David Almansa earned pole position during Moto3 World Championship qualifying Saturday morning at MotorLand Aragón, in Alcañiz, in Spain. Riding his Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP KTM on Pirelli control tires, the Spaniard turned a lap time of 1:56.347. 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 1:56.361.
Marco Morelli was the best of the rest with a 1:56.380 on his CFMOTO Viel Aspar Team KTM, and his temmate Maximo Quiles claimed the third and final spot on the front row with a 1:56.390.
Row-two qualifiers included LEVEL UP – MTA’s Matteo Bertelle (1:56.606), CIP Green Power’s Adrian Cruces (1:56.613) and Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Brian Uriarte (1:56.644).
Almansa denies Morelli pole at Aragon with last-ditch effort. The Spanish star put in his best lap at the end of the session for pole ahead of Morelli, while Quiles starts from P3.
Talk about leaving it late. David Almansa (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) snatched pole in Moto3 for the Michelin Grand Prix of Aragon despite having only a couple of valid laps in Q2 as he beat the all-time lap record for his fifth pole of the year. It had looked like Marco Morelli (CFMOTO Viel Aspar Team) would claim pole from teammate Maximo Quiles right at the end of the 15-minute session, but Almansa came out on top; 0.043s separated the top three.
Almansa set a 1:56.347s to claim pole position despite losing a couple of laps due to various yellow flags being waved, while also losing the opportunity to set a time when Brian Uriarte ((Red Bull KTM Ajo) bundled his way through at Turn 13 and forced the #22 wide, forcing the Spaniard to leave it until his final flying lap to set his best time and claim pole. Morelli also set his best time, a 1:56.380s, on his last lap and briefly was in pole position but finished just 0.033s off pole. Quiles, returning from the broken collarbone he sustained at Silverstone, will go from third with a 1:56.390s.
Matteo Bertelle (LEVEL UP – MTA) put in a late lap as well to claim a second-row start with P4 ahead of Adrian Cruces (CIP Green Power) after the #11 posted a 1:56.613s. The second row is completed by Brian Uriarte (Red Bull KTM Ajo). The #51 came through Q1 and looked like he was in contention for pole but ended up in sixth, and he will serve a Long Lap Penalty in Sunday’s race. Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo), Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) and Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM Tech3) will go from the third row.
The stage is set, don’t miss out on Sunday’s Moto3 race at 11:00 Local Time (UTC+2)!
Marco Bezzecchi earned pole position during MotoGP World Championship qualifying on Saturday at MotorLand Aragón, in Alcañiz, in Spain. Riding his Aprilia Racing RS-GP26, the Italian rider broke the All-Time Lap Record of 1:45.455 he set Friday afternoon with a time of 1:44.962 around the 3.15-mile (5.08 km) circuit during Qualifying Two (Q2) on Saturday.
Marc Márquez was the best of the rest with a 1:45.051 on his Ducati Team Lenovo Desmosedici GP26, and Alex Marquez claimed the third and final spot on the front row with a 1:45.261 on his BK8 Gresini Racing Team Ducati Desmosedici GP26.
Row-two qualifiers included SuperFile Trackhouse’s Raul Fernandez (1:45.375), Bezzecchi’s teammate, Jorge Martin (1:45.436) and Red Bull KTM’s Pedro Acosta (1:45.555).
Bezzecchi beats Marc Marquez to pole in record-breaking Aragon Q2. Two 2026 heavyweights treat us to a qualifying fight to remember to set the scene for a Tissot Sprint and Grand Prix blockbuster.
Not one, but two 1:44s from a bruised but simply brilliant Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) ensured the Italian beat reigning World Champion Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) to pole position at the Michelin Grand Prix of Aragon. Bezzecchi’s new all-time lap record, a 1:44.962, was 0.089s quicker than the #93’s best effort as the duo treated us to a Q2 bout to remember at MotorLand. Joining the pair on the front row will be Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP), who will be a key contender in the gold medal and 25-point hunts that are approaching at MotorLand.
Q1 – BAGNAIA & MOREIRA PROGRESS
Following the first flying laps in the opening part of qualifying, it was rookie Diogo Moreira (Pro Honda LCR) front the pack from a previous Aragon GP winner Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), with Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) lingering just 0.039s adrift of a top two place.
In the second run, Pecco responded immediately to climb to P1, as Moreira then crashed at Turn 2 with two minutes to go. That was session over for the second place Brazilian, so could anyone spoil the rookie’s Saturday morning Q1 attack?
The most likely candidate was HRC stablemate Joan Mir. The Honda HRC Castrol star set a couple of red sector splits in S1 and S2, but the lap time drifted in the second half of the lap. That meant Moreira survived, Bagnaia delivered, and the pair then entered the Q2 fray.
Q2: BEZ VS MM93 LIGHTS UP MOTORLAND
And when we got going for the pole position shootout, Marc Marquez landed a glorious opening flyer. A 1:45.136 was the reigning World Champion’s initial benchmark, a new all-time lap record, as we then strapped in to witness our first MotorLand 1:44 lap, courtesy of Bezzecchi.
Alex Marquez was just up the road from the former championship leader and went P2 very briefly, before Bezzecchi’s phenomenal 1:44.984 was landed by the wounded Italian. Over to you Marc, said Bez.
It wasn’t the opening stint World Championship leader Martin was asking for though. While his teammate was breaking records, Martin seemingly had an issue with his number one RS-GP and was P11 with six minutes on the clock. That became P8 after the 2024 World Champion completed his first proper flying lap.
Speaking of flying laps, Marc Marquez began his second run, and despite running slightly deep into Turn 1, the World Champion was well in touch with Bezzecchi’s lap record. Through the third split, the gap was +0.091s to Bezzecchi’s provisional pole, and over the line it was just over half a tenth – before the Aprilia star moved the goalposts further.
Not by a lot, 0.022s extra, but enough… for now. 0.089s was the gap back to Marc Marquez now, as Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) hit the deck at Turn 8 while on a personal best time.
Now, all eyes locked onto Marc Marquez. One last attempt at stealing pole position from Bezzecchi, but through Sector 1 the gap was +0.141s. Then it was +0.013s. Game on. Then, game over. A big front-end moment through Turn 14 cost Marc Marquez a shot at pole position; the front Michelin tyre cried no more, which signalled pole was Bezzecchi’s.
Two stunning 1:44s see Bezzecchi lead Marc and Alex Marquez on the front row, with the #93 surprisingly beaten to a Saturday morning P1 at a very happy hunting ground. Still, the Marquez brothers are right in the mix.
A pair of Aprilias front the second row with Silverstone winner Raul Fernandez (SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team) starting P4 ahead of Martin, as Acosta holds onto P6 despite his crash.
Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) launches from P7, and the Italian is joined on the third row by Pecco and the impressive returnee Johann Zarco (Castrol Honda LCR). Zarco’s teammate Moreira rounded out the Q2 top 10, as Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) and Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) make up Row 4 alongside the Brazilian.
COMING UP: SPRINT TIME IN ARAGON
It looks like we’ve got a proper battle to strap in for a little later on. Don’t miss a beat when the Tissot Sprint bursts into life at 15:00 local time (UTC +2)!
Oscar Gutierrez earned pole position during FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup qualifying Saturday afternoon at MotorLand Aragón, in Alcañiz, in Spain. Riding his Niti Racing Harley-Davidson on Dunlop control tires, Gutierrez covered the 3.15-mile (5.08 km) road course in 1:56.587, topping the field of 10 riders.
His teammate, Andrea Iannone was the best of the rest with a 1:56.726 and Eric Granado got third with a lap time of 1:56.876 on his Joe Rascal Racing Harley-Davidson.
Riding for Saddlemen Racing Harley-Davidson, American teammates Max Toth (1:58.072), Travis Wyman (1:59.472) and Jake Lewis (1:59.579) finished 6th, 9th, and 10th respectively.
Marco Bezzecchi led MotoGP World Championship Free Practice Two (FP2) Saturday morning at MotorLand Aragón, in Alcañiz, in Spain. Riding his Aprilia Racing RS-GP26 on spec Michelin tires, the Italian rider turned a lap time of 1:46.216 to lead the 22-rider field.
Seven-time MotoGP World Champion Marc Marquez was the best of the rest with a 1:46.448 on his Ducati Lenovo Team Desmosedici GP26.
Raul Fernandez was third at 1:46.637 on his SuperFile Trackhouse Aprilia RS-GP26.
Pedro Acosta finished the session fourth with a 1:46.700 on his Red Bull KTM Factory Racing RC16.
Marquez’s teammate, Francesco Bagnaia, got fifth with a lap time of 1:46.710.
Manuel Gonzalez was quickest during Moto2 World Championship Free Practice Two (FP2) Saturday morning at MotorLand Aragón, in Alcañiz, in Spain. Riding his Pirelli-shod LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP Kalex on the 3.15-mile (5.08 km) track, the Spaniard recorded a 1:49.597, which led the field of 29 riders and broke Ivan Ortola’s All-Time Lap Record of 1:49.791 he set Friday afternoon during the practice session.
Izan Guevara was the best of the rest with a 1:49.602 on his BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Boscoscuro.
Daniel Muñoz was third-fastest with a 1:49.783 on his Italtrans Racing Team Kalex.
American Joe Roberts finished Saturday morning’s practice session 12th with a best time of 1:50.590 on his OnlyFans American Racing Team Kalex.
David Almansa led Moto3 World Championship Free Practice Two (FP2) Saturday morning, at MotorLand Aragón, in Alcañiz, in Spain. Almansa used his Pirelli-shod Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP KTM to lap the 3.15-mile (5.08 km) track in 1:57.259 to lead the field of 26 riders.
Guido Pini was second-best with a time of 1:57.308 on his Leopard Racing Honda.
Marco Morelli, piloting his CFMOTO Viel Aspar Team KTM, claimed the third and final spot on the front with a lap time of 1:57.399.
Chance Hymas, Levi Kitchen and Cooper Webb will compete on behalf of the United States during the 2026 FIM Motocross of Nations.
CRAWFORDSVILLE, Ind. — The American Motorcyclist Association announced the three exceptional riders who will represent the United States at the 2026 Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) Motocross of Nations, which will run Oct. 2-4 in Ernée, France.
Leading the way for the Stars and Stripes will be Honda HRC Progressive’s Chance Hymas, Levi Kitchen of Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki and three-time AMA Supercross 450SX Champion Cooper Webb as the trio seeks to dethrone the Australians, who have won the last two FIM Motocross of Nations.
AMA Director of Racing Mike Pelletier will return as the manager of Team USA for his second year. Pelletier led Team USA to a second-place finish in 2025, when the Americans hosted the event at Ironman Raceway in Crawfordsville, Ind.
“We have put together an outstanding team for this year’s FIM Motocross of Nations as we look to build on last year’s success,” Pelletier said. “Having the opportunity to serve as the manager for Team USA has been incredibly rewarding, and I can’t wait to stand beside Cooper, Levi and Chance as we take on the world. I know they are ecstatic to represent their country this October in France.”
