Marc Márquez ended a 245-day wait for a MotoGP pole position by topping the timesheets in damp qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez on Saturday, April 25, 2026. The reigning world champion secured his 75th career pole in MotoGP with a lap of 1m48.087s, edging out Johann Zarco of LCR Honda by 0.140 seconds in a session marked by changing conditions and multiple incidents.
The Ducati Lenovo Team rider had warned on Friday that he was not in contention for a podium finish due to ongoing recovery from injury, but the wet track at Circuito de Jerez-Ángel Nieto played to his strengths in adverse conditions. Márquez’s pole ends the longest drought of his premier career, with his previous pole coming at the Hungarian Grand Prix in 2025.
Johann Zarco, who had dominated the opening stages of qualifying, looked set to claim pole after improving to a 1m48.227s in the final moments of Q2. However, Márquez responded with a decisive final lap to retake the top spot, while Zarco lost time in the last corner, settling for second on the grid. Fabio Di Giannantonio completed the front row for the VR46 Ducati team, finishing 0.870 seconds behind Márquez in third.
Championship leader Marco Bezzecchi missed the front row by just 0.018s in fourth aboard his Aprilia, while Alex Márquez recovered from a Friday crash to claim fifth. Pedro Acosta took sixth for KTM after setting the early pace in Q2, and Jorge Martin initially qualified seventh but will start 10th on the grid due to a three-place penalty incurred after crashing at Turn 1 during Q2.
The qualifying session was interrupted briefly after a technical issue for Franco Morbidelli at the complete of Q1 required circuit inspections. Conditions remained damp throughout, with no further rain between Q1 and Q2, but the track was not dry enough for slick tires, forcing all competitors to use intermediates or wets. Times remained over 10 seconds off the dry pace benchmark set during Friday practice.
Márquez’s pole represents a significant psychological boost as he seeks to end a winless streak dating back to the 2025 San Marino Grand Prix. The Spaniard, who has won seven MotoGP world championships (2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2025), will start alongside Zarco and Di Giannantonio on the front row for Sunday’s race, with Bezzecchi looking to extend his winning streak to six consecutive Grands Prix.
The incident-filled session saw multiple riders go down, including Jorge Martin’s crash at Turn 1 and Alex Márquez’s earlier fall on Friday that had initially hampered his preparations. Despite the challenges, Márquez maintained composure to deliver a lap that combined precision and aggression in the treacherous conditions.
With the grid now set, attention turns to the race itself, where Márquez will aim to convert pole position into his first victory of the 2026 season. The Spanish Grand Prix is scheduled to begin at 14:00 local time (12:00 UTC) on Sunday, April 26, 2026, at the Circuito de Jerez-Ángel Nieto in Andalusia, Spain.
For continuing coverage of the 2026 MotoGP season, including race results, technical analysis, and rider updates, visit archysport.com’s dedicated motorsport section. Share your thoughts on Márquez’s return to pole position in the comments below.
