Fabio Di Giannantonio set the fastest lap in the opening practice session of the 2026 Qatar Grand Prix at Lusail, ahead of Marc Marquez and Marco Bezzecchi under the floodlights. The Italian Ducati rider’s late-session surge set the pace with a 1:50-something lap.

The session took place on a reduced 18-rider grid following Yamaha’s unexpected withdrawal from the weekend, signaling a fierce battle ahead.

Bezzecchi and Di Giannantonio trade the lead

Marc Marquez initially dominated Friday’s FP1 with a benchmark of 1:52.278. In the evening session the pace rose dramatically as Marco Bezzecchi took an early lead, slicing his times into the mid-1:51s.

Ducati teammates Di Giannantonio and Francesco Bagnaia, alongside Marquez, chased closely behind. Di Giannantonio finally dethroned Bezzecchi by a razor-thin margin of eight hundredths of a second halfway through the session.

Marquez suffers chain failure

Marquez encountered drama when his transmission chain snapped on lap 26, forcing him to limp back to the pits and switch to his spare prototype.

The factory Honda rider returned to the track just in time for the final 15-minute time attack and immediately blasted into the 1:50s, reclaiming second place behind Di Giannantonio.

Bezzecchi reclaimed the top spot briefly, but Di Giannantonio’s final flying lap restored his lead, finishing ahead of Marquez and Bezzecchi. Bagnaia, showing glimpses of his former top form, secured fourth, while Raul Fernandez completed the top five, highlighting Ducati’s strong presence at the front.

Martin impresses, Acosta struggles

Jorge Martin impressed by climbing to fifth place just 13 days after fracturing his wrist, showcasing remarkable resilience and speed.

KTM’s Pedro Acosta struggled aboard his RC16, languishing in 14th position late in the session, trailing behind Brad Binder and Enea Bastianini—a rare occurrence this season for the young Spaniard.

The practice session underscored Ducati’s dominance and set an intense tone for the weekend, with lap times plunging into the 1:50s range and riders pushing hard under the night sky. Di Giannantonio’s performance signals a serious threat to Marquez’s championship ambitions, especially after the Spaniard’s mechanical scare.

With Yamaha absent and the Ducati contingent firing on all cylinders, the Qatar GP promises to be a battleground where team and rider strategies will be tested under the Lusail floodlights. Di Giannantonio’s pole position bid appears strong, but Marquez’s resilience and late-session pace ensures this battle is far from settled.