Sunday MotoGP Race
Back-to-back MotoGP victories at your home Grand Prix are what dreams are made of, and Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) has achieved just that after the #73 rolled out a stunner in a dramatic 2026 Estrella Galicia 0,0 Grand Prix of Spain that saw Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) crash out of second place on Lap 2. Marco Bezzecchi’s (Aprilia Racing) record-breaking victory run is now over, but the Italian’s P2 is another fantastic result for the championship leader as compatriot Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) earned P3 to jump up to third in the standings.
Marc Marquez got away from pole perfectly and grabbed the holeshot with both arms as the field dived into Turn 1, with Bezzecchi getting a stormer – unlike in the Sprint – from the second row to jump to P2. And Alex Marquez got a corker too. The 2025 Spanish GP winner was P3, then P2 behind Marc Marquez after the Gresini Racing star shoved his way past the Championship leader at Turn 9.
Alex Marquez didn’t wait long to pounce on Marc Marquez either. Turn 6, the Dani Pedrosa Corner, saw the #73 shove his way past the reigning World Champion. Now, could Marc Marquez respond?
Well, we found out the answer very quickly. Huge drama unfolded for the #93 on Lap 2 as Marc Marquez crashed out at the rapid right-hand turn of 11. The front-end washed away, and there was no chance of saving that one, as the home-crowd hero suffered a very early DNF in Jerez for the second year running. Thankfully, the Spaniard was up on his feet and OK, but that’s another early dent to the Champion’s title charge.
Back on track, Alex Marquez was lapping 0.6s ahead of Bezzecchi, as we jumped on board with Di Giannantonio as he passed Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing) for P3 on Lap 5. At this stage of the Grand Prix, Diggia was a second behind compatriot Bezzecchi.
A small but costly mistake from Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) at the start of Lap 6 saw the Spaniard slip to P9 from P7 following contact with Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team), leaving the #37 one place ahead of Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) and without some front-end aero. That was then one place behind Pecco, as the Italian made a move stick on the KTM rider at the final corner.
Up front, Alex Marquez was beginning to stretch his legs. At the start of Lap 10, his lead 1.6s over Bezzecchi, who in turn had Di Giannantonio lingering 0.6s behind. Martin remained well within reach of the podium battle too; the 2024 MotoGP World Champion was a further 0.6s back in P4, with Johann Zarco (Castrol Honda LCR) a second back from the second Aprilia in P5.
At the start of Lap 12, misery was compounded in the factory Ducati box. Pecco encountered some form of problem with his Desmosedici, and the sight of the #63 pulling into the pitlane signalled a nightmare Sunday in Jerez for the top two in the Tissot Sprint.
While there was disappointment in the red corner of Ducati, there was pending delight in the blue corner. Alex Marquez’s lead was now just under two seconds at the end of Lap 15 of 25, with Di Giannantonio 0.9s away from second place Bezzecchi.
With six laps left, it was as you were at the front. Alex Marquez was controlling the gap back to Bezzecchi, and the same can be said for the title race leader in his attempts to keep Di Giannantonio at bay.
While the podium positions were looking settled, the battle for the top six wasn’t. And Zarco, with three laps to go, got a face full of Trackhouse – first from Fernandez, then from Ai Ogura. Two classy moves pulled on the impressive Frenchman.
10 seconds up the road from that particular fight, Alex Marquez had 4.4km left to arrive at the chequered flag as a Spanish GP winner for the second year in a row. A wave to the jubilant, packed hillsides through Turns 9 and 10 capped off a phenomenal Sunday for the recently turned 30-year-old, as Alex Marquez clinched a dream Jerez win again.
This time, it was Bezzecchi who finished P2 to Alex Marquez. The unbeaten Sunday run ends, but that’s another brilliant result for the Italian and Aprilia. A treasured 20 points means Bez’s lead in the championship extends to 11 over fourth place Martin, and sandwiched between the Aprilia duo was the in-form Di Giannantonio, who bagged a second podium of the season. That moves the Italian up to P3 in the World Championship, with Martin 19 points clear in P2 after another great weekend.
