Pedro Acosta Takes Pole in Barcelona Moto Gp After Bezzecchi Crash

Pedro Acosta took pole in Barcelona on Saturday morning after a moto gp qualifying session that changed shape when Marco Bezzecchi crashed in Q2. The Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider earned his first pole since the Japanese GP in 2024, and the grid now rolls into the Tissot Sprint and Sunday’s Grand Prix with a new front row.

Franco Morbidelli qualified second and Alex Marquez third behind Acosta. Bezzecchi, who crashed at Turn 2 during Q2, will start 12th.

Acosta Tops Barcelona

Acosta set the early benchmark in Q2 with a 1'38.118 after the opening runs and held it to the chequered flag. That put him on pole for Barcelona and gave KTM its first pole since Pol Espargaro at the 2020 European GP.

Friday already pointed his way. Acosta had dominated the day, then carried that pace into qualifying when it mattered most. The result also ended his run without a pole that stretched back to Motegi in 2024.

Bezzecchi Falls In Q2

Bezzecchi’s crash at Turn 2 came on the second runs in Q2 and dropped the championship leader to 12th on the grid. That left Aprilia Racing starting far from the front row after a session that had looked ready to send him through with the leaders.

Jorge Martin also had to fight through Q1 after initially being in the mix for progression. Morbidelli ended up taking P1 on his final lap in Q1 and led Martin into Q2 after a late swing in the opening session.

Front Row Set For Sprint

The front row in Barcelona is Acosta, Morbidelli and Alex Marquez. Raul Fernandez qualified fourth, followed by Johann Zarco, Fabio Di Giannantonio, Fabio Quartararo, Brad Binder, Jorge Martin, Joan Mir and Jack Miller in 11th.

That order now carries straight into the Tissot Sprint and Sunday’s Grand Prix. Acosta gets the cleanest view from the front, while Bezzecchi has work to do from 12th after a crash changed the shape of the session.