Moto GP: Crash-hit qualifying sets up unpredictable MotoGP race in Brazil

Qualifying for the MotoGP round at the Ayrton Senna Autodrome turned into a dramatic and crash-filled session, as tricky track conditions caught out several riders, including defending champion Marc Marquez. Heavy rainfall and flooding earlier in the week left the circuit in a difficult state, with water continuing to seep through the surface.

Despite efforts by organisers to clear standing water, the issue of ‘weeping’ puddles made conditions challenging throughout qualifying. As a result, multiple riders struggled to keep their bikes upright, turning the session into a test of survival as much as speed.

Moto GP Brazil GP: Grid for main race

Amid the chaos, Fabio Di Giannantonio emerged as the standout performer, securing pole position with a lap time of 1:17.410. It marked his first pole since 2022. However, even his session was not without drama, as he crashed towards the end while pushing for an even faster lap. Despite that, his earlier effort was enough to keep him at the top of the timesheets.

Di Giannantonio was closely followed by Marco Bezzecchi, who continued his strong comeback after progressing from Q1 to claim second place. The gap between the top three was incredibly tight, with Bezzecchi and Marquez both finishing within a tenth of a second of pole.

Marquez had to settle for third after crashing during his first run in Q2. The Spaniard was one of several high-profile riders who struggled with the unpredictable grip levels on the track.

Fourth place went to Fabio Quartararo, who delivered an impressive lap on the updated Yamaha machine. He narrowly missed out on the front row, finishing just 0.070 seconds behind Marquez, but managed to lead the second row of the grid. Ai Ogura secured sixth place to complete the second row, while Fermin Aldeguer marked his return from injury with a solid seventh-place finish. Alex Marquez followed in eighth.

Pedro Acosta, who is leading the championship, could only manage ninth after a crash disrupted his session. He will now look to make up positions during the race. Rounding out the top ten was Johann Zarco in tenth place. Further down the order, Francesco Bagnaia struggled for pace and qualified 11th, unable to improve significantly in the challenging conditions.

With several riders already crashing in qualifying and the track still proving unpredictable, the stage is set for an intense and potentially unpredictable race in Brazil. Marc Marquez has already taken his first win of the season in the Brazilian GP sprint.