Hymas has enjoyed a resurgence in performance in recent weeks and was selected to represent the USA on the heels of a victory last weekend at Budds Creek. Photo courtesy MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.
After an injury held him out of making his debut in the 2024 FIM Motocross of Nations, Hymas is set to make his first appearance in this year’s event and will compete in the MXGP class. At only 21 years old, Hymas has captured a trio of AMA Pro Motocross 250 wins along with a victory in the 250SX East class in AMA Supercross.
“I’m beyond excited to get the opportunity to race for Team USA in the MXGP class. It means everything to me and has been a dream of mine to carry the Stars and Stripes overseas and represent our country in front of the world,” Hymas said. “We have a strong team heading to France this year, and I’m confident between Cooper, Levi, and myself that we’ll represent America proudly.”
Kitchen has been in the thick of the title fight all summer in Pro Motocross and will represent the U.S. Motocross Team for the first time. Photo courtesy MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.
Kitchen will make his FIM Motocross of Nations debut in 2026, racing in the MX2 class. In the previous two seasons, Kitchen has finished second in 250SX West class in AMA Supercross. Kitchen is currently second in points and highest ranked American in the 2026 AMA Pro Motocross Championship with one round to go.
“What an honor it is to be selected to represent our amazing country,” Kitchen said. “I’m so excited for this experience and to do it with a great group of people. Can’t wait to send it for Team USA!”
Webb is set to complete his final season of Pro Motocross competition and will represent his country for the fourth time at the MXoN as U.S. Team Captain. Photo courtesy MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.
Webb will make his fourth appearance at the FIM Motocross of Nations in 2026, having previously competed in the prestigious event in 2015, 2016 and 2024 and finishing on the podium in all three attempts. A seasoned veteran, Webb will race on behalf of the United States in the Open class and serve as team captain.
“I’m so excited and grateful to be on Team USA for MXoN again. It’s an honor and always has been,” Webb said. “We are moving mountains on my end to make this even happen and I can’t thank everyone involved enough for what they are doing to even have me be able to race this event. The preparation, resources, time and money that goes into making this happen is crazy so thank you to everyone for doing their part.
“I’m personally excited as this will be my last year racing Pro Motocross and I know this could be my final time for this event, so I’m ready to lay it all out there,” Webb continued. “I love the pressure and atmosphere this race brings; there is nothing like it. Best race in the world, and I’m excited to put our best foot forward. It’s an honor to represent my country!”
The world’s best riders will compete at the famed Circuit Raymond Demy during the 2026 FIM Motocross of Nations, which pits countries against one another for the global crown in motocross. More details on the 2026 FIM Motocross of Nations can be found at www.mxgp.com/tracks/monster-energy-fim-motocross-nations-ern%C3%A9e-0
Hawthorne, CA— August 28th, 2026 – ARCH Racing rider Corey Alexander will miss the final round of the MotoAmerica Mission Super Hooligan National Championship at Circuit of The Americas as he continues to recover from successful lumbar spine surgery performed in early August.
Alexander underwent surgery with Dr. Sheeraz Qureshi at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York to repair a herniated disc in his lumbar spine. The procedure was successful, and Alexander is currently progressing through his recovery and rehabilitation which will keep him off the bike till late 2026.
“It’s disappointing not to be able to finish the season with the team, especially at COTA, but the surgery went very well and the focus now is on making a complete recovery,” said Alexander. “I’m extremely grateful to Dr. Qureshi and the team at HSS, as well as everyone at ARCH Racing for their support throughout the process. I’m looking forward to getting healthy and hopefully being back on a motorcycle around the new year.”
Corey Alexander (on the left) and Michael Gilbert. Photo by Obsidian Photography
Alexander’s 2026 season included several milestone results for ARCH Racing and the 2s-R. At The Ridge Motorsports Park, he claimed the team’s first MotoAmerica pole position while setting a new Super Hooligan class lap record before going on to deliver ARCH Racing’s first MotoAmerica victory and a second-place finish the following day. The team carried that form into its home round at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, adding two more podium finishes, before Alexander recorded a pair of fourth-place finishes at Mid-Ohio.
Michael Gilbert will return to the ARCH Racing lineup for the COTA weekend, joining Jeremy McWilliams aboard the ARCH 2s-R. Gilbert previously raced with the team at Laguna Seca while filling in for the injured McWilliams and brings extensive MotoAmerica experience and familiarity with both the Super Hooligan paddock and the ARCH 2s-R.
“Corey has been an important part of this program from the beginning, and the priority is making sure he has the time he needs to recover properly,” said ARCH Motorcycle co-founder Gard Hollinger. “We’re glad the surgery was successful and that his recovery is progressing well. We’re also pleased to have Michael back with us at COTA and look forward to having him alongside Jeremy for the final weekend.”
Alexander will continue his rehabilitation over the coming months with the goal of returning to riding around the new year.
ARCH Racing will contest the final round of the 2026 MotoAmerica Mission Super Hooligan National Championship at Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas, September 11–13, with Jeremy McWilliams and Michael Gilbert aboard the ARCH 2s-R.
The most eagerly anticipated event for Moto Guzzi fans around the world this year is dedicated to the opening of the new factory and museum.
From 3 to 6 September, Moto Guzzi’s new home will welcome tens of thousands of motorcyclists and enthusiasts from all over the world for four days of celebrations, music, beautiful motorcycles and events that are open to everyone.
“GMG 2026 – The Opening” is also set to be an opportunity to celebrate the 105th anniversary of the foundation of Moto Guzzi.
Mandello del Lario, 28 August 2026 – One of the most important events in Moto Guzzi’s history is drawing closer every day: in less than a week, on Thursday 3 September, the biggest edition of the GMG – Moto Guzzi World Days – in the history of the event will kick off, marking the inauguration of the new, hyper-modern site in Mandello del Lario.
Moto Guzzi is celebrating the 105th anniversary of its foundation, and above all, is ushering in a crucial new chapter in its history. A unique and futuristic work of industrial architecture has been created, drawing on over a century of history, not distorting it but rather enriching it, and reflecting precisely how Moto Guzzi has always conceived innovation. A place to create, experiment, enjoy experiences and feel real emotion, where the love for a brand blends with a vision of the future: thenewhome of Moto Guzzi, which will serve as our base for the next 105 years.
It is an extremely modern, hi-tech facility, where the Moto Guzzi models of the 21st century will roll off the production line, in the very same place where they have been manufactured without interruption since 1921. But it is also a place where tradition and innovation meet, and where corporate culture and cutting-edge technology come together.
The new Moto Guzzi Museum celebrates a history that is unique in the world, built upon technology, design and continuous innovation. The new spaces, situated within the factory’s original perimeter, have been designed to welcome visitors from all over the world, creating a modern hub that also includes the large Motoplex Store, dedicated to shopping, as well as a café and spaces for workshops and events.
Everything will be open to the public free of charge from Thursday 3 to Sunday 6 September, subject to online registration at gmg.motoguzzi.com.
Thousands of fans from all over the world are expected to descend upon the GMG 2026. One of the highlights of the packed schedule will be the grand parade on the morning of Saturday 5 September, when thousands of Moto Guzzi motorcycles will be ridden from Lecco to Mandello del Lario.There will be four days of music, with the stage and entertainment provided by Virgin Radio. Free test rides on bikes across the entire Moto Guzzi range will also be back, and the street food area will be full of delicious options as ever. The 2026 GMG events will be all about fun, love for the finest motorbikes in the world, and events that are open to everyone.
All the information and details on how to register for free admission are available on the event website: gmg.motoguzzi.com.
Friday’s action at MotorLand Aragón saw Marc Márquez set the pace in FP1 this morning, before Marco Bezzecchi topped the timesheets in this afternoon’s Practice session. Here’s more from the teams following the opening day of track action in Aragón.
More, from a press release issued by Aprilia Racing:
Marco Bezzecchi leads and sets new track record, Jorge Martín seventh. SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team’s Fernandez sixth.
A positive first day of practice for Aprilia Racing at MotorLand Aragón.
Marco Bezzecchi finished FP1 in third place and the practice session in the lead, thereby going straight through to Q2. The Italian rider also set the new all-time lap record with a time of 1’45.455.
It was also a positive day for Jorge Martín, eighteenth in FP1 and improving significantly in the afternoon. The Spanish rider gradually regained the feeling with his RS-GP26, finishing the practice session seventh to go straight through to Q2.
Also worth a mention is the performance by Raúl Fernández of the SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team, sixth in the practice session to put three Aprilias straight through to Q2.
Marco Bezzecchi (72) at Aragon. Photo courtesy Aprilia Racing.
Marco Bezzecchi: “It was a good day and I’m happy. It’s only Friday, but it was important to start off on the right foot. FP1 began on a positive note. We worked hard between the sessions, and the afternoon session went well too. Physically, my shoulder isn’t bad, whereas my knee is still bothering me quite a bit. There are a lot of left-handers on this track which unfortunately makes it painful.”
Jorge Martín (89) at Aragon. Photo courtesy Aprilia Racing.
Jorge Martín: “Compared with the morning, I felt good straight away in the afternoon from the start of the session. I expected a bit more from the second time attack, where I was hoping to drop my time to 1’45. We clearly still have work to do for tomorrow because there are a couple of riders who are faster than us at the moment. I didn’t ride here with the Aprilia last year, but when I’m in this situation I usually still have some margin for improvement on Friday but manage to take a step forward on Saturday.”
More, from a press release issued by Ducati Lenovo Team:
Marc Márquez and the Ducati Lenovo Team third in MotorLand Aragón Practice, just milliseconds from the top. Francesco Bagnaia thirteenth.
Four Ducatis in the top 5: Alex Márquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP) is second, Fabio Di Giannantonio (VR46 Racing Team) fourth ahead of Fermín Aldeguer
The Ducati Lenovo Team competed in the opening day of action at MotorLand Aragón, host of the thirteenth Grand Prix of the season. Marc Márquez finished Practice in third position, while Francesco Bagnaia – thirteenth – will have to tackle Q1 tomorrow morning at the Spanish venue.
Márquez – the fastest rider in FP1 – took first position in the early stages of Practice and stayed in the lead for two-thirds of the session. Marc then bounced back to the top with nine minutes remaining to eventually finish third, only 0.038secs adrift of today’s fastest lap-time. Bagnaia, twentieth in Free Practice 1, got closer to the top ten in the final minutes of Practice. During his last time attack, Pecco, who was projected to make it into the top ten, ran wide at the final corner.
The Ducati Lenovo Team will return to action at 10:10 local time (GMT +2) tomorrow for Free Practice 2, which will be followed by Q1 (10:50), Q2 (11:15) and by the thirteenth Sprint of the season, to be contested over 11 laps from 15:00.
Marc Márquez (93) at Aragon. Photo courtesy Ducati.
Marc Márquez (#93 Ducati Lenovo Team) – 3rd: “This is a track I like, much more than others. Today I rode well and in a consistent way; it’s true that Marco (Bezzecchi) and Alex (Márquez) were quicker than me in the time attack, but the important thing for us is to continue in this direction. We knew that the time set in the first quick lap attempt would have granted us a direct seed to Q2, so we chose not to take any risks and instead focused on the tyres. If we want to battle for the title, it’s clear that on a favourable track the goal must be to score maximum points or go very close to it, while trying to better our main rivals.”
