​Marc Marquez secured pole position and led a front-row lockout for Ducati at the German Grand Prix, claiming his third pole of the 2026 MotoGP season on Saturday. He will be joined on the front row by his brother Alex Marquez, with Fabio di Giannantonio starting third for VR46.
The big talking point from the Sachsenring weekend, however, centered on Aprilia after factory rider Marco Bezzecchi suffered a broken collarbone in Q2. The injury prompted him to return home for surgery, forcing him out of the race. With Bezzecchi sidelined and championship leader Jorge Martin lacking the pace he needed, Trackhouse emerged as the lead satellite for Aprilia, as Raul Fernandez and Ai Ogura finished fourth and fifth on their RS-GPs, respectively. They will be joined on the second row by Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo.
Franco Morbidelli and Diogo Moreira had qualified seventh and 15th, but both will drop three places on the starting grid for Sunday’s race due to penalties for impeding other riders during practice. That reshuffles the order, meaning Martin will start seventh, ahead of Pedro Acosta, with Francesco Bagnaia and Morbidelli rounding out the top 10.
Only 20 riders will contest the final race before the summer break. In addition to Bezzecchi, Fermin Aldeguer of Gresini will also miss the German GP due to injury. Although it had been clear before the week that Aldeguer would be unavailable, Gresini chose not to replace him with another rider.
Across the teams and riders, the field featured a host of notable names. Jack Miller for Pramac Racing, Joan Mir for Honda HRC, Toprak Razgatlioglu for Pramac Racing, and Cal Crutchlow for Team LCR Honda were all part of the lineup once again, alongside other top riders from Yamaha, Aprilia, and Ducati. The paddock also highlighted the depth of talent with several photographers capturing action shots and the Thursday and Friday sessions underscoring the intense competition behind the scenes.
As the weekend approaches the race, all eyes will be on how the amended grid affects strategies for Sunday. With Bezzecchi out, and Bezzecchi’s absence leaving openings for others on the factory and satellite squads, the field is primed for a dramatic showdown at the Sachsenring before the summer break. The 2026 season continues to deliver exciting twists, and this German Grand Prix is shaping up to be a pivotal moment as teams regroup and prepare for the next stretch of races.