The winner of that P5 battle we mentioned? Ogura. The Japanese rider shoved past his teammate at Turn 6 on the final lap to pick up 11 points, with Fernandez P6 on home turf. Zarco’s strong weekend ended with a solid P7, as Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech3) acted as the lead KTM rider on Sunday with a P8. Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) crossed the line in P9 as his recovery continues, and a frustrated Acosta had to settle for P10. Not what the #37 had ordered.
Acosta’s teammate Brad Binder was one place and 0.3s behind in P11, with Sprint podium finisher Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team), Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol), Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP), and Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) – after a double Long Lap penalty for the 2020 World Champion – closed out the points-paying positions.
Moto2 Race
Back-to-back wins for the first time? That’ll do very nicely for Spanish GP winner Senna Agius (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) after a tense, three-way fight for the win. World Championship leader Manuel Gonzalez handed the team a dream 1-2 as the Spaniard stands on the Jerez rostrum for the second year in a row, as polesitter Collin Veijer (Red Bull KTM Ajo) earns his first podium of 2026 in P3.
The holeshot went the way of 2025 Spanish GP winner Gonzalez, but Veijer didn’t hang around long and attacked to take the lead at Turn 6. David Alonso (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) got a horrible getaway and went from the second row to P17 on Lap 1, with Austin winner Agius climbing to an early P2.
Alonso moved up to P11 by the end of Lap 1, and another rider moving up the order was Barry Baltus (REDS Fantic Racing). Having got past front row starter Alex Escrig (KLINT Factory Team), the Belgian was P5 behind Veijer, Agius, Gonzalez, and Alonso Lopez (ITALJET Grresini Moto2), with Alonso P8 at the end of Lap 4.
Lap 5 saw the lead change hands four times as Agius and Veijer engaged in battle, and up at Turn 1 on Lap 6, there was contact between Alonso, teammate Daniel Holgado, and Escrig in the scrap for sixth. That cost the Colombian four places, with the #80 and Holgado now P10 and P9.
More drama then arrived. Baltus, one of the pre-race favourites, crashed out while sitting in P4 at Turn 6, and then the rider who was promoted to P4, Lopez, crashed moments later. Surely now, it was a three-rider fight for the win. Veijer, Agius and Gonzalez were locked together, four seconds up the road from Escrig.
On Lap 14, a big move came for Agius at Turn 8. The Australian carved up the inside of the Dutchman for the lead, and a corner later, home hero Gonzalez demoted Veijer to P3. Was that the race-winning move for Agius?
Having led for a few laps, Agius couldn’t fully shake off the Gonzalez and Veijer threat. At the beginning of Lap 19 of 21, Agius’ advantage was just under three tenths, with Veijer a further 0.4s in arrears, and heading onto the final lap, it was pretty much as you were.
Could Gonzalez reel in his teammate, and did Veijer have anything left? The answer was no. Agius had threatened to do this all weekend, and for the first time in Moto2, the Australian secured back-to-back victories. Gonzalez and Veijer completed the podium, with that P2 seeing the Spaniard hold onto the championship lead.
Alonso rolled out some magnificent pace to finish just two seconds off the win in P4, with the Colombian ruing his awful start to the Grand Prix, and the contact with Escrig and Holgado. Celestino Vietti (Beta Tools SpeedRS Team) also unravelled a great race to finish P5, with Daniel Muñoz (Italtrans Racing Team) completing the top six.
Izan Guevara (BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2) came from P12 on the grid to finish P7, with Agius jumping ahead of the Spaniard into P2 in the standings.
Tony Arbolino (REDS Fantic Racing), Escrig and Ivan Ortola (QJMOTOR – GALFER – MSI) rounded out the top 10 ahead of eleventh place Holgado, who slips to P5 in the title race. Ayumu Sasaki (Momoven Idrofoglia RW Racing Team), Deniz Öncü (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team), Filip Salač, and the Czech’s OnlyFans American Racing teammate Joe Roberts were the final points scorers in Jerez.
