michelin control tires, the Spaniard won the 13-lap race by 0.108 second.

Seven-time MotoGP World Champion Marc Marquez was the runner-up on his Lenovo Team Ducati Desmosedici GP26.

Raul Fernandez finished third on his Trackhouse Aprilia RS-GP26 and his teammate Ai Ogura was fourth.

Jorge Martin crossed the finish line fifth on his Aprilia Racing RS-GP26.

Poleman, Marco Bezzecchi crashed his Aprilia Racing RS-GP26.

Pedro Acosta leads the championship with 12 points, 3 ahead of Marc Marquez who has 9 points. Raul Fernandez is third with 7 points.

More from a press release issued by MotoGP:

2026 starts with fireworks as Bezzecchi falls from the lead before a no-holds-barred duel for the win ends in a final corner showdown and a penalty.

How’s that for a start? Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Marc Marquez(Ducati Lenovo Team) created an instant all-time classic straight out the blocks for 2026, with the two titans going head-to-head over the course of 13 explosive laps. It all boiled over with contact on the penultimate lap, resulting in a penalty for the #93 to be served on the last – and he did so at the very final corner. With that, Acosta takes his first ever Sprint win and becomes the first KTM rider to lead the MotoGP World Championship, with Marc Marquez forced to settle for second and Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) completing the rostrum on Saturday. Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) led the way early on before crashing out from ahead of the incoming #37 vs #93 fireworks.

An epic opening lap in 2026 first saw Bezzecchi and Marc Marquez locked in combat. The #93 got the initial holeshot over the Italian but it was at Turn 8 when ‘Bez’ struck straight back to take the lead. It rocked on until the end of the lap, Marquez levering the Aprilia rider aside at the final corner, only for the favour to be repaid at Turn 3, Bezzecchi assuming the Sprint lead. However, at Turn 8 on the second lap, it was disaster for the polesitter who tucked the front, paving the way for Marquez and Acosta to come through. Bezzecchi’s Buriram Sprint hopes lay in the gravel after what had been a flawless weekend until then.

The reigning World Champion may have inherited the lead but it wasn’t all easy. Acosta fired his KTM up the inside at the final corner but it was the #93’s Ducati which got the power down and fended off ‘The Shark’. Behind, Raul Fernandez led a trio of Aprilias as Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing) sat in fourth until Fernandez’s teammate Ai Ogura managed to squeeze past.

Lap 7 and just over halfway into the Sprint and Acosta wasn’t settling for opening his account with a podium. He pulled off the same move he did at the end of Lap 2, passing Marquez and this time held on for a few metres more. Still though, the GP26 managed to outgun the RC16 down the straight, Marquez remaining ahead… for now.

Third time round, this time on Lap 10, Acosta pulled the same move but he just couldn’t keep it down to the apex. Another attempt a lap later, Acosta with his best attempt yet to get the job done and this time forcing Marquez to go around the outside at the first corner, which he did.

On the penultimate lap, the gloves were off in the biggest way possible. Each pass getting closer, more aggressive, more intense. A mistake at Turn 5, Marquez ran ride and whilst tight, Acosta shouldered his way through to take the lead again. At Turn 12, the roles were reversed as it was the #93 attacking Acosta, which he did but then, the most controversial and talked about move of the day. Marquez went for his lunge, made contact, and Acosta was pushed wide as the #93 ran towards the edge of the track. “Under Investigation” came up immediately – and the decision was quick. Before the final lap was half done, the penalty dash message was sent – Marc Marquez to drop one position.

He left it as late as possible, slowing into the final corner to let Acosta through and then hitting the gas immediately to try and both fend off Fernandez and attack back. Acosta had enough in hand to cross the line for his first ever Sprint win, Marc Marquez did enough to hold onto second, and Fernandez was just left a few metres short of being able to take advantage. A thriller, and already a huge debate as the paddock exploded with their opinion on THAT move.

It was actually a Trackhouse Racing 3-4 as Ai Ogura picked his way through to fourth, with Aprilia Racing’s Jorge Martin completing the top five on his return to competition, having fought for the podium earlier in the Sprint too. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) and Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) were next up, with Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) taking that final point. Early race drama for Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) makes him one name not to score, although he did finish P11 behind Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol) after the #73 tangled with Diggia early on.

A duel to remember between two riders where we’ve been waiting to see the gloves come off. A penalty to debate. And an awesome start to the season. Come back for more MotoGP tomorrow as we get even more laps of stunning action – and Bezzecchi’s pace right back in that mix.