Francesco Bagnaia (63) at Aragon. Photo courtesy Ducati.
Francesco Bagnaia (#63 Ducati Lenovo Team) – 13th: “I was expecting a different type of feeling and performance here at Aragón. Since Silverstone, we’re having a difficult time: it’s true that even in the previous races I wasn’t able to shine, but I had still managed to be in the top ten. We’re trying to understand the reason behind the further loss of grip at the rear-end. Generally speaking, it was a challenging day as I took many risks and nearly crashed several times. In the last time attack, I tried to brake hard but had to run wide, losing the chance to be in the top ten, which would have been a great result given the situation.”
More, from a press release issued by BK8 Gresini Team:
Fermin Aldeguer back in Q2 as Alex Marquez targets a strong weekend.
PRACTICE
ALEX MARQUEZ 2º (1’45.465s)
FERMIN ALDEGUER 5º (1’45.895s)
FREE PRACTICE
ALEX MARQUEZ 4º (1’47.796s)
FERMIN ALDEGUER 9º (1’48.498s)
Alex Marquez at Aragon. Photo courtesy Gresini Team.
Alex Marquez: “I can’t hide the fact that Sector 3 is our weak point. I usually struggle there, but today it was even more difficult than on other days. On top of that, it’s the sector where Marc makes the biggest difference. There are four corners, and the positive thing is that we know where we need to work… The corners are too slow for me and don’t really suit my riding style. We need to improve and try to lose as little as possible in that sector if we want to aim for a good result this weekend.”
Fermin Aldeguer (54) at Aragon. Photo courtesy Gresini Team.
Fermin Aldeguer: “I knew I was feeling good physically, but I didn’t expect to be in the top five and to have such good feelings on the bike. At the end of the day, I’m still surprised by my physical condition. It’s true that I’ve never done more than five or six laps at a time, but I feel good. We’re fit for the whole weekend, and that was the most important thing. Being in Q2 is really incredible.”
More, from a press release issued by Honda HRC Castrol:
Tenths the difference for Honda HRC Castrol as Aragon GP begins.
Luca Marini and Joan Mir were once again reunited with their Honda RC213V machines, the Honda HRC Castrol pairing battling until the very end of the day for Q2 spots but missed out by mere tenths of a second.
Some 250 kilometres west of Barcelona, the MotoGP World Championship began their preparations for Round 13 at Motorland Aragon. Cooler than expected conditions made for a busy morning, the Honda HRC Castrol duo completing 30 laps between them as the prepared for the crucial afternoon Practice session.
Improving from a 1’49.114 in the morning to a respectable 1’46.376 in the afternoon saw Luca Marini end the day in 12th. Less than a tenth of a second away from a returning Johann Zarco in tenth, the tightest of margins once again had a big impact as Marini will be forced to duke it out in Q1. His Friday speed does suggest he will be in good standing to make it out and into Q2 however.
Joan Mir was one of the first movers in the afternoon, rocketing up to inside the top ten and ultimately ended the day in 15th position on the combined times. Four tenths off the top ten, the #36 had wanted to enter the weekend and show his potential immediately but there are still a few settings to refine on his Honda. He and the Honda HRC engineers are confident that improvements can be made before Q1 on Saturday to allow the 2020 MotoGP World Champion to show his true speed.
Saturday will begin in earnest with the always hotly contested Q1 session at 10:50 Local Time, both Marini and Mir ready to fight their way through and into the top twelve. Once the grid is decided, all eyes will be on the 11-lap Sprint at 15:00 Local Time.
Luca Marini (10) at Aragon. Photo courtesy Honda HRC.
Luca Marini:“We tried something on the setting to see what it did at this circuit, it improved the bike in one area, but we lost a little bit in another part. There are of course still some things to work on to improve, so I hope that with that we can make the step into Q2. It’s about working with the package that we have, aiming to be the best Honda on track and seeing what happens when each session starts, I am really focused on myself – to improve my riding, my setting and not looking around too much. Times are really tight so again, if we can find something then I think we can be in the mix.”
Joan Mir (36) at Aragon. Photo courtesy Hond HRC.
Joan Mir:“A more complicated Friday than what we were expecting to be honest, we were expecting a lot more. We used more or less the same setup as in Silverstone and unfortunately it is not the direction we need to head here. Our braking, which is usually my strongest point, was not where I need it to be so there’s work to do in this area overnight. Tomorrow is a new day and I am confident that we can find something together overnight. There is plenty of potential still left to find.”
More, from a press release issued by Castrol Honda LCR:
Castrol Honda LCR rider Johann Zarco has finished 10th on Friday in Aragon.
Coming back to racing after three months at home due to the injury sustained to his left knee, the Frenchman delivered a tremendous performance on his first day back on track.
From his first exit on track in the morning, Zarco impressed everybody by being immediately fast and setting a good rhythm.
In the afternoon, the rider nailed the job, not only confirming the good feelings he had on the bike in the morning, but also securing a Q2 spot ahead of tomorrow’s qualifying.
Johann Zarco (5) at Aragon. Photo courtesy Hond LCR.
Johann Zarco 10th:“It’s been a good day. This morning I was surprised because I didn’t expect to be the first rider out on track, I could not wait! From the first laps, immediately, the speed was there and it was really cool, very pleasant. I had a good feeling on the bike and I noticed different things, it’s a positive sign, and it means there are still some key areas we can work on to improve the bike. As for the leg, there’s no pain, but the muscles need some time to adapt to the position. I’m taking care of my recovery after the sessions to feel as good as possible. The pace in the afternoon was faster and more intense, and I thought, ‘Yes, we are back!’ It’s really cool to be in Q2 tomorrow. Let’s see what we can do!”
More, from a press release issued by KTM Tech3:
Bastianini plotting top ten route after Aragon practice.
Enea Bastianini is confident that further set-up changes can help unlock greater performance after finishing Friday in 17th place, while Pol Espargaró showed encouraging pace in 20th as the Spaniard continues to deputise for the injured Maverick Viñales at the Aragón Grand Prix.
After a two-week break in August, the Tech3 team was back on track for Round 13 of the 2026 MotoGP™ World Championship at the MotorLand Aragón circuit in Spain. Conditions were tricky throughout the day. The 5.08km layout was dirty and dusty during FP1, while temperatures had risen to a hot 25 degrees for afternoon Practice.
Bastianini’s feeling in FP1 was far from ideal as he placed 21st. Thanks to the hard work of his crew, the Italian felt more comfortable in Practice, but still noted he could not slide the rear of his KTM RC16 as he wanted.
After doing considerable work to get the Michelin soft rear tyre working across the first two runs, ‘La Bestia’ was able to knock close to 0.8s off his personal best in the final minutes of the day but could only secure P17 and a spot in Q1.
After getting reacquainted with the KTM RC16 in Silverstone following an extensive testing programme on the new 850cc bike, Espargaró felt more comfortable on his opening laps in Aragón.
The 35-year-old showed potential in FP1, when he finished 15th, but admitted to lacking performance in time attack mode in Practice. With some improvements in Sector 3, the #44 rider is confident of fighting with the other KTMs tomorrow.
The action gets underway on Saturday with Bastianini and Espargaró heading out for FP2 at 10:10 CEST (UTC+2) ahead of Qualifying at 10:50 (UTC+2) and the 11-lap Sprint at 15:00 (UTC+2).
Enea Bastianini (23) at Aragon. Photo courtesy Tech3.
Enea Bastianini: “I must be honest: I was thinking today would be better. The first practice in Aragón is always tricky due to the dirty track. We did a step in the afternoon, but it wasn’t enough. I have understeer because the rear tyre is pushing the front. And if I try to slide the rear, it’s difficult because of the lack of grip. It’s particularly tough when I’m entering the corners. On a track like this, it’s very hard to ride like I want when the grip is low. We need to try something for tomorrow to help me slide the rear in entry because we’re far from the other factories, so we’ll work on the setting this evening. With a few improvements I’m sure we can be fighting around the top ten and much closer to the front.”
Pol Espargaró (44) at Aragon. Photo courtesy Tech3.
Pol Espargaró: “It’s coming! I feel much more competitive today than I did at Silverstone. This morning, I was even better than this afternoon. It’s only when everyone starts pushing on soft tyres that I’m missing speed. I wasn’t far away from Brad [Binder] and Enea’s time and was only one second off Pedro [Acosta]. I did a good lap but there were also a few mistakes – I need to improve Sector 3 a lot. If I adjust a few things there I should get two tenths. I’m not expecting to go through to Q2 tomorrow, but I want to be respectable and as close as possible to my team-mates. That would be great.”
More, from a press release issued by Pro Honda LCR:
Pro Honda LCR rider Diogo Moreira has finished 11th on Friday in Aragon.
On a circuit he enjoys, Brazilian rider Diogo Moreira had a positive start to the weekend.
The rider faced some difficulties with grip and made a mistake while pushing for a Q2 spot, meaning he will have to go through Q1 tomorrow.
Despite this, Moreira feels positive about the bike and believes he has the potential to do a good job tomorrow.
Diogo Moreira (11) at Aragon. Photo courtesy Honda LCR.
Diogo Moreira 11th:“It’s been a positive day, I was there. I made a mistake that cost me Q2, but in any case, we worked well. As for tomorrow, the bike is ready and I’m happy with it. The main problem here is the grip, it’s all about the grip. I could improve on the entry, and we are working on different solutions, which is good. We will try to do our maximum tomorrow. Let’s see!”
More, from a press release issued by Prima Pramac Yamaha:
Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP Faces a Difficult Friday at Aragón.
Jack Miller showed competitive pace throughout Friday before a late crash compromised his final time, while Toprak Razgatlıoğlu struggled to find the right feeling at Aragón. Both riders will have to progress through Q1 on Saturday.
Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP completed the opening day of practice at MotorLand Aragón, with the team facing a challenging Friday as both riders ended outside the top ten and will therefore have to go through Q1 tomorrow morning. The counter-clockwise Aragón circuit, one of the few in the MotoGP calendar to run in this direction, provided another demanding test for the YZR-M1 as the team continued working to find the right set-up and balance.
Jack Miller had looked competitive throughout both sessions, finishing sixth in the morning and remaining consistently inside the top ten during the afternoon. However, with around 15 minutes remaining, the Australian crashed while beginning his first attempt at a fast lap. The incident cost him valuable track time as he returned to the garage and was then forced to switch to the second bike, leaving him unable to put together the lap he had shown the pace to achieve. He eventually ended the session 19th.
Toprak Razgatlıoğlu had a more difficult day, struggling to find the feeling needed to extract the performance from the YZR-M1 across both sessions. The Turkish rider finished 21st and will now use the evening to analyse the data with his crew and identify areas where he can make a step forward ahead of qualifying.
With both riders set to start from Q1, Saturday will begin with an immediate opportunity to recover ground. The priority will be to make the most of the morning session, fight for progression into Q2 and secure the strongest possible starting positions for the Sprint later in the afternoon.