Moto3 Race
An epic battle in Moto3 saw the return of Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) to the top of the podium as he took a second win of the year, this time at home in Jerez. The #28 had to fight hard before pulling clear in the closing stages, whilst the fight for second saw rivals Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) and David Muñoz (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) go head-to-head on the final lap, eventually going to the #31 ahead of his returning compatriot.
Sweeping into the holeshot, David Muñoz hit the front but it didn’t last long as Quiles grabbed the lead back at Turn 8 to lead the opening lap. Disaster before the opening lap even started for Leo Rammerstorfer (SIC58 Squadra Corse) who couldn’t get off the line, whilst Matteo Bertelle’s (LEVELUP-MTA) best weekend of the year ended in the Turn 1 gravel.
On Lap 6, Muñoz’s early charge to Quiles saw him joined by Adrian Fernandez who forced his way into P2, whilst a lap later, he took over the lead from Quiles. Behind, Marco Morelli (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) chased in P4, having dropped Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and a big battle over fifth. Further down the order, COTA winner Guido Pini (Leopard Racing) crashed out and was followed a lap later by Nicola Carraro (Rivacold Snipers Team).
Heading onto Lap 15, Quiles hit the front again at Turn 1, taking over the reins of the Grand Prix whilst at Turn 6, Fernandez was shuffled back to third as Muñoz came on through. Quiles was pulling the pin, the #28 looking to establish his authority on the Grand Prix and instantly dropped the pace from mid-1’45s to high-1’44s. Muñoz was sticking with him whilst Fernandez was keeping in touch with both in P3.
However, with three laps to go, a mistake by Muñoz at Turn 1 saw him drop more than half a second back from Quiles, giving him an uphill struggle to try and get on terms with the Championship leader. A lap later and it was a battle for P2 with Fernandez and Muñoz now joined by Morelli, who had put in a mega performance.
Last lap time and it was an Aspar 1-2 with just 4.428km to go. Fernandez sat third with rival Muñoz climbing all over him but the scrap for the final podium positions was going to go until the last corner. An epic fight, that saw them swap paint at Turns 6, 8 and 9, entered the last sector and despite Muñoz’s best efforts at Turn 13, he was beaten in the drag race to the line by Fernandez who clinched second whilst Morelli was fourth. Up front, no catching Quiles who took a second win of 2026 in his first Grand Prix weekend at Jerez. A remarkable Grand Prix by all three as Spain locked out the podium at home.
Behind, Carpe took fifth ahead of Veda Pratama (Honda Team Asia) whilst Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) was 7th, followed home by David Almansa (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP), a season-best performance by Jesus Rios (Rivacold Snipers Team) and Joel Esteban (LEVELUP-MTA) who completed the top ten.
MotoGP Sprint Race
Marc Marquez launched cleanly from pole and held the advantage into Turn 1, with Johann Zarco (Castrol Honda LCR) initially keeping second as the pack reshuffled behind. Alex Marquez wasted no time slicing into P2, while Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing) settled into fourth and Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) followed in fifth.
Championship leader Marco Bezzecchi endured a disastrous start, seemingly hindered by a tear-off lodged at the rear, dropping him deep into the field and leaving him to recover from 16th as the fight at the front intensified. Up ahead, Marc Marquez began edging away, but the pressure remained. Martin made an early move on Alex Marquez, only for the #73 to retaliate at Turn 1 and force the Aprilia rider wide. Martin, already struggling under braking with an overheated front disc, had to regroup.
Alex Marquez soon dispatched Zarco as well, moving firmly into second. With 10 laps remaining, dark clouds finally delivered, bringing light rain and the white flag—signaling riders could switch machines. It was an unusually early call in a Sprint, leaving teams and riders weighing their options.
At first, conditions weren’t quite wet enough to justify a gamble. Zarco and Di Giannantonio engaged in a fierce scrap for third, but as the drizzle persisted, “Diggia” found more grip and took control of the position. Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) quietly climbed into fourth.