MotoGP results!

Senna Agius earned pole position during Moto2 World Championship qualifying Saturday at Chang International Circuit, in Thailand. Riding his Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP Kalex on Pirelli control tires, the Australian rider turned a 1:34.576 to top the field of 27 riders.

Izan Guevara was second-best with a 1:34.604 on his Blu Cru Pramac Yamaha Boscoscuro.

Daniel Holgado claimed the third and final spot on the front row with a 1:34.625 on his CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team Kalex.

Row-two qualifiers included QJMOTOR Pont Group MSI’s Ivan Ortola (1:34.693), Sync Group SpeedRS’ Celestino Vietti (1:34.746) and Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Collin Veijer  (1:34.788).

American Joe Roberts finished Saturday afternoon’s qualifying session 25th with a best time of 1:35.505 on his OnlyFans American Racing Team Kalex.

More from a press release issued by MotoGP:

The Australian beats Guevara and Holgado by less than a tenth in a highly competitive Moto2 qualifying.

For the first time in his Moto2 career, Senna Agius (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) will fire away from pole position when the lights go out after the Australian set a 1:34.576 to beat fellow front row starters Izan Guevara (BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2) and Daniel Holgado (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team) by less than a tenth in Thailand.

Agius left it until the closing moments to snatch a dream debut pole in the class, with 0.049s splitting the top three at the end of the 15-minute dash. Ivan Ortola (QJMOTOR – PONT GRUP – MSI) spearheads Row 4 and was just over a tenth back from pole, with Celestino Vietti (SYNC Group SpeedRS Team) and Collin Veijer (Red Bull KTM Ajo) completing the top six on the grid.

After topping Friday’s Practice, Manuel Gonzalez (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) is forced to settle for P7 as the Spaniard hunts back-to-back Thai GP wins, and having come through the Q1 jungle, David Alonso (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team) salvaged a P10 in qualifying to give himself a fighting chance of a podium – and maybe a win – on Sunday. The Colombian starts one place behind Mario Aji (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia), and one place ahead of rookie Angel Piqueras (QJMOTOR – PONT GRUP – MSI).

Tune into the Moto2 race at 13:15 local time in Buriram!

Moto2 qualifying results!

David Almansa earned pole position during Moto3 World Championship qualifying Saturday at Chang International Circuit, in Thailand. Riding his Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP KTM on Pirelli control tires, Almansa turned a lap time of 1:40.088. Not only was that good enough to lead the 26-rider field, it was also good enough to eclipse Jose Antonio Rueda’s 2025 All-Time Lap Record of 1:40.350.

Alvaro Carpe was the best of the rest with a 1:40.518 on his Red Bull KTM Ajo, and Adrian Fernandez claimed the third and final spot on the front row with a 1:40.693 on his Leopard Racing Honda. 

More from a press release issued by MotoGP:

Almansa smashes lap record for Moto3 pole in Buriram. Carpe and Fernandez give chase, Quiles fourth as Pratama impresses for P5 on the first grid of the year.

David Almansa (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) has a whopping four tenths in hand after qualifying in Thailand as the Spaniard smashed the lap record to secure the first pole of the season. His 1:40.088 puts him clear of Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo) in P2, with Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) taking third.

Pole was decided late on as Almansa’s dash denied Carpe, with the sophomore having been top of the pile for some time. Max Quiles (CFMoto Gaviota Aspar Team) was the first to lead the session but was forced to settle for fourth, with fifth going the way of a stunning debut from Indonesian rider Veda Pratama (Honda Team Asia). He also led the way briefly earlier in Q2.

David Muñoz (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) moved up from Q1 to take P6, with the top ten completed by Ryusei Yamanaka (AEON Credit – MT Helmets – MSI), Scott Ogden (CIP – Green Power), Guido Pini (Leopard Racing) and Casey O’Gorman (SIC58 Squadra Corse).

Check out the full results HERE and come back for a stunner on Sunday as Moto3 take on Buriram.

Marco Bezzecchi claimed pole position during MotoGP qualifying Saturday at Chang International Circuit, in Thailand. Riding his Aprilia Racing RS-GP26 on the dry 2.83-mile (4.55 km) track, Bezzecchi turned a 1:28.652 to top the field of 22 riders.

Marc Marquez was the best of the rest with a 1:28.687 on his Ducati Lenovo Desmosedici GP26, and Raul Fernandez claimed the third and final spot on the front row with a 1:28.876 on his Trackhouse Aprilia RS-GP26.

