Main Story

Marco Bezzecchi shattered the Lusail lap record to claim pole for the Qatar Grand Prix, edging championship leader Marc Márquez by 0.266 seconds. Márquez starts second with a chance to clinch the title this weekend, while third-place championship contender Jorge Martín qualified 11th.

By the Numbers
  • Bezzecchi’s pole lap: 1:50.028 — a new Lusail record.
  • Qualifying gap: Márquez, +0.266 seconds; Fabio Di Giannantonio, +0.299 seconds.
  • Championship standings: Márquez 399 points, Martín 355, Bezzecchi 332.
  • Three rounds remain: Qatar, Portugal and Valencia.
Yes, But

Bezzecchi’s fifth pole of the season strengthens his title bid, but he trails Márquez by 67 points with only three rounds left. Márquez can secure his eighth world title in Qatar if he outscores Martín by 30 points and Bezzecchi by eight across the Sprint and Grand Prix.

State of Play
  • The Sprint begins at 7 p.m. local time (11 a.m. ET); the 22-lap Grand Prix follows Sunday under the lights.
  • Márquez needs to outscore Martín by five points in the Sprint to keep a championship point alive for Sunday.
  • Martín starts 11th while recovering from a wrist injury; Brad Binder, who crashed in qualifying, starts 12th.
  • Only 18 riders are entered after Yamaha’s factory and Prima Pramac teams withdrew.
Bottom Line

Bezzecchi has the speed and pole position, but Márquez controls the title picture. The Sprint could decide whether the championship remains open through Sunday’s race.