Behind them, Zarco suddenly had a trio of KTMs closing in. Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) led the charge, with Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech3) and Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) in tow. After Acosta’s attempt fell short, Bastianini capitalized, slipping through and latching onto Zarco.
Meanwhile, at the front, Marc Marquez’s advantage had evaporated. Alex Marquez closed in relentlessly, shadowing the Ducati Lenovo machine before making his move with six laps to go—diving through at Turn 9 to seize the lead, with Di Giannantonio now closing on both.
Then came the turning point. Marc Marquez lost the front at the final corner as the rain intensified. Crucially, he remounted immediately and headed straight for pit lane to switch bikes. Others at the front initially stayed out, while Binder led those opting to change machines early.
That left Alex Marquez leading on slicks ahead of Di Giannantonio, with Binder effectively heading the alternate strategy group. With four laps left, the question was whether the gamble would pay off.
Moments later, it unraveled. Alex Marquez crashed at the same corner where his brother had fallen the previous year, as the drizzle turned into heavy rain. The conditions now clearly demanded wet tires, triggering a rush to pit lane. Binder briefly inherited the lead but soon crashed out as well.
Amid the chaos, Francesco Bagnaia and Marc Marquez emerged at the front after perfectly timed stops, sweeping past a struggling Fermin Aldeguer, who had stayed out too long on slicks. Bagnaia led briefly, but Marquez wasted little time reclaiming control.
From pole to a crash, down the order, and back to the front, Marc Marquez delivered a remarkable recovery to take the Sprint victory. Bagnaia followed him home for second, securing another podium finish, while Franco Morbidelli impressively claimed third despite pitting early.
Binder salvaged fourth despite his fall, while Di Giannantonio completed the top five ahead of Raul Fernandez. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) picked up seventh, with Zarco and Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol) rounding out the points.
2026 Spanish MotoGP Results—MotoGP Sprint Race
| 1 | Marc Marquez | SPA | Ducati Lenovo (GP26) | 21m 25.651s |
| 2 | Francesco Bagnaia | ITA | Ducati Lenovo (GP26) | +3.050s |
| 3 | Franco Morbidelli | ITA | Pertamina VR46 Ducati (GP25) | +7.493s |
| 4 | Brad Binder | RSA | Red Bull KTM (RC16) | +8.752s |
| 5 | Fabio Di Giannantonio | ITA | Pertamina VR46 Ducati (GP26) | +9.237s |
| 6 | Raul Fernandez | SPA | Trackhouse Aprilia (RS-GP26) | +11.958s |
| 7 | Fabio Quartararo | FRA | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +13.525s |
| 8 | Johann Zarco | FRA | Castrol Honda LCR (RC213V) | +14.522s |
| 9 | Luca Marini | ITA | Honda HRC Castrol (RC213V) | +15.769s |
| 10 | Alex Rins | SPA | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +15.821s |
Moto2 Qualifying
For the first time since the 1991 Japanese Grand Prix, a Dutch rider will start from pole in Moto2, with Collin Veijer (Red Bull KTM Ajo) delivering a standout performance in Jerez. The young Dutchman fired in a 1:39.101 lap to secure top spot in a fiercely contested qualifying session, edging out Alex Escrig (KLINT Racing Team) and championship leader Manuel Gonzalez (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP), with the front row separated by just 0.095 seconds.
Austin race winner and Friday’s fastest rider Senna Agius (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) heads up the second row in fourth after briefly holding provisional pole during Q2. He’ll be joined by Alonso Lopez (ITALJET Gresini Moto2) and David Alonso (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team), while Alonso’s teammate Daniel Holgado lines up just behind in seventh, putting both Aspar riders in the mix heading into race day.
Barry Baltus (REDS Fantic Racing) entered qualifying as a strong contender for pole but was unable to replicate his Austin form, settling for eighth on the grid. Meanwhile, Izan Guevara (BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2), currently second in the championship standings, originally qualified ninth but will drop to 12th after serving a three-place grid penalty, leaving him with work to do in Sunday’s race.
