2026 British MotoGP Qualifying Results: Jorge Martin snatches pole with new lap record

Jorge Martin smashed the Silverstone lap record to claim pole position for the 2026 British MotoGP, leading an extraordinary Aprilia front row lockout.

Martin delivered a sensational final-flyer of 1:56.160 to beat Trackhouse Aprilia rider Raul Fernandez by just 0.021 seconds and mark his second pole position of the season.

Ai Ogura completed an all-Aprilia front row in third, giving the Noale manufacturer its strongest possible qualifying result at the start of the second half of the season.

The opening Q1 session contained a surprisingly strong group of riders including Fabio Quartararo, Francesco Bagnaia, Enea Bastianini and Alex Rins but it was Franco Morbidelli who made the strongest initial impression and placed himself at the front of the order during the first series of runs.

Diogo Moreira briefly occupied the second transfer position, before Iker Lecuona, standing in for the injured Fermin Aldeguer at Gresini, produced a highly impressive late lap to snatch the spot.

Quartararo then launched a final attack in an attempt to rescue his session but fell short by 0.050 seconds, leading the group of riders who failed to progress.

Moreira finished 14th, narrowly ahead of Marini in 15th while Bagnaia only managed 16th, marking the worst qualifying outcome of his 2026 season so far. Alex Rins, Brad Binder, Enea Bastianini, Cal Crutchlow, Pol Espargaro, Toprak Razgatlioglu and Augusto Fernandez completed the field.

Marc Marquez started off Q2 with a fast moment at Farm curve but managed to keep his Ducati upright and briefly place himself at the top of the timing screens.

Alex Marquez also showed strong early pace and briefly sat behind his older brother before the Aprilia riders began to respond as the session entered its decisive phase.

Returning Aprilia rider Marco Bezzecchi surged from seventh to the top of the order with approximately three minutes remaining, but eventually backed away from the final battle after losing a piece of his rear aero.

Raul Fernandez then produced the first major breakthrough of the session with a 1:56.181, which was quicker than Bezzecchi’s Friday benchmark and temporarily established a new Silverstone lap record.

Trackhouse Aprilia teammate Ai Ogura responded with a 1:56.349 to slot into second place, just 0.168 seconds slower than Fernandez’s provisional record lap, and the Trackhouse garage appeared set for a front-row celebration until Martin began his final attack.

With the chequered flag approaching, Martin maintained the necessary precision through the fast corners to ultimately improve Fernandez’s time by 0.021 seconds, setting a new outright Silverstone lap record.

Full 2026 British MotoGP Qualifying Results