Marco Bezzecchi sets a new all time lap record at Lusail International Circuit in qualifying, while Marquez takes a 49 point championship lead into Sunday’s Grand Prix
Following Friday’s practice sessions, Lusail International Circuit (LIC) delivered another day of racing action on Saturday, November 7, 2026. The day featured qualifying sessions that set the starting grids for Sunday’s main events, Race 1 of the Idemitsu Moto4 Asia Cup, the MotoGP™ Tissot Sprint and BMW M Laps, as well as the Hero Walk, which gave fans the chance to meet Moto2™ and Moto3™ riders.
The day began with the Idemitsu Moto4 Asia Cup Qualifying, where Kotaro Togashi from Japan set the fastest time at 2’09.888, followed by Qabil Irfan from Malaysia at 2’10.147 and Bintang Pranata from Indonesia at 2’10.709.
In Moto3™ Free Practice 2, Maximo Quiles from CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team set the fastest lap at 2’03.286, followed by David Almansa from LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP at 2’03.529 and Hakim Danish from AEON Credit - MT Helmets - MSI at 2’03.626. Moto2™ Free Practice 2 was led by Manuel Gonzalez from LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP with 1’56.334, ahead of Izan Guevara from BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2 at 1’56.422 and Senna Agius from LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP at 1’56.514.
In MotoGP™ Free Practice 2, Marco Bezzecchi from Aprilia Racing set the fastest lap at 1’51.571, followed by Raul Fernandez from SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team at 1’51.684 and Ai Ogura from SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team at 1’51.837.
MotoGP™ qualifying produced a new all time lap record at LIC as Marco Bezzecchi from Aprilia Racing took pole position with 1’50.028, improving on the mark set by Fabio Di Giannantonio on Friday. Marc Marquez from Ducati Lenovo Team followed at 1’50.294, with Fabio Di Giannantonio from Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team third at 1’50.327. Q2 determined the first four rows of the grid, and the qualifying result also set the grid for the Tissot Sprint. Earlier, Q1 saw riders outside the top 10 from the combined practice results compete for the two transfer positions to Q2. Fermin Aldeguer from BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP finished first with 1’50.876, followed by Pedro Acosta from Red Bull KTM Factory Racing at 1’51.087, with both advancing to Q2. Franco Morbidelli from Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team finished third at 1’51.271.
The first race of the weekend was Race 1 of the Idemitsu Moto4 Asia Cup, run over 9 laps. Qabil Irfan from Malaysia took victory with a total time of 19’38.271, just 0.010 seconds ahead of Resky Yusuf from Indonesia, with Waku Kunitate from Japan completing the podium at 19’38.470.
In Moto3™ Qualifying 1, Brian Uriarte from Red Bull KTM Ajo came first with 2’02.840, followed by Zen Mitani from Honda Team Asia at 2’03.359 and Alvaro Carpe from Red Bull KTM Ajo at 2’03.365. In Qualifying 2, Maximo Quiles from CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team secured pole position for Sunday’s race with 2’02.288, with David Almansa from LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP and Brian Uriarte from Red Bull KTM Ajo completing the top three at 2’02.443 and 2’02.783.
In Moto2™, Daniel Muñoz from Italtrans Racing Team led Qualifying 1 with 1’55.971, ahead of Momoven Idrofoglia RW Racing Team’s Zonta van den Goorbergh at 1’56.065 and Ayumu Sasaki at 1’56.109. Qualifying 2 saw Alex Escrig from KLINT Racing Team secure pole position with 1’55.241, followed by Manuel Gonzalez from LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP at 1’55.367 and Daniel Holgado from CFMOTO Power Electronics Aspar Team at 1’55.474.
The day’s racing concluded with the MotoGP™ Tissot Sprint, which was restarted after an initial red flag. Early drama saw championship contender Marco Bezzecchi from Aprilia Racing retire from the race. Marc Marquez from Ducati Lenovo Team took victory with a total time of 18’46.450, 0.862 seconds ahead of Fabio Di Giannantonio from Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team, who moved into second with a pass on the final lap. Jorge Martin from Aprilia Racing completed the podium 1.519 seconds behind Marquez. Points were awarded to the top nine finishers. BMW M Laps then brought the day’s on track activity to a close.
In the Fan Zone, attendees enjoyed interactive entertainment, and for the first time, the MotoGP™ Fan Zone at LIC hosted a podium for the Tissot Sprint, bringing the celebration of the race straight to the fans. A Hero Walk brought Moto2™ and Moto3™ riders together with the first 400 fans through the gates, who accessed the paddock to take photographs, collect autographs and meet the sport’s rising stars up close.
As the 2026 MotoGP™ Qatar Airways Grand Prix of Qatar heads into its final day, Sunday’s program will feature Race 2 of the Idemitsu Moto4 Asia Cup, the MotoGP™ Hero Walk and Talk Show, the Moto3™ and Moto2™ races and the Opening Ceremony, ahead of the 22 lap MotoGP™ Grand Prix. Marc Marquez leads the 2026 MotoGP™ World Championship by 49 points and will have his first opportunity to clinch the title on Sunday at LIC. Tickets can be purchased at tickets.lcsc.qa.
6 Nov 2026