Jack Miller (43) at Aragon. Photo courtesy Pramac Yamaha.
Jack Miller: “Overall, I’m happy with the performance today. Obviously, the timing wasn’t ideal with that small crash at the end of the session on my first tyre. Not having another front tyre available and having a different setting on the second bike made it difficult to improve the lap time, but we still managed to make some progress. I feel like we have quite a bit more potential for tomorrow, so we’ll look at the data tonight, work on what we can improve and try to put everything together when it counts.”
Toprak Razgatlıoğlu (07) at Aragon. Photo courtesy Pramac Yamaha.
Toprak Razgatlıoğlu:“Today the beginning was not so bad, but in the end we couldn’t get a good lap time with the soft tyre. Still, we can see that the bike has potential, especially looking at Fabio’s lap time, which was very close to the front. So tomorrow we will try a different set-up to see if we can unlock more of that potential. I already feel quite strong under braking, but I’m still struggling to get the same feeling through the corners and with the rear grip compared to the other Yamaha riders. That’s why we’re looking to try something different tomorrow. I think I just need to find a little bit more grip and improve the cornering, so hopefully the new set-up can help me make that step.”
More, from a press release issued by CFMOTO Viel Aspar Team:
Máximo Quiles returns from injury with a solid top-10 finish
The CFMOTO Viel Aspar Team rider clocked the eighth-fastest time of the day on his comeback following a collarbone injury and will be in Q2 tomorrow alongside his team-mate Marco Morelli, who finished eleventh
The CFMOTO Viel Aspar Team has kicked off the Aragon Grand Prix having achieved the weekend’s first objective. The team’s riders have secured their places in tomorrow’s Q2 after Máximo Quiles finished eighth and Marco Morelli eleventh. The Spaniard passed his medical examination yesterday and confirmed his return to MotorLand Aragón following surgery on his collarbone after the crash he suffered at Silverstone two weeks ago. David Almansa was the fastest in Moto3, beating Rico Salmela, who finished second, by 49 thousandths of a second. Valentín Perrone was third, four tenths of a second behind the leader.
The first day of practice proved to be quite a challenge for Máximo Quiles. The CFMOTO Viel Aspar Team rider took to the track focused on assessing his physical condition on the bike after two weeks spent recovering from his collarbone injury. After just a few laps, Quiles was already in fourth place, confirming that he was feeling confident. Following a final positive medical check-up, the Moto3 leader continued with his usual work plan to prepare as well as possible for the afternoon session. The crucial moment came in the second session of the day, which decides who goes straight through to Q2. Here, Quiles managed to improve on his morning times by almost one and a half seconds. After completing a total of 14 laps, he finished in eighth place with a time of 1:58.114. Meanwhile, Marco Morelli also had a positive Friday on his Moto3 debut at the Aragon circuit. Despite not feeling 100 per cent comfortable on the bike, the CFMOTO Viel Aspar Team rider made a big leap forward in the afternoon and also significantly improved his lap times. Thanks to his 1:58.293, Morelli finished in eleventh place to secure his place in Q2.
Máximo Quiles (28) at Aragon. Photo courtesy Aspar Team.
8th Máximo Quiles 1:58.114 (+0.641):“I took it easy today to see how my collarbone would respond. I felt great, and that’s the most positive thing. There are a few corners where I struggle a bit, the right-handers, but almost the entire circuit has left-handers, and that helps. I had some doubts about how I would feel because the surgery was still very recent, and it was complicated to get here, but as soon as I got on the bike and did a couple of corners, I thought, ‘It’s not going to bother me much.’ Everyone has done a tremendous job so that I could be here this weekend. I feel good and I’ve continued working with the team in the same way as always. Today I completed quite a few laps, but it wasn’t a race distance. Tomorrow will be a slightly longer day, although I don’t think there will be any problem. The track was quite dirty this morning and very slippery, so it was quite a challenge, but I achieved my goal for the day and I’m very happy.”
Marco Morelli (97) at Aragon. Photo courtesy Aspar Team.
11th Marco Morelli 1:58.293 (+0.820): “The important thing today was to get into Q2 and we did it, but it hasn’t been easy to get a good feeling. I felt a bit uncomfortable on the bike, we have to keep working to improve and find a solution that will allow me to ride more freely. Tomorrow we’ll use free practice to focus on that and make everything a bit easier. There’s still work to be done, but I’m happy with the result.”
More, from a press release issued by BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2 Team:
Guevara Secures Top-10 Spot on Aragon Friday as Ferrández Continues Progress.
The BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2 team were keen to hit the ground running as they started the busy final stretch of the 2026 season. However, the level of competition was fierce on the Grand Prix of Aragon Friday. Izan Guevara and Alberto Ferrández completed the Practice session in P10 and P24 respectively.
BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2’s Izan Guevara made a solid start to the Grand Prix of Aragon weekend, securing a place inside the top 10 during the Moto2 Practice session. He promoted directly to tomorrow’s Q2. Teammate Alberto Ferrández continued his adaptation to the Moto2 category at a circuit he knows well, using valuable track knowledge to build experience ahead of Saturday’s crucial qualifying sessions and Sunday’s Race. He wrapped up the Friday in P24 and will take part in tomorrow’s Q1.
Guevara showed that, despite the news of his MotoGP promotion for 2027, he still has his head in the game. The 2026 Moto2 title contender finished FP1 in P3 and again showed good pace early on in the Practice. He held second place until the time attacks got underway. The Spaniard ended the session in tenth place thanks to a 1’50.493s set on lap 12/13, 0.702s from first.
Ferrández knows the Aragon track well and aimed to use the previous knowledge to his advantage. Having ended FP1 in P16, he was keen to battle for a position inside the top 14 in the afternoon session. Despite finding a time improvement of 0.748s compared to his fastest morning time, clocking a 1’51.008s on lap 11/14, he ultimately finished in P24 in the Practice classification, 1.217s from the top.
Track action resumes on Saturday at 09:25-09:55 (GMT+2) for FP2, and the qualifying sessions will take place from 13:40-14:20.
Izan Guevara (28) at Aragon. Photo courtesy Pramac Yamaha.
Izan Guevara:“Overall, today was a good day. I felt very comfortable on my first run this morning, although we made a small change for the second run in the afternoon, hoping it would improve the bike. Instead, it made the bike a little more nervous, which made it harder to push and extract the lap time. I also had some chatter that was limiting me when I tried to increase the pace. Even so, I’m not too concerned. I don’t think we could have done much better today, and we achieved our main objective of going directly into Q2. That’s important, and now the focus is on tomorrow, when we need to make another step and have a strong qualifying session.”
Alberto Ferrández (54) at Aragon. Photo courtesy Pramac Yamaha.
Alberto Ferrández: “Today was a difficult day. I didn’t feel completely comfortable with the bike from the beginning, and I also made a few mistakes with the lines in some corners during FP1. During the Practice, I was able to improve my riding and understand the track better, but we also need to make some improvements to the bike. We are very fast in a couple of sectors, which shows that we have good potential, but we are losing time in the other two and need to understand why. We’ll work on the data tonight and try to make a step tomorrow. The goal is to fight for Q2 and put ourselves in a better position for Sunday’s Race.”
More, from a press release issued by CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team:
Holgado finishes 58 thousandths off the fastest time at Aragón
The CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team rider put in a superb performance on the first day at MotorLand Aragón and set the second-fastest time. His team-mate David Alonso narrowly missed out on qualifying for Q2 and will have to compete in Q1 tomorrow
The Aragon Grand Prix has got off to a very positive start for Dani Holgado and the CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team. The Spaniard was in fine form on Friday and finished in second place, just 58 thousandths of a second off the day’s fastest time, which on this occasion was set by Iván Ortolá. Australian rider Senna Agius rounded off the top three in the intermediate class, finishing just one tenth of a second behind Ortolá’s time. David Alonso has made progress and is regaining his confidence on the bike. The Colombian fought until the very last lap to secure a place in Q2, but ultimately finished in eighteenth place and will have to compete in Q1 at MotorLand.
Dani Holgado has been in fine form since the first session of the weekend. The CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team rider rode alone throughout the day to focus on his pace, something that will make all the difference in Sunday’s race. After finishing the morning session, Holgado returned to the track in the afternoon to stay at the top of the timesheets and secure his place in Q2. After leading the session and breaking the track record, he was pipped at the post by another rider by a mere 58 thousandths of a second. As a result, his time of 1:49.849 was the second-fastest of the day. His team-mate David Alonso focused his working plan on regaining confidence and a good feel for the bike. The Colombian took small but steady steps forward to lay a solid foundation for the afternoon session. The CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team rider improved on his morning times and fought to qualify within the top fourteen, but ultimately finished in eighteenth place, one tenth of a second off the cut-off.
Dani Holgado (96) at Aragon. Photo courtesy Aspar Team.
2nd Dani Holgado 1:49.849 (+0.058):“Today has been a positive day here in Aragón and we got off to a very good start. I struggled a bit in the first session because I didn’t feel quite right on the bike, particularly at the rear. Even so, I’m very happy because we’ve worked really well; we’ve taken a big step forward as a team, especially after the first session, and we’ve managed to achieve a great result. The pace has been very good and I’ve always been riding on my own. It’s important for us to get off to a start like this. Tomorrow we’ll see how the tyres wear and see how I feel for the race. I’ve been trying to fine-tune a few details this summer and today I’ve already seen the results of all that previous work. When you try something new, it’s always a struggle, but now I’m starting to incorporate it into my riding style. I think we’re doing quite well at the moment, but we need to keep our feet on the ground, keep working and enjoy the home Grand Prix. I hope to be on one of the first two rows of the starting grid and I’ll fight to achieve that tomorrow.”
David Alonso (80) at Aragon. Photo courtesy Aspar Team.
18th David Alonso 1:50.761 (+0.970):“We were a few laps short of making it through to Q2 today. I’m feeling better and better, but I need a bit more time to regain the confidence I had a few races ago. I’m getting there step by step, and I think it’ll be good for me to go through Q1 so I can spend more time on the track and get a better feel for the bike. I need to keep edging closer to the limit and try to push harder and harder. It wasn’t quite enough today, but I think that if we improve a few details tomorrow, we can take another step forward. I want to be able to enter the corners with more determination and precision because that’s something that gives you more speed and allows you to improve your time lap. At Silverstone we changed a lot of things and in the end we lost our way, but this weekend I’m keeping my cool and trying to make things work with the bike I’ve got.”
David Almansa in parc fermé after claiming pole position at Aragon. Photo courtesy MotoGP.
David Almansa earned pole position during Moto3 World Championship qualifying Saturday morning at MotorLand Aragón, in Alcañiz, in Spain. Riding his Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP KTM on Pirelli control tires, the Spaniard turned a lap time of 1:56.347. 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 1:56.361.
Marco Morelli was the best of the rest with a 1:56.380 on his CFMOTO Viel Aspar Team KTM, and his temmate Maximo Quiles claimed the third and final spot on the front row with a 1:56.390.
