Marc Marquez Dominates Qatar MotoGP Qualifying With Record-Breaking Lap
Eight-time world champion Marc Marquez continued his flawless 2025 MotoGP qualifying streak by storming to pole position at the Lusail International Circuit for the Qatar Grand Prix. The Factory Ducati rider set a blistering lap time of 1:50.499, smashing the all-time lap record and outpacing his younger brother, Alex Marquez, by just 0.101 seconds in a thrilling final-minute shootout.
MotoGP 2025 Qatar GP (Lusail) Qualifying Results:
- Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo) : 1’50.499s
- Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Ducati) : +0.101s
- Fabio Quartararo (Monster Yamaha) : +0.260s
- Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina VR46 Ducati) : +0.311s
- Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina VR46 Ducati) : +0.430s
- Maverick Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech3) : +0.560s
- Johann Zarco (Castrol Honda LCR) : +0.614s
- Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Ducati) : +0.622s
- Alex Rins (Monster Yamaha) : +0.675s
- Ai Ogura (Trackhouse Aprilia) : +0.841s
- Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo) : +1.081s
- Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM) : +1.181s
- Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) : 1’51.553s
- Jorge Martin (Aprilia Factory) : 1’51.655s
- Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol) : 1’51.728s
- Jack Miller (Pramac Yamaha) : 1’51.735s
- Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse Aprilia) : 1’51.822s
- Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM) : 1’51.947s
- Augusto Fernandez (Pramac Yamaha) : 1’51.975s
- Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech3) : 1’52.178s
- Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) : 1’52.205s
- Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda LCR) : 1’53.244s
Marquez Brothers Lock Out Front Row
In a nail-biting conclusion to Q2, Alex Marquez had looked set for pole with a sensational 1m50.600s lap, only for Marc to snatch it away on his final flying lap, aided by a slipstream from Franco Morbidelli. The pair will line up 1-2 on the grid, replicating their front-row dominance from earlier rounds.
Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo delivered a surprise resurgence, securing third and marking Yamaha’s first front-row start of the season. The Frenchman briefly held provisional pole before being relegated to P3 in the final seconds.
Strong Showings from VR46 and KTM
Franco Morbidelli will start fourth, narrowly ahead of his VR46 teammate Fabio Di Giannantonio, while Maverick Viñales ensured KTM representation in the top six, continuing his strong form around the Lusail track.
Honda’s Johann Zarco led the charge for the Japanese manufacturer, qualifying seventh. Rookie sensation Fermin Aldeguer impressed once again in eighth, while Quartararo’s teammate Alex Rins rounded out the third row in ninth.
Crash Derails Bagnaia’s Chances
Francesco Bagnaia was expected to challenge the Marquez brothers for pole, but a costly crash at Turn 1 during his second flying lap left him down in 11th. The reigning world champion will have his work cut out starting from the fourth row.
Another rookie Ai Ogura, who topped Q1, took tenth place in Q2, ahead of Bagnaia and KTM’s Pedro Acosta in twelfth.
Disappointments for Martin, Binder, and Mir
Reigning world champion Jorge Martin, making his return after injury, failed to advance from Q1 and will start 14th, just behind Marco Bezzecchi. KTM’s Brad Binder struggled to 18th, while Honda’s Joan Mir endured a dismal session, qualifying a lowly 21st.
What’s Next?
With the grid now set, riders will line up under the floodlights for the 11-lap Sprint race scheduled at 8 PM local time. All eyes will be on whether Marc Marquez can convert his record-setting pace into his first Sprint win of the season, or if the Marquez brothers will go head-to-head for the top step.
