- Marc Marquez is on pole for the third time in 2016. This is the first time that Marquez has started from pole in the MotoGP class at the Catalunya circuit. Marquez has not had a win at any of the Spanish circuits since he won the final race of the 2014 season at Valencia.
- The last Honda rider to win in the premier-class from pole position at the Catalunya circuit was Valentino Rossi in the 500cc class in 2001.
- Jorge Lorenzo returns to the front row after missing out at Mugello for the first time in 2016. Lorenzo has won in Catalunya four times in the last six years.
- In third place on the grid is Dani Pedrosa – his first front row start of 2016. Pedrosa has finished on the podium for the last four years in Catalunya, but last won at this circuit in 2008. Pedrosa has finished fourth at the last three successive races.
- This is the first time this season that Honda have had two riders qualify on the front row of the grid.
- The highest Ducati rider in qualifying and the top Independent Team rider, Hector Barbera, heads the second row of the grid – his best qualifying result since he had his only front row start in the MotoGP class at Mugello in 2012.
- Starting from the middle of the second row is Valentino Rossi, who has won on six occasions in the premier-class at the Catalunya circuit, the last of which was in 2009. Rossi has failed to finish twice in the last four races after only having one none finish in the previous 51 races.
- Taking the final place on the second row is Maverick Vinales, who will be aiming to give Suzuki their first podium finish at the Catalunya circuit since Kenny Robert’s victory in the 500cc class back in 2000.
- Cal Crutchlow has qualified at the head of the third row of the grid. Crutchlow has failed to finish for the last three years at the Catalan GP.
- In eighth place on the grid is Andrea Iannone, who was the first Ducati rider across the line last year in Catalunya in fourth place.