Pedro Acosta takes MotoGP Catalan GP pole as crashes disrupt qualifying

Pedro Acosta secured pole position for the MotoGP Catalan Grand Prix at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, delivering a 138.068 second lap in a qualifying session marked by crashes and eliminated riders in both Q1 and Q2. The Red Bull KTM Factory rider will start ahead of Franco Morbidelli and Alex Marquez in the grid for Sunday’s main race.

Acosta controlled Q2 after progressing through Q1, extending his advantage with a strong sequence of laps to take the top spot by 0.233 seconds over Morbidelli. Marquez completed the front row, finishing third on another 2026 weekend in which pre-qualifying expectations were shaped by the pace of the title-contending Aprilia duo and recent momentum from rivals.

Behind them, Raul Fernandez qualified fourth for Trackhouse, while Johann Zarco was fifth for Honda and Fabio Di Giannantonio finished sixth for VR46. Fabio Quartararo placed seventh, Brad Binder was eighth, and Jorge Martin recovered from an earlier fall to qualify ninth. Joan Mir finished tenth for Honda, with Jack Miller eleventh. Marco Bezzecchi, one of the leading Aprilia riders entering the weekend, crashed during Q2 and ended the session 12th, behind Mir and Miller.