We Speak Cars & Racing

Bezzecchi Breaks Lap Record To Take Qatar Pole Ahead Of Marquez, Martin Starts 11th

Published

2 hours ago

November 8, 2026

Marco Bezzecchi in his helmet after qualifying on pole for the Qatar Grand Prix

Marco Bezzecchi after taking pole position at Lusail. Photo via MotoGP.

Marco Bezzecchi gave himself the best possible start to a must win weekend in Qatar, smashing the Lusail lap record twice in qualifying to take pole for the Qatar Airways Grand Prix of Qatar, while championship leader Marc Marquez starts second and Jorge Martin faces a rescue mission from 11th.

The #72 takes pole as he makes a final stand – with Marquez second and Diggia locking out the front row at Lusail

Saturday, 07 November 2026

Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) took a lap record pole position for the Qatar Airways Grand Prix of Qatar, setting a new 1:50.028 to pull clear of Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) by more than a quarter of a second. Marquez lines up second as he looks to set up a championship point for Sunday, with Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) completing the front row.

Bezzecchi will be aiming to make his own final stand and cut his 67-point deficit this weekend, but to have a Championship point on Sunday, it’s Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing) that Marc Marquez needs to outscore in the Tissot Sprint – by five points. The #89 starts down in P11 after a messier qualifying session – but not one where he was lacking outright speed. Can he make a comeback?

First, Q1. Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory) was leading the way with a comfortable margin as they headed out for their second runs, with the #37 a rare sight in the Q1 session and looking to ease through. Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) found something in the locker round his next lap though, taking over on top with two minutes left on the clock.

The final train round saw Acosta leading a quartet of riders all looking to improve, and the #37 did but it wasn’t enough to topple Aldeguer from the top. Still, Acosta headed through alongside the #54.

Much was on the line for Aprilia – and the 2026 championship fight – as the field rolled out of pitlane to begin Q2. Marc Marquez set a serious benchmark on the first runs, but that didn’t last too long as a stunning lap came in from a key rival: Bezzecchi. The #72 smashed the all-time lap record with a 1:50.065, taking the honours from Friday’s fastest, Di Giannantonio.

That left Bez at the top, 0.296 ahead of Marc Marquez, with Raul Fernandez (SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team) in a provisional P3.

With three minutes left on the clock, everyone was back out and Marquez was beginning another fast one. Up through sector 1 by eight hundredths, up through sector 2 by eight hundredths, losing out in sector 3 and then crossing the line two tenths off, that was that for the points leader – no pole, provisional second place, and waiting for the rest to put their final laps in.

For Bezzecchi, it was another lap record. The #72 took a further 0.037 off his best to head Marquez by 0.266, with all eyes on Martin as he looked to improve from P11. It wasn’t to be however, as the #89 encountered Acosta a bit closer than he would have liked round the final sector and couldn’t improve – sitting up angrily as he was left in P11 on the grid.

THE GRID

Up top it’s Bezzecchi, who needs to make big gains to get a foot back in the title fight. Marquez lines up second as he looks to outscore Martin by 30 points and Bezzecchi by eight points this weekend to take the Championship. 2023 Qatar GP winner Diggia, after topping the timesheets on Friday, lines up third.

Fernandez is forced to settle for fourth after a big moment for him ruining his last lap, with Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) up in fifth. Ai Ogura (SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team) takes P6, completing Row 2.

Johann Zarco (Castrol Honda LCR) is next up as he heads Row 3 from Acosta and Aldeguer, with the Q1 graduates in reverse order on that third row. Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech3) completes the top ten as Martin faces down a rescue mission from P11, ahead of only Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) after the South African crashed early in the session, rider ok.

The grids are set, the championship fight is hotting up in the desert – and the Tissot Sprint will decide if Marc Marquez has a match point on Sunday. Tune in for that as we go racing under the floodlights in

Yankowski Holds Off Williamson In Charlotte Thriller To Clinch Super DIRTcar Title As Youngest Champion

Published

2 hours ago

November 8, 2026

We Speak Media

Alex Yankowski celebrates the Super DIRTcar Series championship on the podium at Charlotte

Alex Yankowski, right, lifts his Super DIRTcar Series championship trophy at The Dirt Track at Charlotte. Photo via the Super DIRTcar Series.

Alex Yankowski made his plan pay off Friday night at The Dirt Track at Charlotte, beating Mat Williamson by just 0.036 seconds to win at the World Finals and mathematically lock up the 2026 Super DIRTcar Series championship, setting him up to be crowned the youngest champion in Series history on Saturday night.

Alex Yankowski had a plan in 2026. Just win races and the Super DIRTcar Series points would take care of themselves.

That’s exactly what the Covington Township, PA driver did Friday night, narrowly holding off Mat Williamson at The Dirt Track at Charlotte for his second Dave Smith Motors World Finals victory and fifth Series triumph of the season.

With the win, “Kid Rocket” has mathematically secured the 2026 championship and will officially be crowned the youngest champion in Series history on Saturday night.

“What a sigh of relief,” Yankowski said. “To get this championship is just an unbelievable feat. It’s always been the Northern guys beating up on us. I know Doug Hoffman got one. There’s a lot of people that aren’t with us that I wish were today.

