MotoGP 2026 Round 12 British Grands Prix Silverstone report | The 12th different winner in the last 12 British Grands Prix, Aprilia rider Raul Fernandez led from start to finish for a mighty first Grand Prix win of the season. Report: BikeReview/MotoGP Press

Friday Practice and Saturday Qualifying
MotoGP

The Qatar Airways British GP got off to a flying start as MotoGP roared out of the blocks in Silverstone, with Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing #72) setting a new lap record with an outstanding 1’56.280 to top the day’s running. Raul Fernandez (SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team #25) and Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team #49) completed the top three, as no less than eight riders beat the previous lap record.


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Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing #89) came out swinging after the summer break to take the first pole position of the second half, setting a new lap record of 1’56.160 to pip Raul Fernandez to the top by just 0.021. SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team made it both riders on the front row, as Ai Ogura (SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team #79) slotted into third alongside his teammate.

Moto2

P1 and a new all-time Moto2 Silverstone lap record signalled a pretty good day at the office for Daniel Holgado (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team #96) as the MotoGP-bound Spaniard set the pace going into the weekend at the British GP. The #96’s 2:01.815 was 0.095s quicker than Senna Agius’ (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP #81) best effort, and it was the Australian’s teammate Manuel Gonzalez (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP #18), who closed out the top three.



Moto2 was back in action at the Qatar Airways Grand Prix of Great Britain, and their grid was locked in for Sunday with Izan Guevara (BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2 #28) at the head of the pack. The Spaniard clocked in his 2:01.483s time early in the session, and his time hung on for his third career Moto2 pole position. Behind him, Alonso Lopez (ITALJET Gresini Moto2 #21) ended the session three tenths off the #28, but he took second, just denying Ivan Ortola (QJMOTOR-Biolec-MSI #4), who completed the front row.

Moto3

The opening day of the British GP, and thus the second half of the 2026 season, is all done in Moto3, and it was Valentin Perrone’s (Red Bull KTM Tech3 #73) 2’09.568, which led the way by the final chequered flag. With all main title contenders in Q2 and an array of big names in Q1, qualifying on Saturday was going to be a belter.

Scott Ogden (CIP Green Power #19) earned pole position for the British GP, becoming the first home hero to qualify on Moto3 pole at the venue – ever. It was a CIP Green Power 1-2 too, with Adrian Cruces (CIP Green Power #11) taking second ahead of Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM Tech3), who rounded out the front row after being fastest on Friday.

Saturday
Tissot Sprint

World Championship leader Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing) claimed his third Tissot Sprint victory of the season at the Qatar Airways Grand Prix of Great Britain, completing a golden day at Silverstone to extend his title lead ahead of Sunday’s race. Ai Ogura (SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team) finished second to limit the damage in the standings, while Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) produced a heroic ride to secure third and deliver Aprilia’s first 1-2-3 in a Sprint.

Martin launched perfectly from pole to lead into Turn 1, with Ogura holding P2 and Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) muscling his way into P3. Bezzecchi and Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team #93) immediately went to battle, the reigning World Champion eventually taking P4. Raul Fernandez (SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team) slipped to P6 on the opening lap.

Di Giannantonio attacked Ogura on Lap 2 but couldn’t make it stick, leaving the title’s top two controlling the race as Martin held a half‑second advantage. Fernandez then crashed at Turn 4 while shadowing Bezzecchi, promoting Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP #73) to P6 and putting pressure on the Italian ahead. Bezzecchi struck next, passing Marc Marquez at Copse for P4, while Alex Marquez soon overtook his brother for P5 as the #93 struggled for grip.

At the front, Martin and Ogura remained locked in for gold, but Bezzecchi reeled in Di Giannantonio and passed him at Copse with four laps remaining. Both Di Giannantonio and Marc Marquez suffered severe rear‑grip drop, allowing Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing #37) and Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol #36) to sweep through. On the final lap, Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team #21) demoted Marc Marquez to P9, though the #93 clung to the final point by 0.027s.

“I did a lot of work during the summer, and all the work we did was worth it so I’m really happy. Today, it was an incredible job. Congrats also to Marco, because after what he suffered with his last injuries, it’s crazy that he’s on the podium again. At the end I had no rear tyre [grip], and I thought Ai would catch me, but finally I was able to manage the distance,” Martin explained.


Tissot Sprint Race Results

  1. Jorge Martin Aprilia Racing
  2. Ai Ogura Trackhouse Aprilia (+1.530s)
  3. Marco Bezzecchi Aprilia Racing (+3.974s)
  4. Alex Marquez BK8 Gresini Ducati (+6.956s)
  5. Fabio Di Giannantonio Pertamina VR46 Ducati (+8.651s)

Sunday
MotoGP

Raul Fernandez (SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team) delivered a flawless lights‑to‑flag performance to claim his second Grand Prix victory and first of 2026 at Silverstone, making amends for Saturday’s mistake with a dominant ride ahead of Aprilia Racing duo Jorge Martin and Marco Bezzecchi. The #25 seized the lead immediately at Turn 1 and never looked back, while Martin extended his Championship advantage over Bezzecchi with another strong podium.

