Marc Márquez took a massive step towards another world championship on Saturday night, winning a dramatic Qatar Sprint at Lusail after surviving one of the most chaotic races of the season. The Ducati rider crossed the finish line ahead of Fabio Di Giannantonio and Jorge Martín, extending his championship advantage and putting himself in a position to potentially secure the title on Sunday. However, the victory came after crashes, controversy and an extraordinary battle with Marco Bezzecchi.
The drama started almost immediately. Marco Bezzecchi, who had secured pole position with a new lap record, initially led the field, while Márquez and Francesco Bagnaia fought for position behind him. But disaster struck at the final corner on the opening lap when Fermín Aldeguer made contact with Bagnaia, sending the Ducati rider flying off his bike. The incident forced Race Direction to red-flag the Sprint. Bagnaia was taken away on a stretcher for medical attention, while Aldeguer received a double Long Lap penalty for the restart. The distance was subsequently reduced to ten laps.
When the race restarted, Márquez made an excellent launch and immediately challenged Bezzecchi for the lead. The Italian fought back and briefly managed to get ahead, setting up an intense battle between the Ducati and Aprilia riders. On lap four, the defining incident occurred: Márquez ran slightly wide at Turn 1, allowing Bezzecchi to attack on the inside. However, as the Ducati rider returned to the racing line, the two motorcycles collided. Márquez somehow kept his bike upright, but Bezzecchi crashed out, ending both his Sprint and his remaining mathematical championship hopes. The stewards investigated the incident but decided that no further action was necessary, a decision that clearly frustrated Aprilia.
Behind the leading pair, Jorge Martín was producing an incredible recovery. Starting from eleventh, the Aprilia rider took advantage of the chaos to climb through the field and eventually found himself fighting for the lead. Martín even managed to get ahead of Márquez, briefly threatening to ruin his championship celebrations. However, the Ducati rider responded, reclaimed first place and gradually established control. Martín remained in second for most of the closing stages, but Fabio Di Giannantonio had other ideas.
The final lap delivered another important twist. Di Giannantonio launched a decisive attack on Martín and successfully took second place, pushing the Aprilia rider down to third. Raúl Fernández finished fourth, ahead of Johann Zarco and Pedro Acosta, while Ai Ogura, Enea Bastianini, Iker Lecuona and Diogo Moreira completed the top ten. For Bezzecchi, meanwhile, the crash was particularly devastating, as he lost his last opportunity to remain in mathematical contention for the championship.
For Márquez, the result could hardly have been more important. His victory, combined with Martín’s third place, gives the Ducati star a 49-point championship advantage. He can now mathematically secure his eighth premier-class world title on Sunday if he wins the main race and Martín fails to score. After surviving a frightening collision, overcoming a red-flag restart and resisting Martín’s late challenge, Márquez is just one step away from another historic achievement. Qatar could become the scene of yet another unforgettable chapter in the career of the #93.
MiniBikers – 2026 Qatar GP – Sprint
Deja una respuesta