Row-two qualifiers included LEVEL UP – MTA’s Matteo Bertelle (1:56.606), CIP Green Power’s Adrian Cruces (1:56.613) and Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Brian Uriarte (1:56.644).
Almansa denies Morelli pole at Aragon with last-ditch effort. The Spanish star put in his best lap at the end of the session for pole ahead of Morelli, while Quiles starts from P3.
Talk about leaving it late. David Almansa (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) snatched pole in Moto3 for the Michelin Grand Prix of Aragon despite having only a couple of valid laps in Q2 as he beat the all-time lap record for his fifth pole of the year. It had looked like Marco Morelli (CFMOTO Viel Aspar Team) would claim pole from teammate Maximo Quiles right at the end of the 15-minute session, but Almansa came out on top; 0.043s separated the top three.
Almansa set a 1:56.347s to claim pole position despite losing a couple of laps due to various yellow flags being waved, while also losing the opportunity to set a time when Brian Uriarte ((Red Bull KTM Ajo) bundled his way through at Turn 13 and forced the #22 wide, forcing the Spaniard to leave it until his final flying lap to set his best time and claim pole. Morelli also set his best time, a 1:56.380s, on his last lap and briefly was in pole position but finished just 0.033s off pole. Quiles, returning from the broken collarbone he sustained at Silverstone, will go from third with a 1:56.390s.
Matteo Bertelle (LEVEL UP – MTA) put in a late lap as well to claim a second-row start with P4 ahead of Adrian Cruces (CIP Green Power) after the #11 posted a 1:56.613s. The second row is completed by Brian Uriarte (Red Bull KTM Ajo). The #51 came through Q1 and looked like he was in contention for pole but ended up in sixth, and he will serve a Long Lap Penalty in Sunday’s race. Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo), Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) and Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM Tech3) will go from the third row.
The stage is set, don’t miss out on Sunday’s Moto3 race at 11:00 Local Time (UTC+2)!
Marco Bezzecchi (72) at Aragon. Photo courtesy Aprilia Racing.
Marco Bezzecchi earned pole position during MotoGP World Championship qualifying on Saturday at MotorLand Aragón, in Alcañiz, in Spain. Riding his Aprilia Racing RS-GP26, the Italian rider broke the All-Time Lap Record of 1:45.455 he set Friday afternoon with a time of 1:44.962 around the 3.15-mile (5.08 km) circuit during Qualifying Two (Q2) on Saturday.
Marc Márquez was the best of the rest with a 1:45.051 on his Ducati Team Lenovo Desmosedici GP26, and Alex Marquez claimed the third and final spot on the front row with a 1:45.261 on his BK8 Gresini Racing Team Ducati Desmosedici GP26.
Row-two qualifiers included SuperFile Trackhouse’s Raul Fernandez (1:45.375), Bezzecchi’s teammate, Jorge Martin (1:45.436) and Red Bull KTM’s Pedro Acosta (1:45.555).
Bezzecchi beats Marc Marquez to pole in record-breaking Aragon Q2. Two 2026 heavyweights treat us to a qualifying fight to remember to set the scene for a Tissot Sprint and Grand Prix blockbuster.
Not one, but two 1:44s from a bruised but simply brilliant Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) ensured the Italian beat reigning World Champion Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) to pole position at the Michelin Grand Prix of Aragon. Bezzecchi’s new all-time lap record, a 1:44.962, was 0.089s quicker than the #93’s best effort as the duo treated us to a Q2 bout to remember at MotorLand. Joining the pair on the front row will be Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP), who will be a key contender in the gold medal and 25-point hunts that are approaching at MotorLand.
Q1 – BAGNAIA & MOREIRA PROGRESS
Following the first flying laps in the opening part of qualifying, it was rookie Diogo Moreira (Pro Honda LCR) front the pack from a previous Aragon GP winner Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), with Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) lingering just 0.039s adrift of a top two place.
In the second run, Pecco responded immediately to climb to P1, as Moreira then crashed at Turn 2 with two minutes to go. That was session over for the second place Brazilian, so could anyone spoil the rookie’s Saturday morning Q1 attack?
The most likely candidate was HRC stablemate Joan Mir. The Honda HRC Castrol star set a couple of red sector splits in S1 and S2, but the lap time drifted in the second half of the lap. That meant Moreira survived, Bagnaia delivered, and the pair then entered the Q2 fray.
Q2: BEZ VS MM93 LIGHTS UP MOTORLAND
And when we got going for the pole position shootout, Marc Marquez landed a glorious opening flyer. A 1:45.136 was the reigning World Champion’s initial benchmark, a new all-time lap record, as we then strapped in to witness our first MotorLand 1:44 lap, courtesy of Bezzecchi.
Alex Marquez was just up the road from the former championship leader and went P2 very briefly, before Bezzecchi’s phenomenal 1:44.984 was landed by the wounded Italian. Over to you Marc, said Bez.
It wasn’t the opening stint World Championship leader Martin was asking for though. While his teammate was breaking records, Martin seemingly had an issue with his number one RS-GP and was P11 with six minutes on the clock. That became P8 after the 2024 World Champion completed his first proper flying lap.
Speaking of flying laps, Marc Marquez began his second run, and despite running slightly deep into Turn 1, the World Champion was well in touch with Bezzecchi’s lap record. Through the third split, the gap was +0.091s to Bezzecchi’s provisional pole, and over the line it was just over half a tenth – before the Aprilia star moved the goalposts further.
Not by a lot, 0.022s extra, but enough… for now. 0.089s was the gap back to Marc Marquez now, as Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) hit the deck at Turn 8 while on a personal best time.
Now, all eyes locked onto Marc Marquez. One last attempt at stealing pole position from Bezzecchi, but through Sector 1 the gap was +0.141s. Then it was +0.013s. Game on. Then, game over. A big front-end moment through Turn 14 cost Marc Marquez a shot at pole position; the front Michelin tyre cried no more, which signalled pole was Bezzecchi’s.
Two stunning 1:44s see Bezzecchi lead Marc and Alex Marquez on the front row, with the #93 surprisingly beaten to a Saturday morning P1 at a very happy hunting ground. Still, the Marquez brothers are right in the mix.
A pair of Aprilias front the second row with Silverstone winner Raul Fernandez (SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team) starting P4 ahead of Martin, as Acosta holds onto P6 despite his crash.
Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) launches from P7, and the Italian is joined on the third row by Pecco and the impressive returnee Johann Zarco (Castrol Honda LCR). Zarco’s teammate Moreira rounded out the Q2 top 10, as Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) and Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) make up Row 4 alongside the Brazilian.
COMING UP: SPRINT TIME IN ARAGON
It looks like we’ve got a proper battle to strap in for a little later on. Don’t miss a beat when the Tissot Sprint bursts into life at 15:00 local time (UTC +2)!
Oscar Gutierrez (99) at Aragon. Photo courtesy Bagger World Cup.
Oscar Gutierrez earned pole position during FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup qualifying Saturday afternoon at MotorLand Aragón, in Alcañiz, in Spain. Riding his Niti Racing Harley-Davidson on Dunlop control tires, Gutierrez covered the 3.15-mile (5.08 km) road course in 1:56.587, topping the field of 10 riders.
His teammate, Andrea Iannone was the best of the rest with a 1:56.726 and Eric Granado got third with a lap time of 1:56.876 on his Joe Rascal Racing Harley-Davidson.
Riding for Saddlemen Racing Harley-Davidson, American teammates Max Toth (1:58.072), Travis Wyman (1:59.472) and Jake Lewis (1:59.579) finished 6th, 9th, and 10th respectively.
Marco Bezzecchi (72) at Aragon. Photo courtesy MotoGP.
Marco Bezzecchi led MotoGP World Championship Free Practice Two (FP2) Saturday morning at MotorLand Aragón, in Alcañiz, in Spain. Riding his Aprilia Racing RS-GP26 on spec Michelin tires, the Italian rider turned a lap time of 1:46.216 to lead the 22-rider field.
Seven-time MotoGP World Champion Marc Marquez was the best of the rest with a 1:46.448 on his Ducati Lenovo Team Desmosedici GP26.
Raul Fernandez was third at 1:46.637 on his SuperFile Trackhouse Aprilia RS-GP26.
Pedro Acosta finished the session fourth with a 1:46.700 on his Red Bull KTM Factory Racing RC16.
Marquez’s teammate, Francesco Bagnaia, got fifth with a lap time of 1:46.710.
Manuel Gonzalez (18) at Aragon. Photo courtesy MotoGP.
Manuel Gonzalez was quickest during Moto2 World Championship Free Practice Two (FP2) Saturday morning at MotorLand Aragón, in Alcañiz, in Spain. Riding his Pirelli-shod LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP Kalex on the 3.15-mile (5.08 km) track, the Spaniard recorded a 1:49.597, which led the field of 29 riders and broke Ivan Ortola’s All-Time Lap Record of 1:49.791 he set Friday afternoon during the practice session.
Izan Guevara was the best of the rest with a 1:49.602 on his BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Boscoscuro.
Daniel Muñoz was third-fastest with a 1:49.783 on his Italtrans Racing Team Kalex.
American Joe Roberts finished Saturday morning’s practice session 12th with a best time of 1:50.590 on his OnlyFans American Racing Team Kalex.
David Almansa (22) at Aragon. Photo courtesy IntactGP Team.
David Almansa led Moto3 World Championship Free Practice Two (FP2) Saturday morning, at MotorLand Aragón, in Alcañiz, in Spain. Almansa used his Pirelli-shod Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP KTM to lap the 3.15-mile (5.08 km) track in 1:57.259 to lead the field of 26 riders.
Guido Pini was second-best with a time of 1:57.308 on his Leopard Racing Honda.
Marco Morelli, piloting his CFMOTO Viel Aspar Team KTM, claimed the third and final spot on the front with a lap time of 1:57.399.
2026 U.S. Motocross Team. Left to right: Cooper Webb, Levi Kitchen, Chance Hymas. photo courtesy AMA.
Chance Hymas, Levi Kitchen and Cooper Webb will compete on behalf of the United States during the 2026 FIM Motocross of Nations.
CRAWFORDSVILLE, Ind. — The American Motorcyclist Association announced the three exceptional riders who will represent the United States at the 2026 Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) Motocross of Nations, which will run Oct. 2-4 in Ernée, France.
Leading the way for the Stars and Stripes will be Honda HRC Progressive’s Chance Hymas, Levi Kitchen of Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki and three-time AMA Supercross 450SX Champion Cooper Webb as the trio seeks to dethrone the Australians, who have won the last two FIM Motocross of Nations.
AMA Director of Racing Mike Pelletier will return as the manager of Team USA for his second year. Pelletier led Team USA to a second-place finish in 2025, when the Americans hosted the event at Ironman Raceway in Crawfordsville, Ind.
“We have put together an outstanding team for this year’s FIM Motocross of Nations as we look to build on last year’s success,” Pelletier said. “Having the opportunity to serve as the manager for Team USA has been incredibly rewarding, and I can’t wait to stand beside Cooper, Levi and Chance as we take on the world. I know they are ecstatic to represent their country this October in France.”
