Lusail, Qatar, November 6, 2026: The 2026 Qatar Airways Grand Prix of Qatar could prove to be a significant weekend in the MotoGP World Championship, with Marc Marquez arriving at the Lusail International Circuit holding a 44-point championship advantage over Aprilia rider Jorge Martin.

With only a handful of races remaining in the season, the Ducati Lenovo Team rider has an opportunity to move closer to another world title at a circuit where he has enjoyed considerable success. Marquez leads the championship with 399 points, followed by Martin on 355 and Marco Bezzecchi on 332.

However, the championship battle is not the only storyline heading into the Qatar GP. Lusail has witnessed several closely contested races over the years, and the 2026 edition could produce another memorable chapter at a circuit that has become synonymous with night racing.

Originally scheduled for April, the 2026 Qatar Grand Prix was postponed to November due to the geopolitical situation in the Middle East. This will be the 24th Grand Prix held at Lusail since the circuit joined the MotoGP calendar in 2004 and the 20th under floodlights. It remains the only night race on the current MotoGP calendar.

Marc Marquez chasing another Lusail milestone

Marquez has two MotoGP Grand Prix victories at Lusail, having won in 2014 and 2025. His victory last year came from pole position, 11 years after his maiden win at the circuit. He also won the Sprint race, helping Ducati secure a clean sweep of the podium positions in both races.

A victory this weekend would take Marquez to 81 premier-class Grand Prix wins, eight short of Valentino Rossi’s all-time record of 89. He could also become the first rider to win consecutive MotoGP Grands Prix at Lusail since Andrea Dovizioso achieved the feat in 2018 and 2019.

Interestingly, the last seven MotoGP Grands Prix at Lusail have produced seven different winners. The list includes Dovizioso (2019), Maverick Viñales (2021 Qatar GP), Fabio Quartararo (2021 Doha GP), Enea Bastianini (2022), Fabio Di Giannantonio (2023), Francesco Bagnaia (2024) and Marquez (2025).

Another new winner would extend the sequence to eight consecutive editions with different winners.

Ducati and Yamaha lead the Lusail statistics

Yamaha remains the most successful manufacturer at Lusail, with 10 MotoGP Grand Prix victories, compared to Ducati’s nine and Honda’s three.

Valentino Rossi contributed four victories for Yamaha, while Jorge Lorenzo won three. Viñales secured two victories and Quartararo added another in 2021.

Ducati, meanwhile, has won with six different riders at Lusail. Its victories have come through Casey Stoner, Andrea Dovizioso, Bastianini, Di Giannantonio, Bagnaia and Marquez.

The Italian manufacturer has also won all three Sprint races held at the circuit. Jorge Martin claimed the first two in 2023 and 2024, before Marquez won in 2025.

A Ducati victory on Sunday would bring the manufacturer level with Yamaha’s record of 10 Grand Prix wins at Lusail.

Jorge Martin holds the Sprint record

Aprilia’s Jorge Martin has enjoyed considerable success at Lusail, particularly in the Sprint format. The Spaniard has won two of the three Sprint races held at the circuit, in 2023 and 2024, and has taken three pole positions.

Martin also has two Grand Prix podium finishes at Lusail, having finished third in the 2021 Doha GP and the 2024 Qatar GP.

For Aprilia, however, a maiden Grand Prix victory at Lusail remains an important target. The manufacturer’s best result in a Sunday race at the circuit is fourth, achieved by Aleix Espargaro in 2022 and Maverick Viñales in 2023.

Bezzecchi, currently third in the championship, will also be looking to improve on his ninth-place finish from 2025.

Several riders chasing important milestones

The Qatar GP could produce several individual milestones. Bagnaia has four Grand Prix podiums at Lusail and could equal Wayne Rainey’s tally of 64 premier-class podium finishes with another top-three result.

Martin could match Loris Capirossi’s career tally of 42 MotoGP podiums, while Bezzecchi has an opportunity to achieve a unique record. A victory would make him the first rider to secure his first 12 MotoGP Grand Prix wins at 12 different circuits.

There are also four riders on the grid who could secure their maiden MotoGP Grand Prix victories: Luca Marini, rookie Diogo Moreira, and replacement riders Iker Lecuona and Jake Dixon.

Meanwhile, KTM and Aprilia will be looking to claim their first MotoGP Grand Prix victories at Lusail.

Championship battles extend beyond MotoGP

The Qatar weekend could also prove decisive in several other championship categories.

Aprilia Racing leads the MotoGP Teams’ World Championship standings and could secure the title in Qatar if it finishes the weekend more than 132 points ahead of Ducati Lenovo Team and at least 132 points clear of Trackhouse MotoGP Team.

In Moto2, LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP leads CFMOTO RCB Aspar Team by 61.5 points and could clinch the Teams’ Championship with an advantage of more than 90 points after the Grand Prix.

CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team leads the Moto3 Teams’ Championship by 106 points over Red Bull KTM Ajo and could also secure the title at Lusail.

The Moto3 Rookie of the Year battle is another one to watch, with Brian Uriarte holding a 74-point advantage over Veda Pratama.

With championship implications across multiple categories, historic records within reach and Marquez looking to strengthen his grip on the MotoGP title, the 2026 Qatar Airways Grand Prix promises an important weekend under the Lusail floodlights.