In this article
Di Giannantonio Breaks Lusail Lap Record in Qatar Pre-Qualifying
Fabio Di Giannantonio secured the fastest time in MotoGP pre-qualifying for the Qatar Grand Prix, round 20 of the 2026 World Championship at Lusail International Circuit, establishing a new track lap record in the process. The Roman rider, competing aboard a Ducati for the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team, produced a benchmark lap of 1:50.406. That performance eclipsed the previous circuit record of 1:50.499, which had been set by Marc Marquez during the 2025 event. Marquez followed as Di Giannantonio's nearest pursuer, ending the session 0.142s adrift. The Spanish rider encountered mechanical trouble with 25 minutes remaining when the drive chain snapped on his Desmosedici GP motorcycle, though the machine was successfully returned to the pit garage. Marco Bezzecchi recorded the third-fastest time, finishing 0.260s away from the top spot after having led the classification earlier during the session.
Related posts
Bagnaia Resurges as Martin and Rivals Clinch Direct Q2 Berths
Three-time champion Francesco Bagnaia posted the fourth-best time for Ducati, recording a personal best effort of 1:50.792 to sit 0.386s behind Di Giannantonio. Bagnaia showed a notable resurgence in competitive form, slotting in directly ahead of Aprilia representative Raul Fernandez in fifth and Enea Bastianini in sixth, who steered the leading KTM RC16 machine. Jorge Martin achieved a successful return to action by finishing seventh, thereby earning direct entry into the final phase of qualifying. Martin had withdrawn from qualifying and the grand prix race in Malaysia just days earlier because of pain and a deficit of strength in his right hand, which he had fractured in Australia. Known as Martinator, he completed 18 laps during the session and turned in an individual best time of 1:51.041. Direct qualification into Q2 was also earned by Johann Zarco, who steered the Castrol Honda LCR RC213V to eighth, Ai Ogura aboard the second SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team Aprilia RS-GP26 in ninth, and Brad Binder for KTM Factory in tenth.
Aldeguer Misses Cut as Q1 Contenders and Stand-Ins Complete Running
The remainder of the field was relegated to the Q1 knockout phase. Fermin Aldeguer, returning aboard his #54 BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP Ducati, finished 11th and missed advancing straight to Q2 by only 0.038s. Franco Morbidelli followed in 12th for Pertamina Enduro VR46, with Luca Marini taking 13th for Honda HRC Castrol and Pedro Acosta struggling unexpectedly down in 14th on his Red Bull KTM Factory Racing entry, 1.169s off the summit. Maverick Viñales clocked the 15th fastest time for Red Bull KTM Tech3, placing ahead of Iker Lecuona, who is deputizing for the convalescing Alex Marquez on the BK8 Gresini Ducati. Honda LCR rookie Diogo Moreira placed 17th, followed by Jake Dixon, who is substituting for Joan Mir on the factory Honda bike. Dixon, who normally races in World Superbike for Honda, showed substantial progress relative to Friday's opening free practice session and wound up 1.987s off the benchmark.
Yamaha Absences Confirmed Due to Corporate Travel Policy
No Yamaha riders participated in the session, as the manufacturer withdrew entirely from the Qatar journey under a corporate travel policy related to conflict in the Middle East. That withdrawal meant absences for regular riders Fabio Quartararo, Alex Rins, and Jack Miller, as well as Augusto Fernandez, who had been scheduled to replace the injured Toprak Razgatlioglu.
