- On pole for the fourth time in 2016 is Jorge Lorenzo (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP), who this weekend will be the youngest rider to reach the milestone of 250 grand prix starts. Lorenzo will be aiming to be the first rider to win the MotoGP™ class in successive years in Valencia since Rossi won in both 2003 and 2004.
- Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team), who is making his 150th grand prix start, is in second place on the grid – his 12th front row start of 2016.
- Starting from third place on the grid is Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) – his 12th front row of the year. Rossi last won in Valencia in 2004 when he shared the podium with Max Biaggi and Troy Bayliss.
- Heading the second row is Maverick Viñales (Team Suzuki Ecstar), who will be aiming to be the first Suzuki rider to finish on the podium at Valencia since John Hopkins was third in 2007.
- In fifth place on the grid is Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) – his best qualifying result in Valencia in nine appearances at the circuit in the MotoGP™ class.
- Taking the final place on the second row is Pol Espargaro (Monster Yamaha Tech 3); his fifth place finish in Valencia last year was his equal best result of 2015.
- Andrea Iannone (Ducati Team), who has qualified in seventh place on the grid, has failed to score any points in his three previous appearances at Valencia in the MotoGP™ class.
- On his return to racing after missing the last three GPs, Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team) has qualified in eighth place on the grid. Pedrosa is the most successful rider at Valencia with six GP wins, including three in MotoGP™.
- Mika Kallio (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), who is debuting the new KTM RC16 MotoGP™ machine, has qualified in 20th place on the grid - but with a lap time less than eight tenths of a second outside the current race lap record, set by Jorge Lorenzo in 2015.