Row-two qualifiers included Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Ducati’s Fabio Di Giannantonio (1:28.918), Bezzecchi’s teammate, Jorge Martin (1:29.001) and Red Bull KTM Factory’s Pedro Acosta (1:29.061).

More, from a press release issued by MotoGP:

How close do you like it? Aprilia and Ducati go head-to-head in the first pole position battle of the season as Pecco fails to progress from Q1.

Despite a late crash at Turn 12, Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) will start the opening round of the 2026 MotoGP season from pole position, but it wasn’t as comfortable as he and Aprilia would have liked, as Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) lurked just 0.035s away in Q2. A 1:28.652 for Bezzecchi just outplayed a 1:28.687 for the reigning World Champion, as Q1 table-topper Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) earned a front row start in P3 to make it two Aprilias vs one Ducati at the front of the grid.

Q1: Pecco out as Fernandez and Morbidelli enter pole position frame

And so, it was time. The first MotoGP qualifying session of the 2026 campaign fired into life and after the opening set of flying laps, it was Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) who led second place Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) by a very healthy 0.3s, thanks to the 2025 Australian GP winner’s 1:28.784.

This meant Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), who was P3 in the opening half of the 15-minute dash, had work to do. And after his first attack on the second outing didn’t arrive, and neither did the second attempt, the double MotoGP World Champion was up against it with three minutes left.

Then, while 0.001s away from Fernandez’s time, a mistake came on the exit of Turn 8, meaning – if tyres and fuel load allowed – he’d have one more lap to try and penetrate the top two. A red sector was set again in Sector 1, but it was session over for Pecco. The Italian sat up and out of the lap, meaning the #63 will start the Tissot Sprint and Grand Prix from P13, as compatriot Morbidelli crashed down at Turn 3, which in the end, didn’t cost the Italian a place in Q2.

Q2: Bezzecchi vs Marc Marquez unfolds as 0.4s covers the top seven

The big question coming into the pole position shootout was could anyone halt Bezzecchi’s brilliant Buriram momentum? The reigning World Champion, Marc Marquez, would certainly be a chief contender in trying to stop him, but it was a scruffy opening lap from the #93, as the Aprilia Racing duo sailed to an early top two. Bezzecchi set a 1:28.914, with teammate Martin just 0.087s away.

This was all going to change very quickly though. Marc Marquez improved but it was nowhere near enough for P1, as Acosta – shadowing the 2025 title winner – got down to a 1:29.063 for P4.

Getting down to it was Bezzecchi again. The pre-qualifying favourite improved his time to bang in a 1:28.652, with Fernandez stretching his legs to leap up to P3 to make it an Aprilia 1-2-3 in Q2. Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) and Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) were currently behind Acosta on the second row, meaning Marc Marquez had a mini mountain to climb from provisional P7.  

That then got worse with Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) moving up to P6, as we strapped in for the final four minutes of a fantastic Q2.

In true Marc Marquez style, the shovel was out, and he was digging deep when it mattered most. Three red sectors were slammed in before the 99-time Grand Prix winner lost a small amount of margin in Sector 4, meaning it was P2 for the Ducati star. 0.035s the gap to Bezzecchi, and with Di Giannantonio improving to P4, Martin was now shuffled down to P5 on his factory RS-GP.

Turn 12, while pushing to increase his advantage, then caught out Bezzecchi. The front end cried no more as the #72 hit the deck at the final corner, but in the end, it didn’t matter. No more big moves were made in the chase for pole position in Thailand, so the much-wanted P1 grid slot was the Italian’s and Bezzecchi’s for Round 1 – but only just.

YOUR GRID FOR ROUND 1

Pole goes to Bez, but Marc Marquez is right there in P2 after a stunning late Q2 lap. Fernandez makes it two Aprilias on the front row, a lovely pair of short morning stints for the #25, as Di Giannantonio fronts the second row ahead of Martin – who claims his first top 10 in qualifying with Aprilia – and Acosta.

It’s P6 for the lead KTM star in qualifying, while Alex Marquez is forced to settle for a disappointing P7 in Q2. Eighth and ninth – the middle and outside of the third row – go to Ogura and Morbidelli, with Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol), Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), and Johann Zarco (Castrol Honda LCR) set to launch from P10, P11 and P12, respectively.

COMING UP: SPRINT TIME

0.8s split the top 12 in a blistering Q2, and now it’s time to get ready for the Tissot Sprint. 15:00 local time. You know the score. And if you don’t, then get ready for one hell of a ride. Let’s go racing in 2026, shall we?

MotoGP qualifying results!