Álex Márquez Claims Friday Pace at Spanish GP as Pedro Acosta Heads to Q1
JEREZ DE LA FRONTERA, Spain — Reigning MotoGP runner-up Álex Márquez set the pace at the Spanish Grand Prix on Friday, leading the opening day of practice at Circuito de Jerez-Ángel Nieto while his compatriot Pedro Acosta failed to advance directly to Q2 and will contest Q1 for a grid spot.
The BK8 Gresini Racing rider topped the combined timesheets after FP1 and FP2, delivering a strong performance on a circuit where he claimed his maiden premier class victory exactly one year ago. Márquez’s consistency throughout Friday’s sessions gave him the edge over a competitive field, with only Acosta among the top contenders failing to secure an automatic Q2 berth.
Acosta, competing for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing in his second full MotoGP season, will need to navigate the repechage session on Saturday morning to earn a place in the top-ten shootout. The 21-year-old Murcian, a double world champion in Moto3 and Moto2, has shown flashes of pace this weekend but could not translate it into a direct Q2 invitation on Friday.
The Andalusian circuit, hosting its annual round of the MotoGP World Championship, presented typical spring conditions with variable wind affecting lap times throughout the day. Márquez adapted best to the evolving track surface, using his experience at Jerez to discover a rhythm that eluded several of his rivals.
His performance continues a resurgence for the 28-year-old Catalan rider, who followed up his Jerez win last year with victories in Catalonia and Malaysia to secure the 2025 MotoGP runners-up position behind Francesco Bagnaia. That consistency has carried into 2026, with Márquez positioning himself as a regular frontrunner for Gresini Racing.
For Acosta, the need to go through Q1 represents a minor setback in what has been a strong sophomore campaign. The rookie of the year in 2024 has already notched his first premier class victory this season at the Thailand Grand Prix and sits comfortably in the top six of the championship standings after four rounds.
The Q1 session will take place Saturday morning at 10:50 local time (08:50 UTC), giving Acosta and the other eliminated riders 20 minutes to battle for the four remaining spots in Q2. Saturday’s final practice begins at 10:30 local time (08:30 UTC), followed by qualifying split into Q1 and Q2 sessions determining the grid for Sunday’s 4:00 p.m. Local time (14:00 UTC) race.
Márquez will aim to convert his Friday advantage into a strong starting position, potentially challenging for pole position in Q2. A good grid slot would put him in contention to challenge for his second win at Jerez, adding to his growing list of premier class successes.
The Spanish Grand Prix weekend continues Saturday with the final practice and qualifying sessions, setting the stage for what promises to be another competitive round in the early stages of the 2026 MotoGP World Championship.
What are your thoughts on Márquez’s Friday pace and Acosta’s Q1 challenge? Share your predictions for Saturday’s qualifying and Sunday’s race in the comments below.
