News Summary
- Jorge Martín claimed Austrian GP pole with a 1:27.917, beating Marc Márquez by only 0.015s.
- Pedro Acosta secured third for KTM, just 0.071s behind Martín, with Marco Bezzecchi completing the top four.
- Diogo Moreira missed Q2 and qualified 16th, while Francesco Bagnaia advanced from Q1 before taking seventh.
Jorge Martín produced a superb final lap to claim pole position for the Austrian MotoGP Grand Prix, beating championship rival Marc Márquez by only 0.015s at the Red Bull Ring.
The Aprilia rider stopped the clock at 1:27.917 to secure his third pole of the 2026 season and the 23rd of his MotoGP career. Márquez responded with a 1:27.932 but could not dislodge the Spaniard from the top of the timesheets.
Pedro Acosta, who had controlled both Friday sessions, completed the front row for KTM. The 22-year-old finished only 0.071s behind Martín after briefly leading Q2 with a 1:28.328.
The result gives Martín a valuable starting advantage over Márquez before Saturday’s Sprint. The two riders arrived in Austria level on 274 points, although the Ducati rider holds the championship lead through his greater number of Grand Prix victories.
Marco Bezzecchi placed the second factory Aprilia fourth, 0.249s away from his team-mate. Returning Trackhouse rider Ai Ogura qualified fifth, while Álex Márquez completed the second row for Gresini.
Bagnaia survives Q1 as Moreira qualifies 16th
Earlier, a drying circuit created a difficult Q1 session involving Francesco Bagnaia, Johann Zarco, Raúl Fernández and Diogo Moreira.
Moreira initially led with a 1:29.154, but the Brazilian was gradually pushed down the order as conditions improved. Fernández and Pol Espargaró occupied the two transfer positions before the final runs transformed the classification.
Zarco produced a 1:28.753 to move into first place. Bagnaia then set exactly the same lap time, with the Frenchman retaining the top position because he had recorded the time first.
Both advanced into Q2, where Bagnaia qualified seventh and Zarco ninth. Moreira could not improve sufficiently during the closing minutes and finished sixth in Q1, placing him 16th on the starting grid.
Diogo Moreira will start the Austrian Sprint and Grand Prix from 16th (Photo: LCR Honda)
Fabio Di Giannantonio qualified eighth for VR46, ahead of Zarco and Fabio Quartararo. Brad Binder could manage only 11th at KTM’s home circuit, with Fermín Aldeguer completing the fourth row.
Martín finds another level in decisive Q2 run
Bezzecchi established the early Q2 benchmark before Márquez moved ahead with a 1:28.475. Acosta then placed KTM on provisional pole by recording a 1:28.328 before the riders returned to the pits for their final preparations.
Martín emerged as the decisive threat during the closing runs. He initially moved into first with a 1:28.223 and then became the only rider to break into the 1:27s, producing the fastest lap of the weekend.
Márquez came within 0.015s of denying his title rival but had to settle for second. Acosta also improved into the 1:27s, leaving the entire front row covered by just 0.071s.
The result maintains Aprilia’s challenge at a circuit where KTM had appeared particularly strong throughout Friday. It also places Martín in the best possible position to attack the championship lead during the Sprint.
MotoGP returns later on Saturday with the Austrian GP Sprint at 14:00 UK and 09:00 ET.
2026 Austrian MotoGP starting grid
2026 Austrian MotoGP qualifying results
| Pos. | Rider | Team/Manufacturer | Time | Gap | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | J MARTÍN | Aprilia Racing | 1:27.917 | — | 9 |
| 2 | M MÁRQUEZ | Ducati | 1:27.932 | +0.015 | 9 |
| 3 | P ACOSTA | KTM | 1:27.988 | +0.071 | 9 |
| 4 | M BEZZECCHI | Aprilia Racing | 1:28.166 | +0.249 | 9 |
| 5 | A OGURA | Trackhouse Aprilia | 1:28.450 | +0.533 | 8 |
| 6 | Á MÁRQUEZ | Gresini Ducati | 1:28.473 | +0.556 | 7 |
| 7 | F BAGNAIA | Ducati | 1:28.527 | +0.610 | 9 |
| 8 | F DI GIANNANTONIO | VR46 Ducati | 1:28.612 | +0.695 | 9 |
| 9 | F QUARTARARO | Yamaha | 1:28.623 | +0.706 | 8 |
| 10 | J ZARCO | LCR Honda | 1:28.632 | +0.715 | 8 |
| 11 | B BINDER | KTM | 1:28.729 | +0.812 | 8 |
| 12 | F ALDEGUER | Gresini Ducati | 1:28.862 | +0.945 | 9 |
| 13 | R FERNÁNDEZ | Trackhouse Aprilia | 1:28.871 | +0.954 | 8 |
| 14 | P ESPARGARÓ | Tech3 KTM | 1:28.972 | +1.055 | 8 |
| 15 | L MARINI | Honda | 1:29.110 | +1.193 | 9 |
| 16 | D MOREIRA | LCR Honda | 1:29.154 | +1.237 | 9 |
| 17 | E BASTIANINI | Tech3 KTM | 1:29.165 | +1.248 | 9 |
| 18 | T NAKAGAMI | Honda | 1:29.442 | +1.525 | 9 |
| 19 | F MORBIDELLI | VR46 Ducati | 1:29.554 | +1.637 | 8 |
| 20 | Á RINS | Yamaha | 1:29.663 | +1.746 | 8 |
| 21 | J MILLER | Pramac Yamaha | 1:29.689 | +1.772 | 9 |
| 22 | T RAZGATLIOĞLU | Pramac Yamaha | 1:30.056 | +2.139 | 8 |
MotoGP today: FAQ
Who won the 2026 Austrian MotoGP Sprint?
Jorge Martín won the Austrian MotoGP Sprint after recovering from eighth place. He finished 1.026s ahead of Marc Márquez, with Marco Bezzecchi third.
What happened to Pedro Acosta in the Austrian MotoGP Sprint?
Acosta crashed at Turn 2 with three laps remaining while leading by more than 2s. He remounted but subsequently returned to the pits and retired.
Who leads the 2026 MotoGP championship after the Austrian Sprint?
Jorge Martín leads the championship with 286 points, 3 ahead of Marc Márquez. The pair had entered the Austrian weekend level on 274 points, with Márquez ahead on countback. Reuters confirms their pre-Sprint points position.
Who took pole for the 2026 Austrian MotoGP Grand Prix?
Jorge Martín claimed pole for Aprilia with a lap of 1:27.917 at the Red Bull Ring.
