Marco Bezzecchi captured pole position for the Thai MotoGP season opener at Buriram, overcoming a challenging qualifying session that included two crashes. The Aprilia rider maintained his lead on the timesheets even after a heavy fall in the final corner, securing pole by a slim 0.035 seconds over reigning champion Marc Marquez.
Bezzecchi’s first crash occurred during the final practice session at the hairpin, but he had already set a competitive lap time that proved sufficient to stay on top. Despite the mishaps, he demonstrated resilience to hold his position ahead of the race.
I’m okay, but when the airbag exploded, my ass was a little bit painful!
Marco Bezzecchi said about his accident. “But all okay fortunately.
“Qualifying was good. A small mistake in the end, but fortunately the lap time was good enough to not lose the pole position.
“It will be tough this afternoon, also tomorrow, but we are quite strong so we will try to fight with the top guys.
Marc, compared to yesterday, did a big step, so he will be for sure super strong but I will try my best.
Marquez’s Revival in Late Qualifying Run
Marc Marquez, last year’s double winner at Buriram, started his final qualifying lap from eighth position but managed to climb substantially with a strong late run. The reigning champion struggled initially with his tires but found better grip and pace on his second attack lap, securing second place on the grid.
Yeah, it was tough, especially because on the first tyre I felt not so good and I said ‘okay what’s going on here?’. But on the second time attack from the out lap, I feel much better,
Marquez explained.
I already attacked in the first lap. I saw the lap time and I say ‘enough’. The front row was the main target, and I thought that 28.6 was enough for the first row.
Raul Fernandez Surprises with Strong Third Place
Raul Fernandez of Trackhouse Aprilia showed impressive pace to claim third on the grid after making significant adjustments to his bike following an uncomfortable pre-season time attack. His performance marked a notable surprise, putting him ahead of several favorites.
Yesterday we had a lot of work because during the pre-season I didn’t really feel comfortable on the time attack,
Fernandez said. “But today we changed some things on the bike, I started to feel that I can do what I want, so thanks to the team and Aprilia.
We are in a really good position, not just on the grid also with the race pace. We are ready so let’s try to enjoy.
Grid Composition and Notable Qualifying Outcomes
The second row on the grid features VR46 Ducati’s Fabio di Giannantonio, Bezzecchi’s teammate Jorge Martin, and top KTM rider Pedro Acosta. The third row includes Alex Marquez on the Gresini Ducati, Ai Ogura representing Trackhouse Aprilia, and VR46’s Franco Morbidelli. Joan Mir stands as the highest-ranked Honda rider in tenth place.
A major upset occurred as factory Ducati rider Francesco Bagnaia failed to advance beyond Qualifying 1, forcing him to start 13th. Meanwhile, reigning world champions Diogo Moreira from Moto2 and Toprak Razgatlioglu from WorldSBK will make their MotoGP race debuts from 15th and 21st on the grid, respectively.
Fabio Quartararo was the fastest Yamaha qualifier, placing 16th, roughly one second slower than Bezzecchi’s pole time.
Upcoming Race and Its Significance
The 13-lap Buriram Sprint race is scheduled to begin at 3pm local time (8am UK), marking the official start of the MotoGP season in Thailand. This event sets the stage for intense competition, with Bezzecchi’s persistence and Marquez’s late surge highlighting a closely matched front running pack. Riders like Fernandez and Acosta have shown strong qualifying form, promising an exciting battle ahead.
The outcome of this opening race could influence strategies and momentum as the season progresses, particularly with several young riders stepping up alongside seasoned champions. Fans and teams alike will watch closely to see who can convert qualifying performance into race success at Buriram.
