MotoGP Recap - the title fight continues as Bezzecchi takes the win in Qatar
12 November 2026Yamaha issues statement regarding Grand Prix of Qatar
Round Twenty of the 2026 MotoGP season saw riders back under the floodlights at the Lusail International Circuit for the Qatar Airways Grand Prix of Qatar.
The MotoGP grid was reduced to 18 bikes this weekend, due to Yamaha’s ongoing company-wide travel ban preventing all four riders from the two Yamaha MotoGP teams from taking part in the Grand Prix weekend.
After Jorge Martin and Raul Fernandez had to withdraw from last weekend’s action due to injuries, both were declared fit to return to racing, bringing Aprilia back up to four riders on the grid.
Fermin Aldeguer also returned to the MotoGP paddock this weekend, following recovery from a hand injury, however the BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP team was still not back to their usual lineup. Following persistent issues with his right shoulder, Alex Marquez made the decision to miss the race weekend to undergo surgery, with the aim of returning to compete in Portugal. Marquez’s absence meant Iker Lecuona, who had been filling in for Aldeguer, was instead racing for the other side of the team’s garage.
After Joan Mir began experiencing symptoms of his illness again during last weekend’s action in Malaysia, he also made the decision to not compete this weekend, to focus on his recovery. Filling the position in the HRC Honda Castrol garage was British rider Jake Dixon, who competes with Honda in the WorldSBK Championship. Dixon became the sole factory Honda rider on the grid on Sunday, as Luca Marini was forced to withdraw from the Grand Prix due to ongoing fatigue.
Sprint red-flagged following opening lap incident
Saturday’s Sprint was red-flagged following an incident during the opening lap, with Francesco Bagnaia being wiped out from behind as Fermin Aldeguer attempted to pass Pedro Acosta. Bagnaia was reported as conscious at the site of the crash, and was later confirmed to have multiple fractures in his right foot, and subsequently withdrew from Sunday’s Grand Prix. Ducati have since confirmed that Bagnaia would be returning to Italy to undergo surgery.
As less than three laps had been completed, the Sprint was to be restarted using the quick start procedure. Aldeguer was given a double long lap penalty to serve during the Sprint, for causing the incident.
Marquez takes victory in dramatic restarted Sprint
Whilst it was polesitter Marco Bezzecchi who got the holeshot during the first Sprint start, Marc Marquez took the lead of the restarted Sprint, followed closely behind by Bezzecchi and Fabio Di Giannantonio. Perhaps most impressively though, the end of Lap 1 saw Jorge Martin already running in 6th, having started 11th on the grid. It wasn’t long before Martin had gained another position, after a brief battle with Raul Fernandez on Lap 2 saw him move up into 5th.
At the front, Lap 2 also saw Bezzecchi’s first challenge for the lead, though Marquez was able to get back through at the final corner, seeing him leading again at the beginning of the third lap, whilst behind them, Martin got through on Zarco to move up to 4th. Bezzecchi’s next attempt at taking over at the front came on Lap 4, but this time, had catastrophic results. As Marquez took a wider line into Turn 1, Bezzecchi attempted to go up the inside. With Marquez then coming back onto the line, there was contact between the two riders, with Bezzecchi falling, his Sprint over.
Amongst the drama, Martin was suddenly up to 2nd, and moments later at Turn 6, he took the lead of the Sprint. Marquez was keen to stay ahead of his main Championship rival though, and quickly got back in front, with Martin back to 2nd, with Di Giannantonio running in 3rd, who began closing in. With Martin struggling with his tyres during the final laps, Di Giannantonio was able to get through on the final lap, to take 2nd, with Martin achieving an astonishing podium finish that nobody was expecting, just two weeks after breaking his wrist. With Marquez taking the win and Martin finishing 3rd, Marquez would have his first opportunity to secure the 2026 MotoGP World Championship the following day, if he won the Grand Prix and Martin failed to score points.
Bezzecchi keeps title hopes alive with Grand Prix win
After Saturday’s DNF, Bezzecchi redeemed himself by leading from lights to flag on Sunday, taking his sixth Grand Prix victory of the season, becoming the first rider to win their first twelve Grands Prix at twelve different circuits, but most importantly, keeping his name in the title fight.
With sixteen riders starting Sunday's Grand Prix, Bezzecchi got a strong start, as Raul Fernandez attacked Marquez into Turn 2 to move into 2nd, a strong start for Aprilia. Behind Marquez in 3rd, an intense battle was taking place between Pedro Acosta, Ai Ogura, Enea Bastianini and Johann Zarco, with Jorge Martin watching on, whilst scuffling with Di Giannantonio for 8th, with Di Giannantonio coming out on top. Once Acosta was comfortable in 4th, he soon began closing in on Marquez, and Lap 3 saw him make his move. But on Lap 6, Acosta went wide, seemingly due to tyre pressure worries, allowing Marquez through and into 3rd.