Hymas has enjoyed a resurgence in performance in recent weeks and was selected to represent the USA on the heels of a victory last weekend at Budds Creek. Photo courtesy MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.
After an injury held him out of making his debut in the 2024 FIM Motocross of Nations, Hymas is set to make his first appearance in this year’s event and will compete in the MXGP class. At only 21 years old, Hymas has captured a trio of AMA Pro Motocross 250 wins along with a victory in the 250SX East class in AMA Supercross.
“I’m beyond excited to get the opportunity to race for Team USA in the MXGP class. It means everything to me and has been a dream of mine to carry the Stars and Stripes overseas and represent our country in front of the world,” Hymas said. “We have a strong team heading to France this year, and I’m confident between Cooper, Levi, and myself that we’ll represent America proudly.”
Kitchen has been in the thick of the title fight all summer in Pro Motocross and will represent the U.S. Motocross Team for the first time. Photo courtesy MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.
Kitchen will make his FIM Motocross of Nations debut in 2026, racing in the MX2 class. In the previous two seasons, Kitchen has finished second in 250SX West class in AMA Supercross. Kitchen is currently second in points and highest ranked American in the 2026 AMA Pro Motocross Championship with one round to go.
“What an honor it is to be selected to represent our amazing country,” Kitchen said. “I’m so excited for this experience and to do it with a great group of people. Can’t wait to send it for Team USA!”
Webb is set to complete his final season of Pro Motocross competition and will represent his country for the fourth time at the MXoN as U.S. Team Captain. Photo courtesy MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.
Webb will make his fourth appearance at the FIM Motocross of Nations in 2026, having previously competed in the prestigious event in 2015, 2016 and 2024 and finishing on the podium in all three attempts. A seasoned veteran, Webb will race on behalf of the United States in the Open class and serve as team captain.
“I’m so excited and grateful to be on Team USA for MXoN again. It’s an honor and always has been,” Webb said. “We are moving mountains on my end to make this even happen and I can’t thank everyone involved enough for what they are doing to even have me be able to race this event. The preparation, resources, time and money that goes into making this happen is crazy so thank you to everyone for doing their part.
“I’m personally excited as this will be my last year racing Pro Motocross and I know this could be my final time for this event, so I’m ready to lay it all out there,” Webb continued. “I love the pressure and atmosphere this race brings; there is nothing like it. Best race in the world, and I’m excited to put our best foot forward. It’s an honor to represent my country!”
The world’s best riders will compete at the famed Circuit Raymond Demy during the 2026 FIM Motocross of Nations, which pits countries against one another for the global crown in motocross. More details on the 2026 FIM Motocross of Nations can be found at www.mxgp.com/tracks/monster-energy-fim-motocross-nations-ern%C3%A9e-0
Corey Alexander (23) at Mid-Ohio. Photo courtesy ARCH Racing.
Hawthorne, CA— August 28th, 2026 – ARCH Racing rider Corey Alexander will miss the final round of the MotoAmerica Mission Super Hooligan National Championship at Circuit of The Americas as he continues to recover from successful lumbar spine surgery performed in early August.
Alexander underwent surgery with Dr. Sheeraz Qureshi at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York to repair a herniated disc in his lumbar spine. The procedure was successful, and Alexander is currently progressing through his recovery and rehabilitation which will keep him off the bike till late 2026.
“It’s disappointing not to be able to finish the season with the team, especially at COTA, but the surgery went very well and the focus now is on making a complete recovery,” said Alexander. “I’m extremely grateful to Dr. Qureshi and the team at HSS, as well as everyone at ARCH Racing for their support throughout the process. I’m looking forward to getting healthy and hopefully being back on a motorcycle around the new year.”
Corey Alexander (on the left) and Michael Gilbert. Photo by Obsidian Photography
Alexander’s 2026 season included several milestone results for ARCH Racing and the 2s-R. At The Ridge Motorsports Park, he claimed the team’s first MotoAmerica pole position while setting a new Super Hooligan class lap record before going on to deliver ARCH Racing’s first MotoAmerica victory and a second-place finish the following day. The team carried that form into its home round at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, adding two more podium finishes, before Alexander recorded a pair of fourth-place finishes at Mid-Ohio.
Michael Gilbert will return to the ARCH Racing lineup for the COTA weekend, joining Jeremy McWilliams aboard the ARCH 2s-R. Gilbert previously raced with the team at Laguna Seca while filling in for the injured McWilliams and brings extensive MotoAmerica experience and familiarity with both the Super Hooligan paddock and the ARCH 2s-R.
“Corey has been an important part of this program from the beginning, and the priority is making sure he has the time he needs to recover properly,” said ARCH Motorcycle co-founder Gard Hollinger. “We’re glad the surgery was successful and that his recovery is progressing well. We’re also pleased to have Michael back with us at COTA and look forward to having him alongside Jeremy for the final weekend.”
Alexander will continue his rehabilitation over the coming months with the goal of returning to riding around the new year.
ARCH Racing will contest the final round of the 2026 MotoAmerica Mission Super Hooligan National Championship at Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas, September 11–13, with Jeremy McWilliams and Michael Gilbert aboard the ARCH 2s-R.
Free test rides on the latest Moto Guzzi models will return at GMG 2026, giving visitors the chance to experience the brand's newest motorcycles alongside its 105-year history in the new museum. Photo courtesy Moto Guzzi.
The most eagerly anticipated event for Moto Guzzi fans around the world this year is dedicated to the opening of the new factory and museum.
From 3 to 6 September, Moto Guzzi’s new home will welcome tens of thousands of motorcyclists and enthusiasts from all over the world for four days of celebrations, music, beautiful motorcycles and events that are open to everyone.
“GMG 2026 – The Opening” is also set to be an opportunity to celebrate the 105th anniversary of the foundation of Moto Guzzi.
Mandello del Lario, 28 August 2026 – One of the most important events in Moto Guzzi’s history is drawing closer every day: in less than a week, on Thursday 3 September, the biggest edition of the GMG – Moto Guzzi World Days – in the history of the event will kick off, marking the inauguration of the new, hyper-modern site in Mandello del Lario.
Moto Guzzi is celebrating the 105th anniversary of its foundation, and above all, is ushering in a crucial new chapter in its history. A unique and futuristic work of industrial architecture has been created, drawing on over a century of history, not distorting it but rather enriching it, and reflecting precisely how Moto Guzzi has always conceived innovation. A place to create, experiment, enjoy experiences and feel real emotion, where the love for a brand blends with a vision of the future: thenewhome of Moto Guzzi, which will serve as our base for the next 105 years.
It is an extremely modern, hi-tech facility, where the Moto Guzzi models of the 21st century will roll off the production line, in the very same place where they have been manufactured without interruption since 1921. But it is also a place where tradition and innovation meet, and where corporate culture and cutting-edge technology come together.
The new Moto Guzzi Museum celebrates a history that is unique in the world, built upon technology, design and continuous innovation. The new spaces, situated within the factory’s original perimeter, have been designed to welcome visitors from all over the world, creating a modern hub that also includes the large Motoplex Store, dedicated to shopping, as well as a café and spaces for workshops and events.
Everything will be open to the public free of charge from Thursday 3 to Sunday 6 September, subject to online registration at gmg.motoguzzi.com.
Thousands of fans from all over the world are expected to descend upon the GMG 2026. One of the highlights of the packed schedule will be the grand parade on the morning of Saturday 5 September, when thousands of Moto Guzzi motorcycles will be ridden from Lecco to Mandello del Lario.There will be four days of music, with the stage and entertainment provided by Virgin Radio. Free test rides on bikes across the entire Moto Guzzi range will also be back, and the street food area will be full of delicious options as ever. The 2026 GMG events will be all about fun, love for the finest motorbikes in the world, and events that are open to everyone.
All the information and details on how to register for free admission are available on the event website: gmg.motoguzzi.com.
Marco Bezzecchi (72), Lorenzo Savadori (32) and Jack Miller (43) at Aragon. Photo courtesy MotoGP.
Friday’s action at MotorLand Aragón saw Marc Márquez set the pace in FP1 this morning, before Marco Bezzecchi topped the timesheets in this afternoon’s Practice session. Here’s more from the teams following the opening day of track action in Aragón.
More, from a press release issued by Aprilia Racing:
Marco Bezzecchi leads and sets new track record, Jorge Martín seventh. SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team’s Fernandez sixth.
A positive first day of practice for Aprilia Racing at MotorLand Aragón.
Marco Bezzecchi finished FP1 in third place and the practice session in the lead, thereby going straight through to Q2. The Italian rider also set the new all-time lap record with a time of 1’45.455.
It was also a positive day for Jorge Martín, eighteenth in FP1 and improving significantly in the afternoon. The Spanish rider gradually regained the feeling with his RS-GP26, finishing the practice session seventh to go straight through to Q2.
Also worth a mention is the performance by Raúl Fernández of the SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team, sixth in the practice session to put three Aprilias straight through to Q2.
Marco Bezzecchi (72) at Aragon. Photo courtesy Aprilia Racing.
Marco Bezzecchi: “It was a good day and I’m happy. It’s only Friday, but it was important to start off on the right foot. FP1 began on a positive note. We worked hard between the sessions, and the afternoon session went well too. Physically, my shoulder isn’t bad, whereas my knee is still bothering me quite a bit. There are a lot of left-handers on this track which unfortunately makes it painful.”
Jorge Martín (89) at Aragon. Photo courtesy Aprilia Racing.
Jorge Martín: “Compared with the morning, I felt good straight away in the afternoon from the start of the session. I expected a bit more from the second time attack, where I was hoping to drop my time to 1’45. We clearly still have work to do for tomorrow because there are a couple of riders who are faster than us at the moment. I didn’t ride here with the Aprilia last year, but when I’m in this situation I usually still have some margin for improvement on Friday but manage to take a step forward on Saturday.”
More, from a press release issued by Ducati Lenovo Team:
Marc Márquez and the Ducati Lenovo Team third in MotorLand Aragón Practice, just milliseconds from the top. Francesco Bagnaia thirteenth.
Four Ducatis in the top 5: Alex Márquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP) is second, Fabio Di Giannantonio (VR46 Racing Team) fourth ahead of Fermín Aldeguer
The Ducati Lenovo Team competed in the opening day of action at MotorLand Aragón, host of the thirteenth Grand Prix of the season. Marc Márquez finished Practice in third position, while Francesco Bagnaia – thirteenth – will have to tackle Q1 tomorrow morning at the Spanish venue.
Márquez – the fastest rider in FP1 – took first position in the early stages of Practice and stayed in the lead for two-thirds of the session. Marc then bounced back to the top with nine minutes remaining to eventually finish third, only 0.038secs adrift of today’s fastest lap-time. Bagnaia, twentieth in Free Practice 1, got closer to the top ten in the final minutes of Practice. During his last time attack, Pecco, who was projected to make it into the top ten, ran wide at the final corner.