Fernandez became the 12th different winner in the last 12 British Grands Prix and the seventh victor of 2026, matching the total number of winners from 2025 as the season’s unpredictable storylines continue. From P2, Fernandez launched perfectly to grab the holeshot ahead of Bezzecchi, while polesitter Martin and Ai Ogura (SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team) scrapped through the opening corners. Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) pounced to third at Turn 4, though Martin soon struck back. Fernandez immediately broke clear, setting a new race lap record by Lap 3 and stretching his lead to two seconds.

Ogura’s early battles dropped him to P7, as Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) climbed to P5 ahead of Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing). A chaotic spell followed as Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech3 #23), Iker Lecuona (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP #27) and Cal Crutchlow (CASTROL Honda LCR #35) all crashed before Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team #63) also fell at Turn 7 on Lap 8.

Lap 9 brought major shifts, for Martin passed Bezzecchi for P2, Alex Marquez moved into third and Ogura’s race ended with a fall at Turn 16. A mistake at Turn 1 then dropped Alex Marquez to P5, though he recovered to P4 after re‑passing Acosta, with Marc Marquez still lurking behind. As the final laps approached, Fernandez remained untouchable, holding a lead of over four seconds while Martin and Bezzecchi settled into podium contention. Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) later overtook Marc Marquez at Turn 3, renewing their rivalry as he chased Acosta.

No one could challenge Fernandez, who crossed the line 2.5 seconds clear to take a commanding victory. Martin finished second to open a 31‑point lead over teammate Bezzecchi, who secured third. Alex Marquez led Ducati home in fourth behind the all‑Aprilia podium, followed by Acosta and Di Giannantonio.

“For sure I’m really happy, but I don’t really know what I feel right now. The last time I was in this position was in [the final race of 2025] at Valencia when I was fighting with Marco for the victory. It’s true that yesterday I was quite frustrated with my mistake, but it is part of the sport sometimes. I enjoyed it like a kid, and we won,” Fernandez said.


MotoGP Race Results

  1. Raul Fernandez Trackhouse Aprilia
  2. Jorge Martin Aprilia Racing (+2.538s)
  3. Marco Bezzecchi Aprilia Racing (+3.393s)
  4. Alex Marquez BK8 Gresini Ducati (+4.702s)
  5. Pedro Acosta Red Bull KTM (+6.256s)

Check out the full MotoGP race results here

MotoGP Championship Points

  1. Jorge Martin Aprilia Racing – 240
  2. Marco Bezzecchi Aprilia Racing – 209
  3. Ai Ogura Trackhouse Aprilia – 203
  4. Marc Marquez Ducati Lenovo – 200
  5. Fabio di Giannantonio Pertamina VR46 Ducati – 199

Moto2

The Qatar Airways Grand Prix of Great Britain delivered one of the greatest Moto2 races ever, with Filip Salač (OnlyFans American Racing Team #12) rising above in a thriller to claim his first Moto2 victory. The drama peaked when World Championship leader Manuel Gonzalez (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) celebrated a lap early, then sustained bike damage after contact with Daniel Holgado (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team), dropping from P1 to P14. Ivan Ortola (QJMOTOR – Biolec – MSI) emerged in second, while Alex Escrig (KLINT Racing Team #11) secured his maiden Moto2 podium after Holgado saved a last‑lap highside.

Off the line, polesitter Izan Guevara (BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2) and Alonso Lopez (ITALJET Gresini Moto2) fought side‑by‑side, settling into a Guevara‑Lopez‑Ortola order by Lap 2. Holgado soon charged forward, setting multiple fastest laps and climbing to second by Lap 3, giving Guevara brief breathing room. Further back, David Alonso (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) received a Long Lap penalty for causing Collin Veijer’s (Red Bull KTM Ajo #95) Lap 1 crash. Title contender Senna Agius (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) disappointingly tumbled to P19 after a technical issue.

Lap 9 ignited the front group as Holgado slipstreamed past Guevara at Stowe, forming a six‑rider lead pack with Gonzalez, Tony Arbolino (REDS Fantic Racing #14), Ortola and Salač. The fight intensified, and with six laps remaining, Arbolino briefly hit the front before crashing at Vale, leaving Holgado, Gonzalez, Ortola and Salač battling for the win. Guevara ran wide, avoiding the incident, dropping behind Escrig.

With two laps to go, Gonzalez led for the first time, only for Holgado to strike back immediately. Then came extraordinary drama. Gonzalez crossed the line and began celebrating a lap early, standing on the footpegs. Holgado swerved to avoid him and clipped Gonzalez’s exhaust, damaging the #18’s bike and ending his victory hopes. Holgado then suffered a huge moment exiting Luffield, gifting Escrig P3.