With Bezzecchi setting a commanding pace at the front, Fernandez was also riding well in 2nd, and had built a gap of 3.283s back to Marquez by Lap 7. However, after Marquez was through on Acosta, his sights were firmly set on catching up to Fernandez. As the laps counted down, Marquez rode well to reduce the distance between the two riders, and with four laps remaining,
Marquez was right on the back of Fernandez’s rear tyre. Going down the straight he was able to glide straight past and up into 2nd, with Fernandez unable to challenge. There was nothing Marquez could do to catch up to Bezzecchi though, with the Italian winning with a 3.083s advantage over Marquez in 2nd, with Fernandez picking up an excellent comeback podium with 3rd. Further down the order, Martin picked up nine points with a 7th place finish, whilst Jake Dixon finished 14th, scoring two points in his first MotoGP race with Honda. As Marquez didn’t take the win, and Martin finished in a point-scoring position, the MotoGP title fight continues into the next round.
Holgado battles to second Moto2 win of the season
Daniel Holgado picked up his second win of the season after a well-fought battle during Sunday’s Moto2 race. After a good start, Holgado was ahead going into the first corner from 2nd on the grid, but Alex Escrig, who had secured his maiden pole position, was quick to take back the lead. Holgado was left to battle with Daniel Muñoz and Championship leader Manuel Gonzalez. Holgado’s teammate David Alonso then joined the fight, the CFMoto Power Electronics Aspar Team duo emerging in 2nd and 3rd by the end of Lap 5. With a gap of 0.839s to Escrig up ahead, the CFMoto pair worked to close the gap, whilst also passing each other, with Alonso getting ahead during Lap 8. Holgado managed to take back the position on Lap 10, and attempted to break away from his teammate and catch up to Escrig. Holgado was able to close the gap, and on Lap 14, the move was made. After Escrig had been leading for much of the race, Holgado took over at the front, and immediately began eking out a gap. Escrig’s race then took another turn as Ivan Ortola, who had been riding a brilliant race from 13th on the grid, had made his way up to 3rd and was eyeing up a potential 2nd place finish. The final lap saw Escrig desperately clinging on to 2nd with Ortola right behind him, and coming out of the final corner, Ortola beat Escrig to the chequered flag, taking 2nd, with Escrig finishing just 0.020s between him in 3rd.
Meanwhile, a technical issue for Izan Guevara with four laps to go saw his race end prematurely, his opportunities to take the lead of the Moto2 Championship standings dwindling. The difference in points between Gonzalez and Guevara now stands at 13.5, after Gonzalez finished 6th on Sunday. With just two rounds remaining, Gonzalez will have his first chance at securing the Moto2 World Championship next time out.
Almansa dominates to take Moto3 win
David Almansa took his fourth Moto3 win of the season, solidifying his position of 2nd in the Championship standings, after an absolutely dominant performance that saw him lead every lap on Sunday before reaching the chequered flag 2.516s ahead of the field. After Almansa’s strong start saw him take an early lead, six riders formed a group behind him, with Brian Uriarte, Adrian Fernandez, David Muñoz, Maximo Quiles, Alvaro Carpe and Rico Salmela all beginning their fight for the final two podium spots. Two riders were taken out of contention for the podium on
Lap 2, as Muñoz tried to go up the inside of Uriarte and tagged him, causing Uriarte to fall. Whilst he was able to rejoin, Uriarte was far away from podium contention, eventually finishing 14th. Muñoz was handed a long lap penalty for causing the crash, and was later given a double long lap penalty for a second offence - causing a crash that ended Eddie O'Shea's race.
By Lap 5, Quiles and Fernandez were firmly in 2nd and 3rd, and the two began creating their own gap back to Carpe, though Almansa’s incredible pace saw him continue to increase his gap back to them, and by Lap 9 it was sitting at 1.830s. After several laps of wanting to make a move on Quiles, Fernandez did exactly that, with Quiles running wide and giving him the perfect opportunity. With Almansa’s untouchable pace securing him the win, Fernandez took a well-earned 2nd, whilst Quiles was forced to settle for 3rd. Just out of podium contention, the final laps saw an intense battle for 4th between Kelso, Carpe, and Pratama, ultimately going the way of Pratama.
With just two rounds of the 2026 season to go, teams and riders get a short break before travelling to Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, for the Repsol Grand Prix of Portugal. Three riders remain in contention for the 2026 MotoGP World Championship title, but Marquez is edging closer to taking his eighth MotoGP Championship title, with a 60 point advantage over Martin, with Bezzecchi a further 14 points behind. Will Marquez be crowned MotoGP World Champion next time out?
