Ducati’s indomitable Marc Marquez once again showcased his brilliance, securing a hard-fought victory at the Qatar MotoGP despite an early scare.
The six-time world champion overcame damage sustained in a first-lap collision with his younger brother, Alex Marquez, to conquer the Lusail International Circuit for the first time since 2014.
Marc Marquez, who had already dominated the weekend by snatching his fourth consecutive pole position with a record-breaking lap and clinching his fourth sprint victory on Saturday, faced an immediate challenge in the main race. A perfect start saw him lead into turn one, but contact with Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing) resulted in damage to the rear of Marc’s Ducati. Capitalizing on the chaos, VR46 Racing’s Franco Morbidelli, who had started from fourth, surged into the lead.
Alex Marquez’s race went from bad to worse. The younger Spaniard was involved in another incident, this time tangling with VR46 Racing’s Fabio Di Giannantonio. The stewards deemed Alex responsible and handed him a long lap penalty, effectively ending his hopes of a podium finish after a strong run of second-place finishes in every sprint and race this season. He ultimately finished seventh.
Meanwhile, Marc Marquez and reigning champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati) engaged in a strategic battle for second place, cleverly using each other’s slipstream to gain an advantage. Red Bull KTM Tech3’s Maverick Vinales also joined the fray, moving up to third.
Despite visibly struggling with a damaged rear fin flapping precariously, Marc Marquez was overtaken by a charging Vinales, who seized second place with a late braking move. Vinales then hunted down Morbidelli, snatching the lead on the main straight with 12 laps remaining. Marc Marquez and Bagnaia also eventually found their way past the fading Morbidelli.
However, the drama wasn’t over. With seven laps left, Vinales ran wide, gifting the lead back to the relentless Marc Marquez. The Ducati rider seized the opportunity, unleashing a series of fastest laps to build a comfortable gap and cruise to a remarkable victory.
Post-Race Drama and Championship Standings:
Initially finishing second, Maverick Vinales was later handed a significant 16-second penalty for tyre pressure infringements. This promoted Francesco Bagnaia to second place and Franco Morbidelli to third, securing a valuable podium for the VR46 team.
Marc Marquez’s resilient victory propelled him to the top of the rider’s standings with 123 points, extending his lead over his brother Alex to a significant 17 points. Francesco Bagnaia sits third in the championship chase with 97 points.
“I needed to manage the front tyres, so for that reason, in the first part of the race, I was quiet,” explained a tactical Marc Marquez after the race. “Morbidelli was going [ahead] but I predicted or I understood yesterday with the rhythms that he will be not fast in the second part of the race. Big surprise when Maverick overtook me. I thought it was [Pedro] Acosta because normally he is the fastest on KTM. He was super fast, but I had that margin for the end. Victory in Qatar is amazing.”
The Qatar Grand Prix was also a difficult return for defending champion Jorge Martin (Aprilia), who crashed out heavily on turn 11 and was later diagnosed with six fractures, a significant blow to his early season.
Marc Marquez’s ability to secure victory despite the early damage and a strong challenge from Vinales highlights his exceptional talent and determination. His extended championship lead marks him as the clear frontrunner as the MotoGP season progresses.