Raul Fernandez Outshines Title Contenders to Claim Maiden MotoGP Pole in Indonesia

Trackhouse Aprilia rider Raul Fernandez claimed his maiden MotoGP pole position with a sensational display in qualifying for the Indonesian Grand Prix, outshining the title contenders.

The Spaniard secured top spot on the grid with a lap of 1:28.852, edging out Marco Bezzecchi by 0.109 seconds. The factory Aprilia rider set the pace after the opening runs but failed to improve on his second flying lap, having to settle for second place.

Fabio Di Giannantonio qualified third (+0.196s), giving himself the perfect 28th birthday present with a front-row start. World champion Marc Marquez and championship leader Jorge Martin will line up fourth and fifth, joined on row two by last year's Mandalika winner Fermin Aldeguer. Ai Ogura, Alex Marquez, and Pedro Acosta make up row three, ahead of Francesco Bagnaia, Franco Morbidelli, and Fabio Quartararo on the fourth row.

Aldeguer had previously topped a crash-filled Q1 session with a 1:29.639, edging Ogura by 0.090s as both advanced to the decisive 15-minute pole shootout. Alex Rins was the first rider to miss the cut, finishing 0.105s behind Ogura, and will lead row five alongside Enea Bastianini and Luca Marini.

Behind them, Brad Binder, Jack Miller, and Maverick Viñales will line up on the sixth row, while row seven features Toprak Razgatlioglu and LCR Honda teammates Johann Zarco and Diogo Moreira. Starting alone on the final row will be Aleix Espargaro, who is standing in for the unwell Joan Mir at the factory Honda team this weekend.

Razgatlioglu bravely contested qualifying barely half an hour after dislocating his right shoulder in a violent highside during Free Practice 2. The incident-packed Q1 session also saw crashes for Ogura, Bastianini, Miller, Zarco, and Moreira, with Zarco taking two tumbles.

Action at the Indonesian Grand Prix—round 17 of the 2026 MotoGP season—continues with the 13-lap Sprint race at Mandalika.