JAKARTA - Pedro Acosta from Red Bull KTM managed to come out as the fastest rider in qualifying to get his first pole position this season. He beat Franco Morbidelli and Alex Marquez who completed the front grid.
The Spanish racer topped the time record with a time of one minute 38.068 seconds at the Catalunya Circuit, Barcelona, Spain, on Saturday, May 16, 2026, afternoon WIB. This is his first pole since the Japanese Grand Prix in Motegi in 2024.
Morbidelli (VR46 Racing Team) who was in second place completed the qualifying with a gap of 0.233 seconds from Acosta. The Italian racer was a thin +0.041 seconds ahead of Alex (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) who won the Catalunya race last season.
Acosta looked so comfortable from the start of the second qualifying (Q2) began. He had no trouble immediately finding the speed to shoot to the first position and there was almost no resistance when the rider from Murcia sharpened his time record.
Current leader of the standings Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) who is trying hard to keep up lost control of his bike. He then fell at Turn 2 so the opportunity to start in the front row evaporated.
Morbidelli and Alex Marquez who tried to improve their lap times, were also unable to approach Acosta's time record. As a result, they had to be content with starting the race behind the 21-year-old young racer.
In addition to Bezzecchi's failure, Aprilia's camp also had to be satisfied seeing their rider Jorge Martin starting tomorrow's race from ninth position. The Noale-based manufacturer recorded a maximum achievement through Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse) who took fourth place or ahead of Johann Zarco (Castrol Honda LCR).
Meanwhile, the sixth position was secured by Fabio Di Giannantonio (VR46 Racing Team). He was followed by Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team) who filled the seventh place.
Next, the eighth position was occupied by Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), ninth by Martin, followed by Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol), and Bezzecchi in 12th place, behind Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha Racing).
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