Fabio Di Giannantonio secured a dramatic pole position for the Brazilian MotoGP on Saturday, navigating a session defined by unpredictable weather and technical disruptions. The VR46 Racing rider mastered the drying track at the Autódromo Internacional Ayrton Senna to claim the top spot, marking his first pole of the 2026 season.
Weather and Track Conditions Play Havoc The qualifying session was twice interrupted by heavy tropical downpours, leading to significant delays and rapidly changing grip levels. As the track began to dry in the final minutes of Q2, Di Giannantonio timed his final run perfectly, posting a lap time that edged out Aprilia’s Marco Bezzecchi by a mere 0.042 seconds.
Technical Setbacks for Title Contenders The session was not without controversy and frustration for the field. Defending champion Marc Marquez, who had shown blistering pace during Friday practice, was forced to settle for seventh on the grid after a mechanical failure on his primary Ducati bike restricted him to just one flying lap in the closing stages. Meanwhile, Jorge Martin rounded out the front row in third, despite expressing concerns over the safety of the track surface following the heavy rains.
Top Grid Positions for Sunday:
- 1st: Fabio Di Giannantonio (VR46 Racing)
- 2nd: Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing)
- 3rd: Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing)
Looking Ahead to the Race Di Giannantonio admitted after the session that the “stop-start” nature of the afternoon made it difficult to maintain focus, but credited his team’s strategy for getting him out on the right tires at the critical moment. With the weather forecast for Sunday remaining unpredictable, the Italian faces a tough challenge to convert his pole position into a victory as MotoGP makes its long-awaited return to Brazilian soil