2026 Spanish MotoGP Results—Moto2 Qualifying
| 1 | Collin Veijer | NED | Red Bull KTM Ajo (Kalex) | 1m39.101s |
| 2 | Alex Escrig | SPA | KLINT Racing Team (Forward) | +0.057s |
| 3 | Manuel Gonzalez | SPA | LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP (Kalex) | +0.095s |
| 4 | Senna Agius | AUS | LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP (Kalex) | +0.154s |
| 5 | Alonso Lopez | SPA | ITALJET Gresini Moto2 (Kalex) | +0.155s |
| 6 | David Alonso | COL | CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team (Kalex) | +0.267s |
| 7 | Daniel Holgado | SPA | CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team (Kalex) | +0.326s |
| 8 | Barry Baltus | BEL | REDS Fantic Racing (Kalex) | +0.332s |
| 9 | Izan Guevara | SPA | BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2 (Boscoscuro) | +0.528s |
| 10 | Daniel Munoz | SPA | Italtrans Racing Team (Kalex) | +0.539s |
Moto3 Qualifying
Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) delivered a commanding performance in Moto3 qualifying at Jerez, firing in a 1:44.070 to secure pole position by a hefty 0.375s margin. With the track drying out in time for the session, the #28 proved untouchable. Returning from injury in style, David Muñoz (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) claimed second, while Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo) rounded out the front row in third.
After a damp start to Saturday, the Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto offered fully dry conditions for qualifying, although the timesheets showed larger gaps than typically seen in Moto3 as riders adjusted. Quiles’ benchmark lap edged close to the standing lap record of 1:43.710, while Muñoz couldn’t quite match the pace of the polesitter. Carpe secured his place on the front row just over half a second adrift.
The second row features more Spanish talent, with Joel Esteban (LEVELUP-MTA) taking fourth ahead of rookie Brian Uriarte (Red Bull KTM Ajo). Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) lines up sixth, matching Uriarte’s best time to the thousandth with a 1:45.049 despite riding a different package. Fernandez also suffered a crash in Q2, limiting his opportunity to improve.
Row three sees Joel Kelso (GRYD-MLav Racing) head the line in seventh, followed by David Almansa (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) and Matteo Bertelle (LEVELUP-MTA). Malaysian rider Hakim Danish completes the top ten for AEON Credit-MT Helmets-MSI.
2026 Spanish MotoGP Results—Moto3 Qualifying
| 1 | Maximo Quiles | SPA | CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team (KTM) | 1m44.070s |
| 2 | David Munoz | SPA | Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP (KTM) | +0.375s |
| 3 | Alvaro Carpe | SPA | Red Bull KTM Ajo (KTM) | +0.585s |
| 4 | Joel Esteban | SPA | LEVEL UP – MTA (KTM) | +0.766s |
| 5 | Brian Uriarte | SPA | Red Bull KTM Ajo (KTM) | +0.979s |
| 6 | Adrian Fernandez | SPA | Leopard Racing (Honda) | +0.979s |
| 7 | Joel Kelso | AUS | GRYD – MLav Racing (Honda) | +0.997s |
| 8 | David Almansa | SPA | Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP (KTM) | +1.029s |
| 9 | Matteo Bertelle | ITA | +1.082s | |
| 10 | Hakim Danish | MAL | AEON Credit- MT Helmets – MSI (KTM) | +1.203s |
Trackhouse confirms Ogura out
While Ai Ogura refused to comment on speculation linking him with a move to Yamaha in 2027, his current Team Manager Davide Brivio confirmed he is leaving Trackhouse Aprilia. “Ai has told us he’s not continuing with us next year,” he said.
On who could replace the Japanese rider, Brivio added, “I always like to work with rookies and to see them growing up,” said the Italian. “I feel that in the moment where Trackhouse is now, with this competitive bike, and we can try to aim for good results, it’s a time to try and get an experienced rider ready to go for the podium and to maybe try and win races. It looks like the bike can allow this to happen. It’s time to use this potential.”Maverick Viñales has emerged as a surprise candidate for the seat. It seems likely Raul Fernandez will continue with the team. “I have an important day tomorrow to think where I will be next year, and who will be in Trackhouse,” he said on Friday.
