Catalunya Sprint Tangle: How Di Giannantonio triggered the Binder-Mir collision

Brad Binder and Joan Mir were eliminated instantly in a Turn 1 Sprint crash at Barcelona. The incident began when Fabio Di Giannantonio tag-clipped Binder on the inside line due to aerodynamic dirty air under braking. The fallen KTM then slid outward, wiping out Mir’s Honda Castrol machine. Stewards declared the multi-bike collision a racing incident, leaving both riders unhurt but frustrated. 

Franco Morbidelli Lands Front Row at Catalunya MotoGP

Franco Morbidelli delivered one of the qualifying surprises of the 2026 MotoGP season at Barcelona. The VR46 Ducati rider came through Q1 and then shocked the field by claiming second on the grid, with Alex Marquez alongside him on the front row behind polesitter Pedro Acosta. Morbidelli topped Q1 with a 1m38.550s, with his fastest lap initially deleted for track limits before the result stood. Morbidelli starts front row.

Martin Survives Three Catalunya Crashes to Start Ninth

Jorge Martin crashed three times across Friday and Saturday at the 2026 Catalan Grand Prix but still clawed his way through Q1 and into the main qualifying session. Martin set the best time of the weekend at 1m38.701s during Q1, just 0.096 seconds clear of Bastianini, before going down again at Turn 5. The Aprilia rider will start ninth on the grid.

Bezzecchi Crashes in Q2 and Starts Catalunya GP 12th

Marco Bezzecchi came to Barcelona as MotoGP championship leader and leaves qualifying on the back foot. The Aprilia rider crashed late in Q2 and will start Sunday’s race from 12th on the grid. With title rival Jorge Martin starting ninth, Bezzecchi faces a damage limitation race at a circuit where he has never previously stood on the MotoGP podium. The lead is under serious pressure.

Bagnaia Starts 13th as Ducati Struggles Continue

Francesco Bagnaia crashed out of the 2026 Catalunya MotoGP qualifying picture in Q1, forced to start Sunday’s race from 13th on the grid. Bagnaia was just 0.051 seconds outside a Q2 place in a brutal blow for the factory Ducati team. Ducati has now gone without a podium since last year’s Japanese Grand Prix, a barren run stretching to 10 rounds. The title defence is in freefall.

Acosta Takes Catalunya MotoGP Pole for KTM

Pedro Acosta put KTM back on pole position at the 2026 Catalan Grand Prix, topping Q2 at the Circuit de Barcelona Catalunya. Morbidelli claimed a surprise second on the grid alongside Alex Marquez on the front row, while Raul Fernandez was the best Aprilia in fourth. Bezzecchi crashed late in Q2 and will start 12th, while Martin recovered from Q1 to start ninth.

Martin Thinks of Salom During Catalunya Crash and Demands Turn 12 Safety Improvements

Jorge Martin said he thought of Luis Salom as he was falling at Turn 12 during Friday Practice at the Catalan Grand Prix, the same circuit where the Moto2 rider lost his life in 2016. Martin was slightly concussed and suffered bruising to his left forearm after following his bike into the air fence, calling for the circuit to extend the Turn 12 run-off area as a matter of urgency. He described feeling lucky to walk away.

Pedro Acosta Dominates Catalunya Friday; Jorge Martin Crashes into Q1

Pedro Acosta leads a KTM resurgence after topping Friday’s Catalunya Practice with a 1:38.710. The session saw dramatic upsets as championship leader Jorge Martin suffered two crashes, relegating him to Q1 alongside Francesco Bagnaia. Brad Binder and Alex Marquez trailed Acosta in a tight field where the top ten were separated by less than three-tenths of a second.

Both KTM Factory Riders Crash in FP1 as Barcelona Friday Turns Painful for Red Bull

Pedro Acosta crashed at Turn 2 during Friday Practice at his home Catalan Grand Prix, adding to what has been a deeply frustrating 2026 season for the 21 year old on the KTM RC16. Brad Binder also went down at Turn 2 in a separate incident, giving KTM a difficult opening day at a circuit where they have traditionally struggled for race pace. Acosta was involved in a fiery exchange with Di Giannantonio after Le Mans and arrives at his home race still seething from the final lap pass.

Bagnaia Under Pressure as Factory Ducati Begin Catalunya Weekend in 17th Place

Francesco Bagnaia started the Catalan Grand Prix weekend in 17th place in FP1, with the factory Ducati man carrying the entire team’s hopes alone in the absence of Marc Marquez. Ducati will not replace Marquez this weekend, leaving Bagnaia as the sole factory representative at a circuit that has not been kind to the Bologna manufacturer in 2026. After two DNFs in his last two starts, Bagnaia needs a response. A 17th place on Friday is not the start he needed.