Up front, it became Salač versus Ortola. The Czech rider held firm under pressure to secure his debut Moto2 win by 0.3s, with Ortola’s P2 moving him to fourth in the standings. Escrig completed the podium, finishing just 0.6s from the victory.


Moto2 Race Results

  1. Filip Salac OnlyFans American Racing Team
  2. Ivan Ortola QJMOTOR – Biolec – MSI (+0.303s)
  3. Alex Escrig KLINT Racing Team (+0.652s)
  4. Daniel Holgado CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team (+1.743s)
  5. Izan Guevara BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2 (+2.555s)

Moto2 Championship Points

  1. Manuel Gonzalez Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP – 197.5
  2. Izan Guevara BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2 – 155
  3. Senna Agius LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP – 136
  4. Ivan Ortola QJMOTOR – Biolec – MSI – 133.5
  5. Daniel Holgado CFMOTO Azul Marino Aspar Team – 128

Moto3

David Almansa (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP #22) won a stunning Moto3 race at the Qatar Airways Grand Prix of Great Britain, with the battle going to the wire but the #22 taking command to get back on top. Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo #83) banked second place and becomes the closest chaser in the title fight after Maximo Quiles (CFMoto Valresa Aspar Team #28) was sidelined from Sunday, with the podium completed by Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM Tech3).

Almansa shot off the line to lead from the second row, with an early race shuffle seeing the #22 in the lead and Carpe on his tail. They slotted in ahead of Adrian Cruces (CIP Green Power), whose teammate, home hero and polesitter Scott Ogden, got a tougher start and dropped a few positions. A top four of Almansa, Carpe, Brian Uriarte (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing #31) made themselves a little breathing room ahead of the front row, Cruces, Ogden and Perrone, early doors.

It soon became a freight train battle once again, however, before drama hit in a multiple-rider incident and Cruces crashed out, leaving a gap in the group behind the top seven. Not long after that, the fairytale came to an end for Ogden as the Brit crashed out of Club Corner, leaving a top six battle for the podium, now including Joel Esteban (LEVEL UP – MTA #78) as he got in the mix. That battle rolled nearly all the way to the flag. Almansa managed to keep himself at the front all the way to the final lap, the rider clearly to beat, and the four tenths in hand helped him stay ahead of the drama behind as the final tour of Silverstone got underway.

Fernandez vs Uriarte was lighting up before a sudden last lap crash for Sachsenring winner Uriarte as he slid out of third at Turn 6, leaving Fernandez to contend with Carpe instead. Into the final sector that duel rolled on, with Fernandez then suffering a moment and finding himself mugged by first Carpe and then Perrone, thus forcing him to settle for fourth. Almansa crossed the line ahead of the squabble for the win, with Carpe second and Perrone just nabbing that podium late on.

Behind Fernandez came Esteban to complete the top five, with Joel Kelso (GRYD Racing #66) at the head of the second group, which included Rico Salmela (Red Bull KTM Tech3 #27) and home hero Eddie O’Shea (GRYD Racing #8).


Moto3 Race Results

  1. David Almansa Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP
  2. Alvaro Carpe Red Bull KTM Ajo (+0.701s)
  3. Valentin Perrone Red Bull KTM Tech3 (+0.991s)
  4. Adrian Fernandez Leopard Racing (+1.111s)
  5. Joel Esteban LEVEL UP – MTA (+3.743s)

Moto3 Championship Points

  1. Maximo Quiles CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team – 231
  2. Alvaro Carpe Red Bull KTM Ajo – 146
  3. David Almansa Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP – 134
  4. Brian Uriarte Red Bull KTM Ajo – 127
  5. Marco Morelli CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team – 115

How Did the Aussies Do?

Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP #43) capped a competitive opening day at Silverstone by securing ninth in practice and booking his place directly into Q2. The Aussie recovered from a slow start on the medium rear to show some of the strongest late‑race pace in the Silverstone Sprint to claim 13th, giving him and the team valuable information for Sunday.

Pic: Jack Miller Racing

In the main race, his run to 13th underlined the limits he’s facing in front‑group battles, though, with the added workload hurting his tyres late on. Senna Agius carried his speed straight through the summer break, going second‑fastest on Friday, but after a P13 in FP3 and a disrupted Q2, he couldn’t improve his lap and started Sunday’s race from P11 on row four.

Sunday was similarly frustrating for the talented youngster, as a technical problem stifled him. Despite the difficult situation, he pushed through all 17 laps to finish P20, leaving Great Britain still third in the championship and fully motivated for the next round.

Pic: Joel Kelso Racing.

Joel Kelso qualified P10 at Silverstone and felt he’d made solid progress heading into race day, then delivered a season‑best P6 on Sunday after a tough weekend, as he extracted the positives and aims to build again in Aragon.


 

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