Turkey a possible MotoGP calendar addition?
Toprak Razgatlioglu is confident MotoGP could return to Turkey for the first time since 2007 after Formula1 confirmed it will return to the spectacular Istanbul Park next year.
Fingers crossed the Istanbul Parl track is back for 2027.The popularity of the reigning WorldSBK Champion coupled with Liberty Media, MotoGP’s new owners’, desires to take the series to new grounds mean a Turkish return is a distinct possibility.
“Maybe next year,” said Razgatlioglu when asked about a return to his homeland. “Maybe in ‘28. I don’t know. But we will see. If we improve (my performance) more this year, I’m pushing for the race next year! I need a good result in my home, you know?”
Rins out
Alex Rins could be heading for a MotoGP exit at the end of 2026 after it was confirmed he had lost his seat in Yamaha’s factory team for next year.
The Spaniard, who has endured a nightmare two seasons for the Iwata factory, learned he had lost his place to Ogura in a call with Team Manager Maio Meregalli. “When I called him, I asked him straight away, do you have any update, and he was like… He said, “I can’t say anything, I just say because I have a good relationship with you, we signed the second rider.”
Asked if he understood Yamaha’s decision, Rins said he was perplexed and feels he still has much to give. “If you know a little bit of motorbikes, it’s difficult to understand, because in a really new project, how you can have the future decided in just three races? With the bike not performing at 100%? I have a lot of potential still in this championship.”
Friday MotoGP
It’s been a tougher start to 2026 for Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) at times, but the #73’s Friday afternoon outing at the Estrella Galicia 0,0 Grand Prix of Spain saw him right back on top with some searing pace. The 2025 Spanish GP winner ended the opening day of MotoGP action in Jerez with a whopping 0.333s advantage over second fastest Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team), thanks to Marquez’s rapid 1:35.704. World Championship leader Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) completed the top three, while Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) faces Q1 for the first time this season in a session that unearthed plenty of talking points.
There was a slice of drama right from the off in MotoGP Practice after Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) slid down the road at Turn 1 on his first flying lap while shadowing 2025 Spanish GP winner Alex Marquez.
Not a start to the session the double MotoGP World Champion was after, but the same can’t be said for Di Giannantonio as the lead Ducati rider in the standings rose to an early P1, with Alex Marquez close behind – 0.046s to be exact.
Around the halfway stage, another MotoGP World Champion was in the gravel. This time, it was Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing). The notorious Jorge Lorenzo Corner, Turn 13, bit the rider second in the championship as the RS-GP front end washed away early from underneath the #89.
With 20 minutes to go, Di Giannantonio extended his narrow advantage to a much healthier 0.339s after the Italian slotted in some shiny new Michelin rubber, with a trio of HRC machines leaping into the top six having done the same. Johann Zarco (Castrol Honda LCR), Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) and the #36’s teammate Luca Marini were P3, P4 and P6, with reigning World Champion Marc Marquez sitting P5.
Practice really kicked into gear with 13 minutes to go when Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) and Bezzecchi forced their way into the top five, before Zarco, Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP), and Marini shuffed the Aprilia pair back down the order.
Then, step up Alex Marquez. Two consecutive fastest laps of the session saw the 2025 runner-up land a 1:35.704, within a tenth of the all-time lap record, which moved the goalposts. The gap with nine minutes to go? 0.563s to Di Giannantonio.
Riders with work to do to wrestle their way into the top 10 included Acosta, who endured a huge moment down at Turn 6 while pushing behind teammate Brad Binder. The Spaniard was P15 with six minutes to go, with Pecco P13, and Martin P19
With just under three minutes to go, we locked eyes on Pecco and Martin. The latter was shadowing his 2023 and 2024 title rival, and both improved their times. Considerably. Pecco went P3, while Martin pinched P5 before Bezzecchi shot up to P2, pushing Martin to P6.