The Ducati Lenovo Team will return to action at 10:10 local time (GMT +2) tomorrow for Free Practice 2, which will be followed by Q1 (10:50), Q2 (11:15) and by the thirteenth Sprint of the season, to be contested over 11 laps from 15:00.
Marc Márquez (93) at Aragon. Photo courtesy Ducati.
Marc Márquez (#93 Ducati Lenovo Team) – 3rd: “This is a track I like, much more than others. Today I rode well and in a consistent way; it’s true that Marco (Bezzecchi) and Alex (Márquez) were quicker than me in the time attack, but the important thing for us is to continue in this direction. We knew that the time set in the first quick lap attempt would have granted us a direct seed to Q2, so we chose not to take any risks and instead focused on the tyres. If we want to battle for the title, it’s clear that on a favourable track the goal must be to score maximum points or go very close to it, while trying to better our main rivals.”
Francesco Bagnaia (63) at Aragon. Photo courtesy Ducati.
Francesco Bagnaia (#63 Ducati Lenovo Team) – 13th: “I was expecting a different type of feeling and performance here at Aragón. Since Silverstone, we’re having a difficult time: it’s true that even in the previous races I wasn’t able to shine, but I had still managed to be in the top ten. We’re trying to understand the reason behind the further loss of grip at the rear-end. Generally speaking, it was a challenging day as I took many risks and nearly crashed several times. In the last time attack, I tried to brake hard but had to run wide, losing the chance to be in the top ten, which would have been a great result given the situation.”
More, from a press release issued by BK8 Gresini Team:
Fermin Aldeguer back in Q2 as Alex Marquez targets a strong weekend.
PRACTICE
ALEX MARQUEZ 2º (1’45.465s)
FERMIN ALDEGUER 5º (1’45.895s)
FREE PRACTICE
ALEX MARQUEZ 4º (1’47.796s)
FERMIN ALDEGUER 9º (1’48.498s)
Alex Marquez at Aragon. Photo courtesy Gresini Team.
Alex Marquez: “I can’t hide the fact that Sector 3 is our weak point. I usually struggle there, but today it was even more difficult than on other days. On top of that, it’s the sector where Marc makes the biggest difference. There are four corners, and the positive thing is that we know where we need to work… The corners are too slow for me and don’t really suit my riding style. We need to improve and try to lose as little as possible in that sector if we want to aim for a good result this weekend.”
Fermin Aldeguer (54) at Aragon. Photo courtesy Gresini Team.
Fermin Aldeguer: “I knew I was feeling good physically, but I didn’t expect to be in the top five and to have such good feelings on the bike. At the end of the day, I’m still surprised by my physical condition. It’s true that I’ve never done more than five or six laps at a time, but I feel good. We’re fit for the whole weekend, and that was the most important thing. Being in Q2 is really incredible.”
More, from a press release issued by Honda HRC Castrol:
Tenths the difference for Honda HRC Castrol as Aragon GP begins.
Luca Marini and Joan Mir were once again reunited with their Honda RC213V machines, the Honda HRC Castrol pairing battling until the very end of the day for Q2 spots but missed out by mere tenths of a second.
Some 250 kilometres west of Barcelona, the MotoGP World Championship began their preparations for Round 13 at Motorland Aragon. Cooler than expected conditions made for a busy morning, the Honda HRC Castrol duo completing 30 laps between them as the prepared for the crucial afternoon Practice session.
Improving from a 1’49.114 in the morning to a respectable 1’46.376 in the afternoon saw Luca Marini end the day in 12th. Less than a tenth of a second away from a returning Johann Zarco in tenth, the tightest of margins once again had a big impact as Marini will be forced to duke it out in Q1. His Friday speed does suggest he will be in good standing to make it out and into Q2 however.
Joan Mir was one of the first movers in the afternoon, rocketing up to inside the top ten and ultimately ended the day in 15th position on the combined times. Four tenths off the top ten, the #36 had wanted to enter the weekend and show his potential immediately but there are still a few settings to refine on his Honda. He and the Honda HRC engineers are confident that improvements can be made before Q1 on Saturday to allow the 2020 MotoGP World Champion to show his true speed.
Saturday will begin in earnest with the always hotly contested Q1 session at 10:50 Local Time, both Marini and Mir ready to fight their way through and into the top twelve. Once the grid is decided, all eyes will be on the 11-lap Sprint at 15:00 Local Time.
Luca Marini (10) at Aragon. Photo courtesy Honda HRC.
Luca Marini:“We tried something on the setting to see what it did at this circuit, it improved the bike in one area, but we lost a little bit in another part. There are of course still some things to work on to improve, so I hope that with that we can make the step into Q2. It’s about working with the package that we have, aiming to be the best Honda on track and seeing what happens when each session starts, I am really focused on myself – to improve my riding, my setting and not looking around too much. Times are really tight so again, if we can find something then I think we can be in the mix.”
Joan Mir (36) at Aragon. Photo courtesy Hond HRC.
Joan Mir:“A more complicated Friday than what we were expecting to be honest, we were expecting a lot more. We used more or less the same setup as in Silverstone and unfortunately it is not the direction we need to head here. Our braking, which is usually my strongest point, was not where I need it to be so there’s work to do in this area overnight. Tomorrow is a new day and I am confident that we can find something together overnight. There is plenty of potential still left to find.”
More, from a press release issued by Castrol Honda LCR:
Castrol Honda LCR rider Johann Zarco has finished 10th on Friday in Aragon.
Coming back to racing after three months at home due to the injury sustained to his left knee, the Frenchman delivered a tremendous performance on his first day back on track.
From his first exit on track in the morning, Zarco impressed everybody by being immediately fast and setting a good rhythm.
In the afternoon, the rider nailed the job, not only confirming the good feelings he had on the bike in the morning, but also securing a Q2 spot ahead of tomorrow’s qualifying.
Johann Zarco (5) at Aragon. Photo courtesy Hond LCR.
Johann Zarco 10th:“It’s been a good day. This morning I was surprised because I didn’t expect to be the first rider out on track, I could not wait! From the first laps, immediately, the speed was there and it was really cool, very pleasant. I had a good feeling on the bike and I noticed different things, it’s a positive sign, and it means there are still some key areas we can work on to improve the bike. As for the leg, there’s no pain, but the muscles need some time to adapt to the position. I’m taking care of my recovery after the sessions to feel as good as possible. The pace in the afternoon was faster and more intense, and I thought, ‘Yes, we are back!’ It’s really cool to be in Q2 tomorrow. Let’s see what we can do!”
More, from a press release issued by KTM Tech3:
Bastianini plotting top ten route after Aragon practice.
Enea Bastianini is confident that further set-up changes can help unlock greater performance after finishing Friday in 17th place, while Pol Espargaró showed encouraging pace in 20th as the Spaniard continues to deputise for the injured Maverick Viñales at the Aragón Grand Prix.
After a two-week break in August, the Tech3 team was back on track for Round 13 of the 2026 MotoGP™ World Championship at the MotorLand Aragón circuit in Spain. Conditions were tricky throughout the day. The 5.08km layout was dirty and dusty during FP1, while temperatures had risen to a hot 25 degrees for afternoon Practice.
Bastianini’s feeling in FP1 was far from ideal as he placed 21st. Thanks to the hard work of his crew, the Italian felt more comfortable in Practice, but still noted he could not slide the rear of his KTM RC16 as he wanted.
After doing considerable work to get the Michelin soft rear tyre working across the first two runs, ‘La Bestia’ was able to knock close to 0.8s off his personal best in the final minutes of the day but could only secure P17 and a spot in Q1.
After getting reacquainted with the KTM RC16 in Silverstone following an extensive testing programme on the new 850cc bike, Espargaró felt more comfortable on his opening laps in Aragón.
The 35-year-old showed potential in FP1, when he finished 15th, but admitted to lacking performance in time attack mode in Practice. With some improvements in Sector 3, the #44 rider is confident of fighting with the other KTMs tomorrow.
The action gets underway on Saturday with Bastianini and Espargaró heading out for FP2 at 10:10 CEST (UTC+2) ahead of Qualifying at 10:50 (UTC+2) and the 11-lap Sprint at 15:00 (UTC+2).
Enea Bastianini (23) at Aragon. Photo courtesy Tech3.
Enea Bastianini: “I must be honest: I was thinking today would be better. The first practice in Aragón is always tricky due to the dirty track. We did a step in the afternoon, but it wasn’t enough. I have understeer because the rear tyre is pushing the front. And if I try to slide the rear, it’s difficult because of the lack of grip. It’s particularly tough when I’m entering the corners. On a track like this, it’s very hard to ride like I want when the grip is low. We need to try something for tomorrow to help me slide the rear in entry because we’re far from the other factories, so we’ll work on the setting this evening. With a few improvements I’m sure we can be fighting around the top ten and much closer to the front.”
Pol Espargaró (44) at Aragon. Photo courtesy Tech3.
Pol Espargaró: “It’s coming! I feel much more competitive today than I did at Silverstone. This morning, I was even better than this afternoon. It’s only when everyone starts pushing on soft tyres that I’m missing speed. I wasn’t far away from Brad [Binder] and Enea’s time and was only one second off Pedro [Acosta]. I did a good lap but there were also a few mistakes – I need to improve Sector 3 a lot. If I adjust a few things there I should get two tenths. I’m not expecting to go through to Q2 tomorrow, but I want to be respectable and as close as possible to my team-mates. That would be great.”
More, from a press release issued by Pro Honda LCR:
Pro Honda LCR rider Diogo Moreira has finished 11th on Friday in Aragon.
On a circuit he enjoys, Brazilian rider Diogo Moreira had a positive start to the weekend.
The rider faced some difficulties with grip and made a mistake while pushing for a Q2 spot, meaning he will have to go through Q1 tomorrow.
Despite this, Moreira feels positive about the bike and believes he has the potential to do a good job tomorrow.
Diogo Moreira (11) at Aragon. Photo courtesy Honda LCR.
Diogo Moreira 11th:“It’s been a positive day, I was there. I made a mistake that cost me Q2, but in any case, we worked well. As for tomorrow, the bike is ready and I’m happy with it. The main problem here is the grip, it’s all about the grip. I could improve on the entry, and we are working on different solutions, which is good. We will try to do our maximum tomorrow. Let’s see!”
More, from a press release issued by Prima Pramac Yamaha:
Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP Faces a Difficult Friday at Aragón.
Jack Miller showed competitive pace throughout Friday before a late crash compromised his final time, while Toprak Razgatlıoğlu struggled to find the right feeling at Aragón. Both riders will have to progress through Q1 on Saturday.
Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP completed the opening day of practice at MotorLand Aragón, with the team facing a challenging Friday as both riders ended outside the top ten and will therefore have to go through Q1 tomorrow morning. The counter-clockwise Aragón circuit, one of the few in the MotoGP calendar to run in this direction, provided another demanding test for the YZR-M1 as the team continued working to find the right set-up and balance.
Jack Miller had looked competitive throughout both sessions, finishing sixth in the morning and remaining consistently inside the top ten during the afternoon. However, with around 15 minutes remaining, the Australian crashed while beginning his first attempt at a fast lap. The incident cost him valuable track time as he returned to the garage and was then forced to switch to the second bike, leaving him unable to put together the lap he had shown the pace to achieve. He eventually ended the session 19th.
