MotoGP Starting Grid in Jerez: Penalty for a Top Rider, Marquez on Pole

Here’s the starting grid for MotoGP in Jerez: Marc Marquez will start from pole position, but several riders have been penalized.

After a break of about a month, MotoGP returned to action with the Spanish Grand Prix. At Jerez de la Frontera — one of the most historic and spectacular circuits on the calendar — an explosive race is expected, especially after the chaos of the Sprint.

Qualifying Summary

Jerez delivered a far-from-predictable qualifying session. Marquez set a perfect lap in damp conditions with a 1:48.087, putting everyone behind him and rediscovering his feeling with the Ducati GP26. Behind him, Johann Zarco delivered a strong performance, finishing just +0.140. Further back, Fabio Di Giannantonio secured a front-row start despite being over a second off.

Just behind are Marco Bezzecchi and Alex Marquez, very close to each other, while Pedro Acosta completes the second row. Further down the order are Jorge Martin — currently second in the championship — and an impressive Enea Bastianini, with Raul Fernandez completing the top 9. A disappointing session for Francesco Bagnaia, only tenth (later promoted to ninth due to Martin’s penalty), now facing a difficult comeback.

Sprint Recap

A Sprint session of total chaos: at the start Bezzecchi spins up, while Martin retires on lap 2 due to brake issues. On lap 6 the rain begins, and from there everything happens: Marc Marquez crashes, then gets back up, cuts across the track and safely enters the pits to switch bikes.

With multiple crashes (including Acosta, Bezzecchi, and Alex Marquez, who was leading at the time) and bike changes, the order was completely shaken up. Marc Marquez still managed to win despite the crash, ahead of Bagnaia and Morbidelli.

Updates and Penalties

Jorge Martin will receive a three-place grid penalty for Sunday’s race.

Joan Mir has also been penalized: during FP2, the Spanish rider rejoined the track with a damaged bike, not respecting marshal flags. As a result, the 2020 world champion will have to serve two long lap penalties.

UPDATE SAT 20:14 — Third penalty added: Toprak Razgatlioglu penalised after Sprint contact with Lorenzo Savadori.

Starting Grid

Here is the full MotoGP starting grid in Jerez:

1. Marc Marquez – Ducati Lenovo Team – 01:48.087
2. Johann Zarco – Castrol Honda LCR – +0.140
3. Fabio Di Giannantonio – Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team – +1.010
4. Marco Bezzecchi – Aprilia Racing – +1.028
5. Alex Marquez – BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP – +1.059
6. Pedro Acosta – Red Bull KTM Factory Racing – +1.143
7. Enea Bastianini – Red Bull KTM Tech3 – +2.377
8. Raul Fernandez – Trackhouse MotoGP Team – +2.437
9. Francesco Bagnaia – Ducati Lenovo Team – +2.940
10. Jorge Martin – Aprilia Racing – +1.422 (PENALTY)
11. Ai Ogura – Trackhouse MotoGP Team – +3.023
12. Fermin Aldeguer – BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP – +3.357
13. Brad Binder – Red Bull KTM Factory Racing – +1.011
14. Joan Mir – Honda HRC Castrol – +1.255
15. Luca Marini – Honda HRC Castrol – +1.536
16. Augusto Fernandez – Yamaha Factory Racing – +1.710
17. Fabio Quartararo – Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team – +1.872
18. Franco Morbidelli – Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team – +1.952
19. Toprak Razgatlioglu – Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP – +1.985
20. Lorenzo Savadori – Aprilia Racing – +2.123
21. Alex Rins – Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team – +2.496
22. Jack Miller – Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP – +10.674
23. Diogo Moreira – Pro Honda LCR – NC

Foto: MotoGP, Ducati Corse

Di

Stefano Zambroni

4015 articles published in GPKingdom

Nato a Lecco nel 2003, ho fondato GPKingdom nel 2021. Da allora racconto il mondo delle corse e, insieme al team di GPK, costruisco spazi dove i fan possono viverlo da protagonisti.

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