This then left Marc Marquez down in P14, which became P15 when Acosta climbed the leaderboard – but only to P12. Shortly after, the #93 did lift himself into the top 10 with a time good enough for P3, but back to the Acosta watch, his final lap wasn’t enough. It was P15 for Acosta, and P16 for teammate Binder as the factory KTMs face Q1 on Saturday morning.
A dominant Alex Marquez is the rider to beat going into qualifying, with ‘Diggia’ and Bezzecchi sat inside the top three. Marc Marquez is 0.523s away from his younger brother in P4, and also lying half a second away from Friday’s pacesetter are Ogura, Bagnaia, Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team), Aldeguer, and Martin. The last of the automatic Q2 qualifiers? Enea Bastianini. The sole Red Bull KTM Tech3 rider on track this weekend gives the Austrian factory something to smile about at least.
Friday Moto2
Senna Agius (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) is the rider to beat heading into Saturday’s action at the Spanish Grand Prix after the Austin race winner slammed in a new Jerez Moto2 lap record in Practice. The Australian’s 1:38.973 was followed closely by Alonso Lopez’s (Italjet Gresini Moto2) best effort, the Spaniard sits 0.079s away from Agius after the opening day, with FP1 pacesetter Barry Baltus (REDS Fantic Racing) third quickest.
It was Baltus who topped the times in the early exchanges before Collin Veijer (Red Bull KTM Ajo) rose to P1 with what was briefly a new lap record, before Agius slotted in the fresh Pirelli rubber to move the goalposts in the closing stages. The #81 is the only rider to officially dip into the 1:38s in Jerez, and that time was only six tenths away from Alex Rins’ best lap in MotoGP FP1. Quite the performance.
It was the aforementioned Veijer who ended the session in P4 ahead of former World Championship leader Daniel Holgado (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team), with Izan Guevara (BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2) leaving it very late to climb into the top 14.
The rider second in the title race finished ahead of Daniel Muñoz (Italtrans Racing Team) and Mario Aji (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) in the top eight, with David Alonso (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) P9 after the Colombian destroyed his Kalex-Triumph machine at Turn 13 in FP1.
Friday Moto3
Perfection was the order of the day for Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) as the 18-year-old led the charge on the opening day of his home Grand Prix. P1 across both FP1 and Practice, the #28 has firmly laid down the gauntlet to the opposition ahead of Saturday’s qualifying sessions at Jerez.
Leading for the majority of the session, Quiles left it until late to assert his authority on Practice with a final flying lap seeing him complete a Friday clean sweep. David Muñoz (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) had a stellar return to action after missing the last two rounds, taking second and briefly leading the way a few minutes before the end of the session. A Spanish 1-2, Argentinean star Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM Tech3) got himself into the top three with an impressive lap, banishing any concerns he had after a difficult morning.
Behind the top three, it was a best Friday in more than a year for Matteo Bertelle (LEVELUP-MTA), with the Italian having been P2 in the morning before securing fourth and a Q2 spot in the afternoon. A welcome return for David Almansa (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) saw him round out the top five despite pain following on from his recent elbow fracture. Top Honda honours saw Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) in sixth place, just 0.405s adrift of Quiles in P1. There’s also a strong presence of full-time rookies in Q2, with Brian Uriarte (Red Bull KTM Ajo) in P7, Adrian Cruces (CIP GreenPower) in P8, Marco Morelli (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) in P10, Casey O’Gorman (SIC58 Squadra Corse) in P11 and Rico Salmela (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) in P12.
Outside of the top 14 and needing to go through Q1 for a chance at pole, the most recent new Grand Prix winner Guido Pini (Leopard Racing) is a big headline, along with Veda Pratama (Honda Team Asia) and 2025 Spanish GP podium finisher Joel Kelso (GRYD – MLav Racing). Scott Ogden (CIP GreenPower) was a late crasher at Turn 9 but scraped through into Q2 in P14.
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