Alex Marquez Takes Pole at the Malaysian Grand Prix

Alex Marquez secured pole position for the Malaysian Grand Prix on Saturday, setting the fastest time during qualifying at the Sepang International Circuit.

The 30-year-old BK8 Gresini Racing rider produced a lap of 1:56.493 to lead the field. He finished just 0.070 seconds ahead of his older brother, reigning world champion Marc Marquez, while Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider Pedro Acosta qualified third.

Here is how the session unfolded, what the front row looks like, and why this result matters for the rest of the race weekend.

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What happened in Malaysian Grand Prix qualifying?

Qualifying is the session that decides the starting order on the grid for both the Sprint and the full-length Sunday race. Riders push for a single flying lap at maximum pace to earn the best possible starting spot, known as pole position, which is the first slot on the front row.

Alex Marquez set the benchmark time of 1:56.493 late in the final session. That effort was enough to deny factory Ducati rider Marc Marquez, who clocked a 1:56.563 to miss out by only 0.070s.

Pedro Acosta, aged 22, rounded out the front row in third position with a lap time of 1:56.577, trailing the pole time by just 0.084s. The top three riders were separated by less than a tenth of a second, demonstrating how tightly matched the premier class can be.

Ai Ogura qualified fourth on his SuperFile Trackhouse Aprilia with a 1:56.617, ahead of Aprilia Racing’s Marco Bezzecchi in fifth (1:56.668) and Pertamina Enduro VR46 rider Fabio Di Giannantonio in sixth (1:56.842).

Who was on the track and how does qualifying work?

Saturday’s main battle takes place in a two-part knockout format. If you are new to the championship, our guide on how qualifying works explains how the 15-minute Q1 and Q2 sessions decide the grid.

Alex Marquez, the 2014 Moto3 and 2019 Moto2 world champion, achieved his strong qualifying performance despite managing discomfort in his right shoulder earlier in the weekend. His Gresini team-mate for the weekend, Iker Lecuona, who is standing in for the injured Fermin Aldeguer, qualified 19th, while the front of the grid featured three different teams across the first three places.

Further down the top ten, Red Bull KTM Tech3 rider Enea Bastianini qualified seventh with a 1:56.970. Johann Zarco placed eighth on his Castrol Honda LCR machine with a 1:57.016, Franco Morbidelli took ninth for VR46 with a 1:57.268, and Ducati Lenovo Team rider Francesco Bagnaia finished tenth on 1:57.287.

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What does this mean for the world championship?

Marc Marquez entered the Malaysian Grand Prix weekend leading the riders’ championship on 365 points. His closest title rival, Jorge Martin of Aprilia Racing, sits second in the standings on 355 points, ten points adrift.

Martin, who fractured his wrist in the previous round at Phillip Island, struggled through practice and withdrew from the rest of the weekend before qualifying, so he will not start either race at Sepang. With Marc Marquez starting from second on the grid, the factory Ducati rider is in a strong position to score heavily across the weekend’s races.

While riders such as Marco Bezzecchi (315 points) and Pedro Acosta (263 points) remain mathematically in contention for the 2026 title, Martin’s absence hands Marquez a major chance to extend his lead. Starting from the front row gives Marquez clear track ahead into the first corner.

What should beginners watch for on Sunday?

Starting from the front row offers a massive advantage at Sepang because the run down to Turn 1 is long and wide. Riders who get a clean launch can defend their position into the heavy braking area at the opening hairpin.

Alex Marquez will aim to convert his pole position into strong results for the satellite Gresini squad. Marc Marquez and Pedro Acosta will start right beside him, setting up an intriguing battle between experienced champions and rising talent.

The Malaysian Grand Prix takes place tomorrow, Sunday 1 November 2026, where riders will compete over full race distance for 25 championship points. You can learn more about how race weekends are structured in our Sepang track guide.

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Quick Takeaways

• Alex Marquez claimed pole position for the Malaysian Grand Prix with a time of 1:56.493.
• Reigning world champion Marc Marquez qualified second, just 0.070 seconds behind his brother.
• Pedro Acosta secured third place on the front row with a lap of 1:56.577, only 0.084s off pole.
• Championship rival Jorge Martin has withdrawn from the weekend with his wrist injury, giving title leader Marc Marquez a chance to extend his lead.
• The main Grand Prix race takes place tomorrow, Sunday 1 November 2026.