The opening weekend in Buriram produced a qualifying session full of edge-of-the-seat moments. Marco Bezzecchi ended up on pole despite a dramatic late crash — earlier in the day he’d already laid down the fastest lap of the weekend, underlining that the Aprilia was a genuine contender for the top step.
A high-stakes chess match
Qualifying at the Chang International Circuit was a careful balance between precision and daring. Track conditions stayed stable, so many teams timed their runs to avoid any late rain. Others rolled the dice with final attempts; Bezzecchi’s last push ultimately ended in a heavy rear-step under braking at Turn 12, but his earlier effort had already secured the top time.
How Bezzecchi did it
Bezzecchi’s hot lap married meticulous preparation with a strong final charge. He carried momentum out of the preceding corner, braked decisively into Turn 1 and threaded clean exits through the mid-section. That steady rhythm, combined with an ideal tyre warm-up and careful gearing choices, produced a lap quick enough to stand even after his crash. The incident itself hint at how small margins matter: on a worn tyre or with a touch more brake bite, the rear let go.
From a machine point of view, the Aprilia RS-GP showed excellent one-lap traction and braking stability when the setup matched the rider’s markers. Teammate runs during practice reinforced that the baseline package was working — consistency across riders is always a promising sign. The next task for engineers and Bezzecchi is straightforward: reproduce that qualifying balance with race fuel and tyres, and tighten up rear stability in heavy braking zones.
Tyres, timing and the small variables
The final shootout emphasized how tyre choice and track evolution shape the grid. Most riders used the softest compounds for a single-lap attack, exploiting the rubber laid down on the racing line. Tyre warm-up and precise gearing emerged as decisive details: a few tenths here or there flipped provisional order as lap times came in.
Trail-braking into a tightening corner — the technique that cost Bezzecchi — is inherently high risk. When grip drops even a little, it can reward you with time or punish you with a fall. Teams that prioritised braking stability and rear traction found late gains; those who gambled on aggressive setups sometimes paid the price.
Main challengers and unexpected moves
Marc Márquez climbed from a mixed running to secure second on the grid. He spent much of qualifying out of the top positions but produced a late lap that suggested a race-ready setup, giving Ducati Lenovo reason to be confident at Buriram.
Francesco Bagnaia, however, had a tougher time. He failed to make Q2 and must start the fight from Q1 — a setback that complicates Ducati’s weekend strategy and forces a steeper recovery for the sprint and main race.
Fabio Di Giannantonio translated strong testing form into a top-three start, rewarding a VR46 setup that favored late-session attacks. KTM also brought positives: Pedro Acosta’s decisive late lap put him among the front runners, and Brad Binder reclaimed his regular Q2 spot after issues with tyre heating and corner exits earlier in the weekend.
Incidents and team dynamics
Trackhouse had mixed fortunes. Ai Ogura made Q2 but crashed late at Turn 7; he’s uninjured and will contest the shootout after adjusting his braking window. Raul Fernandez, meanwhile, struggled to match his morning pace and finished outside the top ten, leaving his crew plenty to tweak overnight — especially around tyre allocation and setup consistency.
A high-stakes chess match
Qualifying at the Chang International Circuit was a careful balance between precision and daring. Track conditions stayed stable, so many teams timed their runs to avoid any late rain. Others rolled the dice with final attempts; Bezzecchi’s last push ultimately ended in a heavy rear-step under braking at Turn 12, but his earlier effort had already secured the top time.0
A high-stakes chess match
Qualifying at the Chang International Circuit was a careful balance between precision and daring. Track conditions stayed stable, so many teams timed their runs to avoid any late rain. Others rolled the dice with final attempts; Bezzecchi’s last push ultimately ended in a heavy rear-step under braking at Turn 12, but his earlier effort had already secured the top time.1
A high-stakes chess match
Qualifying at the Chang International Circuit was a careful balance between precision and daring. Track conditions stayed stable, so many teams timed their runs to avoid any late rain. Others rolled the dice with final attempts; Bezzecchi’s last push ultimately ended in a heavy rear-step under braking at Turn 12, but his earlier effort had already secured the top time.2
A high-stakes chess match
Qualifying at the Chang International Circuit was a careful balance between precision and daring. Track conditions stayed stable, so many teams timed their runs to avoid any late rain. Others rolled the dice with final attempts; Bezzecchi’s last push ultimately ended in a heavy rear-step under braking at Turn 12, but his earlier effort had already secured the top time.3