MotoGP Qatar qualifying results | Marquez beaten by Aprilia
Bezzecchi made a statement (Credit: Red Bull Content Pool)
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Connor Andrews is Formula 1 and MotoGP writer for GPblog and various outlets. Having worked in motorsport for 15 years for leading companies, he has interviewed the sports biggest names and attended multiple Grands Prix.
Marc Marquez won’t be having it his own way at the Qatar Grand Prix, having been beaten to pole position by title rival Marco Bezzecchi.
The Aprilia rider stunned with an early lap record of 1:50.028, keeping his faint championship hopes alive, with Marquez just behind.
The man closest to title leader Marquez, Jorge Martin, could only muster 11th as he attempts to race through injury.
Martin needs seven points to keep his championship alive despite a broken wrist.
The 2024 champion already surprised with competitive pace in Lusail, having had to pull out on Saturday in Malaysia a week ago.
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However, he left it until his final run to try to move up the order, but was unable to do so, and blamed KTM's Pedro Acosta for disrupting his late attempt.
Martin is 44 points behind Marquez in the championship, while teammate and pole sitter Bezzecchi is 67 points back.
The Italian needs to stay ahead of Marquez, as eight points fewer during today's Sprint and Sunday's Grand Prix would end his championship with two races to go.
Full results - Qualifying for MotoGP Qatar
| Position | Rider | Team | gap 1st / prev. | Time |
| 1 | 72 M. Bezzecchi | Aprilia Racing | 1:50.02 | |
| 2 | 93 M. Marquez | Ducati Lenovo Team | +0.266 / +0.266 | 1:50.29 |
| 3 | 49 F. Di Giannantonio | Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team | +0.299 / +0.033 | 1:50.32 |
| 4 | 25 R. Fernandez | SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team | +0.429 / +0.130 | 1:50.45 |
| 5 | 63 F. Bagnaia | Ducati Lenovo Team | +0.564 / +0.135 | 1:50.59 |
| 6 | 79 A. Ogura | SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team | +0.568 / +0.004 | 1:50.59 |
| 7 | 5 J. Zarco | Castrol Honda LCR | +0.707 / +0.139 | 1:50.73 |
| 8 | 37 P. Acosta | Red Bull KTM Factory Racing | +0.844 / +0.137 | 1:50.87 |
| 9 | 54 F. Aldeguer | BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP | +0.862 / +0.018 | 1:50.89 |
| 10 | 23 E. Bastianini | Red Bull KTM Tech3 | +0.973 / +0.111 | 1:51.00 |
| 11 | 89 J. Martin | Aprilia Racing | +1.036 / +0.063 | 1:51.06 |
| 12 | 33 B. Binder | Red Bull KTM Factory Racing | +1.876 / +0.840 | 1:51.90 |
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Out in Q1
| 13 | 21 F. Morbidelli | Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team | +0.395 / +0.184 | 01:51.271 |
| 14 | 10 L. Marini | Honda HRC Castrol | +0.474 / +0.079 | 01:51.350 |
| 15 | 27 I. Lecuona | BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP | +0.511 / +0.037 | 01:51.387 |
| 16 | 11 D. Moreira | Pro Honda LCR | +0.628 / +0.117 | 01:51.504 |
| 17 | 96 J. Dixon | Honda HRC Castrol | +0.745 / +0.117 | 01:51.621 |
| 18 | 12 M. Viñales | Red Bull KTM Tech3 | +1.115 / +0.370 | 01:51.991 |
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