07.11.2026
MotoGP 2026 - Round 20 of 22, Lusail International Circuit – Qualification and Sprint
Pedro Acosta gassed his KTM RC16 to 6th position in the twentieth Sprint of the 2026 MotoGP season today, illuminated by the impressive lighting of the Lusail International Circuit for the Grand Prix of Qatar. The Spaniard fought for 4 points around the 5.4km layout as Enea Bastianini also placed inside the top eight with 8th place. Moto3™ qualification belonged to world champion Max Quiles but Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Brian Uriarte was 3rd quickest and less than half a second from Pole.
Highlights and key moments from Lusail:
- Pedro Acosta leads the orange squad once more and, after taking 8th position in qualification, manages to steer his #37 motorcycle to the top six in a dramatic Sprint on Saturday evening
- Enea Bastianini races to 8th after making Q2 and setting off from 10th on the grid
- 12th for Brad Binder who crosses the finish line three positions ahead of Maverick Viñales
- Moto3 Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Brian Uriarte will set off from the first row of the start grid on Sunday, one slot ahead of teammate Alvaro Carpe
Since 2004 Lusail International Circuit has represented a signature stop for MotoGP in the Middle East. Modifications to the floodlit and pacey track in the last half a decade mean that the venue is one of the most advanced and modern motorsport facilities on the current Grand Prix calendar.
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing and Red Bull KTM Tech3 arrived from the heat of Malaysia during the week. The third fixture in a row was complicated by Lusail’s usual challenges of changing track temperatures and humidity (from dusk to evening) as well as abrasive asphalt. Bastianini and Binder pushed through Practice to earn top ten lap-times and direct passage to Q2. Acosta sought more traction and had to accept Q1 for only the third time in 2026. He was joined by countryman Viñales.
Q1 and Q2 allowed Acosta to progress and find crucial speed and grip. He moved through the first period and then found the 8th best lap-time as records were smashed in Q2. Bastianini was fast enough for P10 and the top of the fourth row while Brad suffered a crash into Turn 1 and ranked 12th. Viñales qualified in 18th as he continued to manage his injured left should through the four prominent left corners.
The Sprint lasted for 11 laps but had to be restarted after a collision caused an accident into the final turn. A frantic tussle for the podium then took place between six riders with Acosta also in the mix. The sextet started to separate in the final phases of the Sprint and Pedro managed to beat Ai Ogura to P6 by two tenths of a second. Bastianini was just adrift of the fight, at the head of the second group, and the Italian banked P8, less than a second from the rear wheel of Acosta.
Binder lapped in a dispute for the top ten and was close to snaring the last point. The South African was 12th while Viñales managed to bring the #12 machine to the flag in 15th.
MotoGP will rush around Lusail for 22 laps from 17.00 CET.
Pedro Acosta, 8th in qualification, 6th in the Sprint: “We turned the weekend around; it looks like. FP2 was quite good and Q1 was not a disaster but we had a problem in Q2. Then the first start was good but then afterward I was suffering to make the tire work. We have to understand why. Anyway, I feel much better than yesterday and without the red flag I think we had possibilities for more. Maybe not the podium but to make it to 4th. We’ll see tomorrow.”
Enea Bastianini, 10th in qualification, 8th in the Sprint: “It’s been tough today. Especially this afternoon because we tried to work with the medium tires but I was very slow. When we changed to the soft it was much better, and also in terms of grip but, anyway, for the race we were sure about the choice because last year the guys with the soft made a big mistake. We tried the medium but it was like my expectations, and I had vibration. We have to see for tomorrow.”
Brad Binder, 12th in qualification, 12th in the Sprint: “I went out for Quali with the idea that the front end could stick with the new tire and lost it into Turn 1. I came back to the pits and managed only one flying lap on the second bike. I thought we could do much better in the race but I had chatter. It looked like some of the guys around me also had it. A bit strange but then also a bit normal here in Qatar as the track evolves it changes quite a lot actually. We have some homework to do then we’ll open the gas tomorrow and see.”