Toprak Razgatlıoğlu had a more difficult day, struggling to find the feeling needed to extract the performance from the YZR-M1 across both sessions. The Turkish rider finished 21st and will now use the evening to analyse the data with his crew and identify areas where he can make a step forward ahead of qualifying.
With both riders set to start from Q1, Saturday will begin with an immediate opportunity to recover ground. The priority will be to make the most of the morning session, fight for progression into Q2 and secure the strongest possible starting positions for the Sprint later in the afternoon.
Jack Miller (43) at Aragon. Photo courtesy Pramac Yamaha.
Jack Miller: “Overall, I’m happy with the performance today. Obviously, the timing wasn’t ideal with that small crash at the end of the session on my first tyre. Not having another front tyre available and having a different setting on the second bike made it difficult to improve the lap time, but we still managed to make some progress. I feel like we have quite a bit more potential for tomorrow, so we’ll look at the data tonight, work on what we can improve and try to put everything together when it counts.”
Toprak Razgatlıoğlu (07) at Aragon. Photo courtesy Pramac Yamaha.
Toprak Razgatlıoğlu:“Today the beginning was not so bad, but in the end we couldn’t get a good lap time with the soft tyre. Still, we can see that the bike has potential, especially looking at Fabio’s lap time, which was very close to the front. So tomorrow we will try a different set-up to see if we can unlock more of that potential. I already feel quite strong under braking, but I’m still struggling to get the same feeling through the corners and with the rear grip compared to the other Yamaha riders. That’s why we’re looking to try something different tomorrow. I think I just need to find a little bit more grip and improve the cornering, so hopefully the new set-up can help me make that step.”
More, from a press release issued by CFMOTO Viel Aspar Team:
Máximo Quiles returns from injury with a solid top-10 finish
The CFMOTO Viel Aspar Team rider clocked the eighth-fastest time of the day on his comeback following a collarbone injury and will be in Q2 tomorrow alongside his team-mate Marco Morelli, who finished eleventh
The CFMOTO Viel Aspar Team has kicked off the Aragon Grand Prix having achieved the weekend’s first objective. The team’s riders have secured their places in tomorrow’s Q2 after Máximo Quiles finished eighth and Marco Morelli eleventh. The Spaniard passed his medical examination yesterday and confirmed his return to MotorLand Aragón following surgery on his collarbone after the crash he suffered at Silverstone two weeks ago. David Almansa was the fastest in Moto3, beating Rico Salmela, who finished second, by 49 thousandths of a second. Valentín Perrone was third, four tenths of a second behind the leader.
The first day of practice proved to be quite a challenge for Máximo Quiles. The CFMOTO Viel Aspar Team rider took to the track focused on assessing his physical condition on the bike after two weeks spent recovering from his collarbone injury. After just a few laps, Quiles was already in fourth place, confirming that he was feeling confident. Following a final positive medical check-up, the Moto3 leader continued with his usual work plan to prepare as well as possible for the afternoon session. The crucial moment came in the second session of the day, which decides who goes straight through to Q2. Here, Quiles managed to improve on his morning times by almost one and a half seconds. After completing a total of 14 laps, he finished in eighth place with a time of 1:58.114. Meanwhile, Marco Morelli also had a positive Friday on his Moto3 debut at the Aragon circuit. Despite not feeling 100 per cent comfortable on the bike, the CFMOTO Viel Aspar Team rider made a big leap forward in the afternoon and also significantly improved his lap times. Thanks to his 1:58.293, Morelli finished in eleventh place to secure his place in Q2.
Máximo Quiles (28) at Aragon. Photo courtesy Aspar Team.
8th Máximo Quiles 1:58.114 (+0.641):“I took it easy today to see how my collarbone would respond. I felt great, and that’s the most positive thing. There are a few corners where I struggle a bit, the right-handers, but almost the entire circuit has left-handers, and that helps. I had some doubts about how I would feel because the surgery was still very recent, and it was complicated to get here, but as soon as I got on the bike and did a couple of corners, I thought, ‘It’s not going to bother me much.’ Everyone has done a tremendous job so that I could be here this weekend. I feel good and I’ve continued working with the team in the same way as always. Today I completed quite a few laps, but it wasn’t a race distance. Tomorrow will be a slightly longer day, although I don’t think there will be any problem. The track was quite dirty this morning and very slippery, so it was quite a challenge, but I achieved my goal for the day and I’m very happy.”
Marco Morelli (97) at Aragon. Photo courtesy Aspar Team.
11th Marco Morelli 1:58.293 (+0.820): “The important thing today was to get into Q2 and we did it, but it hasn’t been easy to get a good feeling. I felt a bit uncomfortable on the bike, we have to keep working to improve and find a solution that will allow me to ride more freely. Tomorrow we’ll use free practice to focus on that and make everything a bit easier. There’s still work to be done, but I’m happy with the result.”
More, from a press release issued by BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2 Team:
Guevara Secures Top-10 Spot on Aragon Friday as Ferrández Continues Progress.
The BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2 team were keen to hit the ground running as they started the busy final stretch of the 2026 season. However, the level of competition was fierce on the Grand Prix of Aragon Friday. Izan Guevara and Alberto Ferrández completed the Practice session in P10 and P24 respectively.
BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2’s Izan Guevara made a solid start to the Grand Prix of Aragon weekend, securing a place inside the top 10 during the Moto2 Practice session. He promoted directly to tomorrow’s Q2. Teammate Alberto Ferrández continued his adaptation to the Moto2 category at a circuit he knows well, using valuable track knowledge to build experience ahead of Saturday’s crucial qualifying sessions and Sunday’s Race. He wrapped up the Friday in P24 and will take part in tomorrow’s Q1.
Guevara showed that, despite the news of his MotoGP promotion for 2027, he still has his head in the game. The 2026 Moto2 title contender finished FP1 in P3 and again showed good pace early on in the Practice. He held second place until the time attacks got underway. The Spaniard ended the session in tenth place thanks to a 1’50.493s set on lap 12/13, 0.702s from first.
Ferrández knows the Aragon track well and aimed to use the previous knowledge to his advantage. Having ended FP1 in P16, he was keen to battle for a position inside the top 14 in the afternoon session. Despite finding a time improvement of 0.748s compared to his fastest morning time, clocking a 1’51.008s on lap 11/14, he ultimately finished in P24 in the Practice classification, 1.217s from the top.
Track action resumes on Saturday at 09:25-09:55 (GMT+2) for FP2, and the qualifying sessions will take place from 13:40-14:20.
Izan Guevara (28) at Aragon. Photo courtesy Pramac Yamaha.
Izan Guevara:“Overall, today was a good day. I felt very comfortable on my first run this morning, although we made a small change for the second run in the afternoon, hoping it would improve the bike. Instead, it made the bike a little more nervous, which made it harder to push and extract the lap time. I also had some chatter that was limiting me when I tried to increase the pace. Even so, I’m not too concerned. I don’t think we could have done much better today, and we achieved our main objective of going directly into Q2. That’s important, and now the focus is on tomorrow, when we need to make another step and have a strong qualifying session.”
Alberto Ferrández (54) at Aragon. Photo courtesy Pramac Yamaha.
Alberto Ferrández: “Today was a difficult day. I didn’t feel completely comfortable with the bike from the beginning, and I also made a few mistakes with the lines in some corners during FP1. During the Practice, I was able to improve my riding and understand the track better, but we also need to make some improvements to the bike. We are very fast in a couple of sectors, which shows that we have good potential, but we are losing time in the other two and need to understand why. We’ll work on the data tonight and try to make a step tomorrow. The goal is to fight for Q2 and put ourselves in a better position for Sunday’s Race.”
More, from a press release issued by CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team:
Holgado finishes 58 thousandths off the fastest time at Aragón
The CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team rider put in a superb performance on the first day at MotorLand Aragón and set the second-fastest time. His team-mate David Alonso narrowly missed out on qualifying for Q2 and will have to compete in Q1 tomorrow
The Aragon Grand Prix has got off to a very positive start for Dani Holgado and the CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team. The Spaniard was in fine form on Friday and finished in second place, just 58 thousandths of a second off the day’s fastest time, which on this occasion was set by Iván Ortolá. Australian rider Senna Agius rounded off the top three in the intermediate class, finishing just one tenth of a second behind Ortolá’s time. David Alonso has made progress and is regaining his confidence on the bike. The Colombian fought until the very last lap to secure a place in Q2, but ultimately finished in eighteenth place and will have to compete in Q1 at MotorLand.
Dani Holgado has been in fine form since the first session of the weekend. The CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team rider rode alone throughout the day to focus on his pace, something that will make all the difference in Sunday’s race. After finishing the morning session, Holgado returned to the track in the afternoon to stay at the top of the timesheets and secure his place in Q2. After leading the session and breaking the track record, he was pipped at the post by another rider by a mere 58 thousandths of a second. As a result, his time of 1:49.849 was the second-fastest of the day. His team-mate David Alonso focused his working plan on regaining confidence and a good feel for the bike. The Colombian took small but steady steps forward to lay a solid foundation for the afternoon session. The CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team rider improved on his morning times and fought to qualify within the top fourteen, but ultimately finished in eighteenth place, one tenth of a second off the cut-off.
Dani Holgado (96) at Aragon. Photo courtesy Aspar Team.
2nd Dani Holgado 1:49.849 (+0.058):“Today has been a positive day here in Aragón and we got off to a very good start. I struggled a bit in the first session because I didn’t feel quite right on the bike, particularly at the rear. Even so, I’m very happy because we’ve worked really well; we’ve taken a big step forward as a team, especially after the first session, and we’ve managed to achieve a great result. The pace has been very good and I’ve always been riding on my own. It’s important for us to get off to a start like this. Tomorrow we’ll see how the tyres wear and see how I feel for the race. I’ve been trying to fine-tune a few details this summer and today I’ve already seen the results of all that previous work. When you try something new, it’s always a struggle, but now I’m starting to incorporate it into my riding style. I think we’re doing quite well at the moment, but we need to keep our feet on the ground, keep working and enjoy the home Grand Prix. I hope to be on one of the first two rows of the starting grid and I’ll fight to achieve that tomorrow.”
David Alonso (80) at Aragon. Photo courtesy Aspar Team.
18th David Alonso 1:50.761 (+0.970):“We were a few laps short of making it through to Q2 today. I’m feeling better and better, but I need a bit more time to regain the confidence I had a few races ago. I’m getting there step by step, and I think it’ll be good for me to go through Q1 so I can spend more time on the track and get a better feel for the bike. I need to keep edging closer to the limit and try to push harder and harder. It wasn’t quite enough today, but I think that if we improve a few details tomorrow, we can take another step forward. I want to be able to enter the corners with more determination and precision because that’s something that gives you more speed and allows you to improve your time lap. At Silverstone we changed a lot of things and in the end we lost our way, but this weekend I’m keeping my cool and trying to make things work with the bike I’ve got.”
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