“I’m really proud of this whole group. We’re going to keep plugging. To win it and to clinch it is something special.”

Felix Roy, the SRI Performance and Stock Car Steel Pole Award winner, led the field to the green in the 30-lap Feature, beating Jack Lehner into Turns 1 and 2. But behind the Napierville, QC driver, it didn’t take long for Yankowski to start moving forward.

Yankowski had the runner-up spot by Turn 2, while Williamson followed to take over third by the time they completed Lap 1. Williamson lurked behind the top two, but in the first half of the race, Roy and Yankowski battled for the top spot.

Roy played defense through the race’s first half, holding off challenges from the No. 84Y, whether it was Yankowski trying to power around the outside, or diamonding the corner and trying to pass Roy low. While Roy held off every attempt, things changed for the 2023 Series Rookie of the Year when a caution came out on Lap 15 for Paul Mancini.

When the race resumed, Roy fired on the outside lane, but Yankowski started better and he pulled even with the No. 91 as they entered Turn 1. Roy held off Yankowski again as they exited Turn 2, but Yankowski found his opportunity as they raced down the backstretch.

Roy slid in front of Yankowski in Turn 4, trying to take his momentum away. But once Yankowski saw Roy slide up, he crossed over to the bottom and stormed to the lead as they completed Lap 16.

Yankowski raced to a full straightaway advantage through the next 10 laps, but when he caught lap traffic, it allowed Roy and Williamson to close in. And for the second straight night, Williamson made a late charge for the win.

The three-time Series champion found momentum on the inside lane while battling Roy in traffic, diving underneath Roy as they exited Turn 2 to take over second on Lap 29. Then, Williamson set his sights on Yankowski, who was struggling to get by Francois Bellemare, a lap car.

On the race’s final lap, Williamson continued that momentum in Turns 1 and 2, pulling up to the middle of Yankowski’s car. But it wasn’t enough to take the lead. However, Williamson had one more shot as they entered Turns 3 and 4.

Yankowski chose the bottom as they went into the corner, and Williamson followed at first. But midway through Turns 3 and 4, Williamson switched to the outside, trying to power around Yankowski as they exited the corner. Williamson got one last burst of speed off Turn 4, but it wasn’t enough as Yankowski held on to win the $10,000 prize by 0.036 seconds.

“I didn’t know where to be (in traffic),” Yankowski said. “[Bellemare] was sliding himself the whole time so I couldn’t slide him. I couldn’t get under him. And Williamson did a great job trying to take advantage of that.

“I beat myself up all winter long about things I felt I could’ve been better about, and this race team has been unbelievable.”

Williamson settled for second, narrowly missing a win for the second straight night. It’s his fourth-straight top-two Series finish.

Mike Maresca earned his first Series podium of the season, crossing the line third after starting 12th.

Felix Roy finished fourth after leading the first 15 laps, and Ryan Godown rounded out the top five.

UP NEXT: The Super DIRTcar Series returns to The Dirt Track at Charlotte on Saturday, Nov. 7, for the 2026 season finale at the Dave Smith Motors World of Outlaws World Finals. Drivers will compete in a 40-lap Feature, paying $15,000-to-win.

RACE NOTES:
JAM Performance Fastest Hot Lap Award: Jimmy Phelps
Billy Whittaker Cars and Trux Quick Time Award: Mat Williamson
Bicknell Racing Products Heat Race 1 Winner: Mat Williamson
DIG Race Products Heat Race 2 Winner: Tyler Dippel
Wix Filters Heat Race 3 Winner: Alex Yankowski
The Greatest Store on Dirt Heat Race 4 Winner: Felix Roy
SRI Performance/Stock Car Steel Pole Award Winner: Felix Roy
Behrent’s Performance Warehouse One Lap to Go: Alex Yankowski

Super DIRTcar Series Feature (30 Laps): 1. 84Y-Alex Yankowski[4]; 2. 88-Mat Williamson[3]; 3. 7MM-Michael Maresca[12]; 4. 91-Felix Roy[1]; 5. 26-Ryan Godown[5]; 6. 70A-Alex Payne[14]; 7. 1-Tyler Dippel[6]; 8. 98H-Jimmy Phelps[10]; 9. 2-Jack Lehner[2]; 10. 3-Justin Haers[13]; 11. 12-Darren Smith[8]; 12. 35-Mike Mahaney[7]; 13. 33-Eddie Strada[11]; 14. 21A-Peter Britten[15]; 15. 28-Michael Trautschold[22]; 16. 4M-Logan Watt[21]; 17. 99L-Larry Wight[23]; 18. 6-Matt Stangle[9]; 19. 29-Ryan Krachun[30]; 20. 165-Rex King Jr[17]; 21. 7M-Paul Mancini[18]; 22. 9S-Matt Sheppard[27]; 23. 15X-Justin Stone[29]; 24. 11-Matt Caprara[25]; 25. 21M-Bob Mcgannon[26]; 26. 35B-Francois Bellemare[24]; 27. 25-Erick Rudolph[28]; 28. (DNF) 16-Louden Reimert[19]; 29. (DNF) 9-Tim McCreadie[16]; 30. (DNF) 0-Glenn Styres[20]