Maverick Viñales, 18th in qualification, 15th in the Sprint: “It’s difficult to accept days like today, especially when I know I’m capable of so much more. I’m really frustrated because I’m not able to ride at my level right now. Physically I’m still struggling, and it’s becoming harder to understand what’s happening with the bike when I can’t push the way I want to. It’s not an easy situation, but I’m trying to give 100% every time I go out on track.”
Aki Ajo, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager: “A really action-packed day with an exciting Sprint, and they always get a bit lively with a restart. Our expectations were a little higher today but we cannot be too disappointed when the riders are 6th, 8th and 12th and 15th but we want something more. We need to analyze the race and understand where we struggling and try to make the right decision for Sunday to reach the targets we made for the weekend.”
Grand Prix of Qatar photographs can be found HERE
Results Qualifying MotoGP Grand Prix of Qatar
1. Marco Bezzecchi (ITA) Aprilia 1:50.028
2. Marc Marquez (ESP) Ducati +0.266
3. Fabio Di Giannantonio (ITA) Ducati +0.299
8. Pedro Acosta (ESP) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing +0.844
10. Enea Bastianini (ITA) Red Bull KTM Tech3 +0.973
12. Brad Binder (RSA) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing +1.876
18. Maverick Viñales (ESP) Red Bull KTM Tech3 1:51.991 (Q1)
Results MotoGP Sprint Grand Prix of Qatar
1. Marc Marquez (ESP) Ducati 18:46.450
2. Fabio Di Giannantonio (ITA) Ducati +0.862
3. Jorge Martin (ESP) Aprilia +1.519
6. Pedro Acosta (ESP) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing +4.664
8. Enea Bastianini (ITA) Red Bull KTM Tech3 +5.582
12. Brad Binder (RSA) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing +9.483
15. Maverick Viñales (ESP) Red Bull KTM Tech3 +13.483
KTM GP Academy
Moto3 circulated Lusail in the afternoon of each day and endured the warmest conditions. For Brian Uriarte and Rico Salmela the layout was another fresh discovery in their rookie season while Alvaro Carpe and Valentin Perrone collected points in their maiden attempt in 2025.
Through practice and qualification Uriarte achieved the superior pace among the KTM GP Academy. The Spaniard was 0.4 of a second from P1 but Carpe was just as swift and rested with P4 on the grid, 0.1 from his countryman. Salmela got the better of Perrone for P10 and the first space on the fourth row.
Moto2™ fired engines for Collin Veijer (who finished 13th for his debut in the category at Qatar 2025, which was only round four of the campaign) and Jose Antonio Rueda after strong performances at Sepang the previous Sunday. The Dutchman roamed the peak of the time sheets on both Friday and Saturday and eventually posted the 5th best lap; 0.3 from P1 on the front row. The Spaniard was lively and confident, and his chrono attack resulted in P8. P5 and P8 represents one of the team’s highest joint qualifiers of the season.
Results Qualifying Moto3 Grand Prix of Qatar
1. Maximo Quiles (ESP) CFMOTO Aspar Team 2:02.288
2. David Almansa (ESP), KTM +0.155
3. Brian Uriarte (ESP), Red Bull KTM Ajo +0.495
4. Alvaro Carpe (ESP), Red Bull KTM Ajo +0.616
10. Rico Salmela (FIN), Red Bull KTM Tech3 +1.336
11. Valentin Perrone (ARG) Red Bull KTM Tech3 +1.356
18. Marco Morelli (ARG) CFMOTO Aspar Team +2.933
Results Qualifying Moto2 Grand Prix of Qatar
1. Alex Escrig (ESP) 1:55.241
2. Manuel Gonzalez (ESP) +0.126
3. Daniel Holgado (ESP) CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team +0.233
5. Collin Veijer (NED) Red Bull KTM Ajo +0.338
8. Jose Antonio Rueda (ESP) Red Bull KTM Ajo +0.643
12. David Alonso (COL) CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team +0.705
PRESS CONTACT
Evangelia Sissis
PR Manager MotoGP
+43 676 665 2742