- Johann Zarco starts from pole for the first time since the Japanese Grand Prix last year. Zarco won the Moto2™ race in Catalunya last year from pole position.
- Alex Rins is on the front row for the fourth time in 2016. Rins set a new lap record last year in Catalunya while battling with Zarco for the race win.
- Tom Luthi is on the front row for just the second time this year – his other was pole position at Le Mans. Luthi took his first ever GP podium finish at the Catalunya circuit, second in the 125cc class in 2003.
- Takaaki Nakagami, who heads the second row of the grid, will be aiming to get back on the podium for the first time since he finished third at Misano last year.
- Sam Lowes starts from fifth place on the grid, just the second time this year that he has not qualified on the front row. Lowes has finished on the podium four times in the last five races.
- Starting from sixth place on the grid is Axel Pons, who finished sixth two weeks ago at Mugello – his best grand prix result in what was his 116th GP start.
- Alex Marquez, the winner of the Moto3™ race in Catalunya two years ago, heads the third row of the grid, which is his best qualifying result since he was sixth fastest qualifier in Aragon last year.