Starting grid for the 2026 Thai MotoGP Sprint race

The front row of the grid for this afternoon’s season-opening 2026 Thai MotoGP Sprint race will see Ducati’s reigning champion Marc Marquez sandwiched between the Aprilias of pole qualifier Marco Bezzecchi and third-place Raul Fernandez.

The factory-spec VR46 Ducati of Fabio di Giannantonio leads row two ahead of Bezzecchi’s Aprilia team-mate Jorge Martin and KTM’s Pedro Acosta.

Row three sees last year’s double Buriram runner-up Alex Marquez (Gresini Ducati), starting alongside Ai Ogura (Trackhouse Aprilia) and Franco Morbidelli (VR46 Ducati).

The Hondas of Joan Mir and Johann Zarco line-up either side of KTM’s Brad Binder on row four, with Marc Marquez’s team-mate Francesco Bagnaia just 13th on the grid.

Rookie Diogo Moreira will begin his first premier-class race from 15th.

Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT

A mix of Yamahas and Tech3 KTMs then fill places 16th (Fabio Quartararo) to 21st (WorldSBK champion Toprak Razgatlioglu).

Ducati test rider Michele Pirro, replacing the injured Fermin Aldeguer at Gresini this weekend, has a three-place grid penalty for Sunday’s grand prix after ‘disrupting’ team-mate Alex Marquez while riding slowly on the racing line in Friday practice.

However, it will have no impact on Pirro’s starting position, after qualifying 22nd and last.

2026 Thai Sprint race: Full MotoGP starting gridPosRiderNatTeamRow 1:   1Marco BezzecchiITAAprilia Racing (RS-GP26)2Marc MarquezSPADucati Lenovo (GP26)3Raul FernandezSPATrackhouse Aprilia (RS-GP26)Row 2:   4Fabio Di GiannantonioITAPertamina VR46 Ducati (GP26)5Jorge MartinSPAAprilia Racing (RS-GP26)6Pedro AcostaSPARed Bull KTM (RC16)Row 3:   7Alex MarquezSPABK8 Gresini Ducati (GP26)8Ai OguraJPNTrackhouse Aprilia (RS-GP26)9Franco MorbidelliITAPertamina VR46 Ducati (GP25)Row 4:   10Joan MirSPAHonda HRC Castrol (RC213V)11Brad BinderRSARed Bull KTM (RC16)12Johann ZarcoFRACastrol Honda LCR (RC213V)Row 5:   13Francesco BagnaiaITADucati Lenovo (GP26)14Luca MariniITAHonda HRC Castrol (RC213V)15Diogo MoreiraBRAPro Honda LCR (RC213V)*Row 6:   16Fabio QuartararoFRAMonster Yamaha (YZR-M1)17Maverick ViñalesSPARed Bull KTM Tech3 (RC16)18Jack MillerAUSPramac Yamaha (YZR-M1)Row 7:   19Alex RinsSPAMonster Yamaha (YZR-M1)20Enea BastianiniITARed Bull KTM Tech3 (RC16)21Toprak RazgatliogluTURPramac Yamaha (YZR-M1)*Row 8:   22Michele PirroITABK8 Gresini Ducati (GP25)

*Rookie.

Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT

Subscribe to our MotoGP Newsletter