Alex Marquez Takes Pole Position at Catalan MotoGP

Alex Marquez smashes lap record

Alex Marquez secures pole position at the Catalan MotoGP with a record-breaking lap. Read more.

“That front row was the main target. I already understood yesterday and this morning that Alex had a bit more than us, especially in turn four...”

Gresini Racing's Alex Marquez made a stunning comeback by claiming pole position at the Catalan Grand Prix, smashing the lap record with a blistering time of 1:37.536. This impressive performance marks his first pole in nearly 900 days, with his last pole position being at the Argentine Grand Prix in April 2023.

Alex Marquez will share the front row with Yamaha's Fabio Quartararo, who secured second place with a time of 1:37.803, and his brother Marc Marquez, who took third place with a time of 1:37.945. Marc Marquez, the championship leader, holds a 175-point lead over his younger brother Alex in the championship standings.

The qualifying session didn't go well for reigning champion Pecco Bagnaia, who struggled to find his rhythm and slumped to 21st place, his worst qualifying performance in three years. This setback puts him at a significant disadvantage in the championship battle, and he'll need a strong recovery to salvage his weekend.

“That was really special and really important to be in the front row today, especially because we had a really good pace during the weekend,” said a beaming Alex, who has not had a podium finish in the last three rounds.

⏱️@alexmarquez73 smashes the all-time lap record to take his second #MotoGP pole! 🔥#CatalanGP 🏁 pic.twitter.com/MurzpPDhoc

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) September 6, 2025

“Happy we put everything together but now comes the important moment -- the sprint race and the long race where the points are there on the table. So we need to be really concentrated.”

The qualifying session for the Catalan MotoGP was intense, with Fabio Quartararo initially setting the lap record in Q1. This impressive performance allowed him to advance to Q2 alongside Fabio Di Giannantonio. However, Pedro Acosta briefly seized the top spot with a new lap record, only to have it canceled due to exceeding track limits.

Alex Marquez then took the lead with a stunning lap time of 1 minute and 37.536 seconds, securing pole position. Marquez's exceptional performance left the Gresini garage ecstatic. Quartararo managed to claim the front row spot alongside Marquez, while Marc Marquez secured third place, setting the stage for an exciting race.

“That front row was the main target. I already understood yesterday and this morning that Alex had a bit more than us, especially in turn four,” Marc said.

“He's super fast on the last two corners. But let's see, we start on the front row, it will be a big help for the race.”

Marc Marquez pushed hard to snatch pole position from his brother Alex, but his final qualifying lap was cut short. As he approached a challenging turn, Marc nearly lost control of his bike, barely managing to stay upright with an incredible save. Realizing the risk was too high, he prudently decided to abandon his lap, settling for third place on the grid behind Alex and Fabio Quartararo.

Francesco Bagnaia's championship hopes seem to be dwindling, with him trailing Marc Marquez by a significant margin. The Italian rider's struggles have been evident, particularly in qualifying sessions. His recent performance was his worst in three years, leaving him 21st on the grid. This setback has made it challenging for him to compete in both the sprint and main races.

Bagnaia's difficulties stem from his struggles with the Ducati GP25. Despite being a two-time world champion, he's found it tough to adapt to the bike's dynamics. His teammate, Marc Marquez, has outperformed him consistently, making it harder for Bagnaia to regain his footing in the championship.

1:37.536 🔥🔥🔥🔥@alexmarquez73 absolutely smashing it at a crucial time! #CatalanGP 🏁 pic.twitter.com/9ATeu1hWkx

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) September 6, 2025

Championship Standings

The championship standings reflect Bagnaia's struggles, with him sitting 227 points behind his teammate Marquez. This significant gap highlights the challenges Bagnaia faces in catching up and reclaiming the top spot. Marquez's impressive performance has put him in a strong position, leaving Bagnaia to ponder his season's trajectory.