Lusail, Qatar, November 9, 2026: Marco Bezzecchi secured his sixth Grand Prix victory of the 2026 MotoGP season at the Qatar Airways Grand Prix of Qatar, extending Aprilia’s record-breaking campaign. Marc Marquez strengthened his championship lead with second place, while Raul Fernandez completed an all-Aprilia podium as the title battle heads to Portimao.

Marco Bezzecchi continued his impressive 2026 MotoGP campaign by claiming victory at the Qatar Airways Grand Prix of Qatar, adding another milestone to his growing list of achievements with Aprilia Racing.

The Italian’s victory at Lusail was his sixth Grand Prix win of the season, following successes in Thailand, Brazil, the USA, Italy and Indonesia. It was also his 12th MotoGP Grand Prix victory overall and his ninth with Aprilia, extending his record as the manufacturer’s most successful rider in the premier class.

Bezzecchi achieved another significant milestone by becoming the first rider in MotoGP history to secure his first 12 Grand Prix victories at 12 different circuits. He surpassed the previous record of 11, held by MotoGP Hall of Famer Freddie Spencer.

Aprilia extends record with ninth MotoGP victory

Bezzecchi’s Qatar triumph was particularly significant for Aprilia, which recorded its ninth Grand Prix victory of the 2026 season, extending its own record for the most race wins by the manufacturer in a single MotoGP campaign.

The victory was also Aprilia’s first at the Lusail International Circuit and its 17th Grand Prix win in the MotoGP category.

Bezzecchi and Raul Fernandez, who finished third for the SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team, also delivered Aprilia’s first MotoGP Grand Prix podium finishes at the Qatar circuit.

The result further underlined Aprilia’s growing competitiveness against Ducati, particularly with the Constructors’ World Championship entering its decisive stages.

Marc Marquez maintains 60-point championship advantage

While Bezzecchi celebrated another victory, Marc Marquez continued to strengthen his position in the 2026 MotoGP World Championship with second place.

Interestingly, the Qatar Grand Prix marked the first time in the 2026 season that Marquez had finished on the Grand Prix podium without winning. His previous seven Grand Prix podium finishes this season had all been victories.

The Ducati Lenovo Team rider now leads Jorge Martin by 60 points and Bezzecchi by 74 points, with two Grand Prix weekends and 74 championship points remaining.

Marquez has an opportunity to clinch the 2026 MotoGP World Championship during the Tissot Sprint at Portimao. He needs to gain at least two points on Martin over the Portuguese Grand Prix weekend to secure the title.

Bezzecchi, meanwhile, remains mathematically in contention after recovering the five points he needed to make up on Marquez in Qatar. However, his championship challenge requires an almost perfect finish to the season. The Italian needs to win both remaining Sprint races and Grand Prix races, while Marquez must fail to score any points.

Raul Fernandez claims sixth podium of 2026

Raul Fernandez continued his impressive season by finishing third in Qatar, securing his sixth Grand Prix podium of 2026.

The result was his first Grand Prix podium since finishing second in Indonesia and his eighth MotoGP Grand Prix podium overall.

Fernandez’s performance was particularly noteworthy considering he was still recovering from two broken fingers in his right hand. His podium, alongside Bezzecchi’s victory, also gave Aprilia a memorable double podium at Lusail.

Jorge Martin faces crucial Portimao weekend

Jorge Martin finished seventh in Qatar and now trails championship leader Marquez by 60 points, with 74 points still available.

The 2024 MotoGP World Champion faces a crucial weekend at Portimao. Martin must recover at least 24 points on Marquez during the Portuguese Grand Prix weekend to remain in contention heading into the final round of the championship.

The Aprilia rider’s challenge is made more difficult by the limited number of remaining points and Marquez’s commanding advantage.

Ducati leads Aprilia in Constructors’ Championship

The battle between Ducati and Aprilia is also intensifying in the MotoGP Constructors’ World Championship.

Ducati continues to lead the standings, but its advantage over Aprilia has been reduced to just eight points following the Qatar weekend. Aprilia had been 13 points behind after Saturday’s Sprint, making its Sunday performance particularly valuable.

Ducati can secure the Constructors’ World Championship at Portimao if it outscores Aprilia by at least 30 points across the Sprint and Grand Prix.

Qatar MotoGP GP attracts record 55,120 spectators

The 2026 Qatar Airways Grand Prix of Qatar also registered a new attendance record, with 55,120 spectators attending the event at Lusail International Circuit.

The figure surpassed the previous Qatar Grand Prix attendance record, which was established in 2023, highlighting the growing popularity of MotoGP in the region.

With the championship heading to Portimao for its penultimate round, attention now shifts to whether Marquez can secure another premier-class world title or whether Aprilia’s Bezzecchi and Martin can produce a late-season challenge.