2025 Thai MotoGP starting grid confirmed after penalties applied

The start of the 2025 MotoGP season is here, beginning at the famous Buriram International Circuit for the Thai Grand Prix. Fans eagerly await Sunday's race, but the weekend hasn't been without a few penalties.

Leading the grid is Marc Marquez, who clinched pole position for the Ducati Lenovo Team with a lap time of 1:28.782, making this his first pole since moving to the Italian outfit following a successful 11-year career with Honda.

In fact, both of the Marquez brothers have captured attention, with Alex Marquez trailing close behind Marc by just 0.146 seconds, taking P2 on the grid. Alex rides for Gresini Racing and has shown a strong performance throughout qualifying.

Franco Morbidelli initially qualified in sixth but was handed a three-place grid penalty due to an incident in practice where he impeded Francesco Bagnaia. With this penalty, the Italian will begin the race on the third row alongside Raul Fernandez and Marco Bezzecchi. Pedro Acosta therefore rises to the second row.

Somkiat Chantra, the only Thai rider ever to make MotoGP, was also given a penalty. Qualifying in P21, he has since dropped to the back of the grid for impeding Alex Marquez. This is very unfortunate for the rider at his home race.

Ai Ogura, a rookie in the 2025 season coming off a 2024 Moto2 World Championship win, sees himself fifth on the grid after an impressive showing for Trackhouse Racing.

The 2025 Thai MotoGP race will take place on Sunday, March 2, 2025, at 15:00 local time (08:00 GMT).

Somkiat Chantra, Team LCR Honda

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

2025 Thai Grand Prix Qualifying results with penalties applied

Marc Marquez (ESP) – Ducati Lenovo Team, Ducati GP25 – 1:28.782
Alex Marquez (ESP) – Gresini Racing, Ducati GP24 – 1:28.928
Francesco Bagnaia (ITA) – Ducati Lenovo Team, Ducati GP25 – 1:28.955
Jack Miller (AUS) – Prima Alpine Pramac Yamaha, Yamaha YZR-M1 – 1:29.090
Ai Ogura (JAP) – Trackhouse Racing, Aprilia RS-GP – 1:29.134
Pedro Acosta (ESP) – Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, KTM RC16 – 1:29.320
Raul Fernandez (ESP) – Trackhouse Racing, Aprilia RS-GP – 1:29.367
Marco Bezzecchi (ITA) – Aprilia Racing, Aprilia RS-GP – 1:29.381
Franco Morbidelli (ITA) – Pertamina Enduro VR46, Ducati GP24 – 1:29.171 (+3 Penalty)
Fabio Quartararo (FRA) – Monster Energy Yamaha, Yamaha YZR-M1 – 1:29.389
Joan Mir (ESP) – Honda HRC Castrol, Honda RC213V – 1:29.422
Johann Zarco (FRA) – Castrol Honda LCR, Honda RC213V – 1:29.609
Fabio Di Giannantonio (ITA) – Pertamina Enduro VR46, Ducati GP25 – 1:29.237
Brad Binder (RSA) – Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, KTM RC16 – 1:29.468
Fermin Aldeguer (ESP) – Gresini Racing, Ducati GP24 – 1:29.484
Luca Marini (ITA) – Honda HRC Castrol, Honda RC213V – 1:29.532
Miguel Oliveira (POR) – Prima Alpine Pramac Yamaha, Yamaha YZR-M1 – 1:29.587
Maverick Vinales (ESP) – Red Bull KTM Tech3, KTM RC16 – 1:29.701
Alex Rins (ESP) – Monster Energy Yamaha, Yamaha YZR-M1 – 1:29.733
Enea Bastianini (ITA) – Red Bull KTM Tech3, KTM RC16 – 1:29.916
Lorenzo Savadori (ITA) – Aprilia Racing, Aprilia RS-GP – 1:30.630
Somkiat Chantra (THA) – Idemitsu Honda LCR, Honda RC213V – 1:30.076 (+3 Penalty)