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Tag: Marc Marquez
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Marc Marquez makes it six Sprint wins after battling Quartararo on Saturday
The Frenchman is overhauled by the #93, then the #73… and then Aldeguer as the rookie makes his first rostrum visit in France. Le Mans, 10 May 2025: Pure emotion, adrenaline and excitement, the 2025 Michelin® Grand Prix of France still has the Grand Prix race to entertain but Saturday’s stunning on-track action left plenty of goosebumps. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) vs Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team), the fight we wanted to see, the fight we got. The #93 came out on top to become the first rider with six consecutive Sprint wins but the stat itself isn’t the entire story as BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP celebrate a double Saturday podium with Alex Marquez and rookie Fermin Aldeguer coming through to complete the rostrum.
OPENING STAGES: Quartararo pulls the pin for the home crowd
Grabbing the holeshot, Marc Marquez got to the fast Turn 2 first but ran wide, allowing home star and polesitter Quartararo to hit the front and launch away in the early stages. It was an early exit for Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), as the rider P3 in the standings crashed at Turn 3 on Lap 2, despite a great start up from P6 to P4. Elsewhere, a miserable start for Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing), who ran off into the gravel; he was able to rejoin the action but way out of points contention.
As Lap 4 ended, there was another crasher, this time Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) at Turn 9; he remounted but entered the pits. Meanwhile, at the start of Lap 6, it was Quartararo still ahead, but Marquez made his first attempt to try and lead the Sprint. He attacked at Turn 3 but ran wide, allowing ‘El Diablo’ to get back through on the cutback. However, he wasn’t as fortunate at Turn 8, with Marc able to squeeze down the inside and not allow any retaliation from the Frenchman.
MORE BATTLES: Alex Marquez and Aldeguer come to the fore
At the start of Lap 8 and now heading towards the final third, there was no way for Quartararo to resist the #73 of Alex Marquez, who blasted by on the way up to Turn 2. Now the #20’s attention was moving towards Alex Marquez’s teammate Aldeguer, once again having a sensational weekend in his rookie season. He found a way ahead for P3 at Turn 3 but not willing to relinquish a top three at home, Quartararo struck back at Turn 6 with contact between the two. Not backing down, the #54 responded with equal if not more brutal force, shoving Quartararo back to fourth at Turn 7.
THE FINAL MOMENTS: Acosta in late drama as Marc makes his mark
There was a last lap battle between the KTM duo of Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Maverick Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) over P5, with the #12 attacking ‘El Tiburon’ into Turn 3 but unable to make it work. Then, the unthinkable on the final lap at Turn 13, as Acosta fell all of his own accord, denying himself of a first top five in the Sprints this season.
Out front, it was dreamland for Marc, who became the first rider to win six consecutive Sprints, retaking the Championship lead from his brother by two points, with Alex taking second as the brothers once again locked out the top two places. In third, a mighty first Sprint rostrum for Aldeguer, who was one of the fastest riders in the closing stages, so keep an eye out for him in the Grand Prix. Quartararo was a determined fourth, whilst Viñales completed the top five courtesy of Acosta’s last fall.
Sixth place gave another reason for the home crowd to cheer as Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) came through from P11, pipping Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team), who likewise climbed the order from P17 to P7. Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) grabbed his first Sprint points since COTA in 2023. The last point went to Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol), denying Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) who rounded out the top ten. Find full results HERE!
After a showdown to remember in the Tissot Sprint, the stage is set for another stunner at Le Mans. Will we get fireworks? And we will get rain? We’ll find out at 2pm local time (UTC+2). -
It’s Something Super Special, says Quartararo as MotoGP Roars into Le Mans
Le Mans, 8 May 2025: The 2025 MotoGP World Championship ignites once more at the legendary Le Mans circuit this weekend, as the Michelin Grand Prix of France hosts Round 6 of a season already brimming with drama, unpredictability, and sibling rivalry. With just a single point separating championship leader Álex Márquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) from his brother Marc Márquez (Ducati Lenovo Team), the stage is set for another unforgettable showdown.
Home Heroes and French Passion
Le Mans is more than just a race, it’s a celebration of French motorsport culture. Local favorite Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) returns buoyed by a podium in Jerez and the debut of Yamaha’s updated inline-four engine. While not yet the long-awaited V4, the new power unit offers improved performance in fifth and sixth gears, potentially giving Quartararo an edge on the Bugatti Circuit’s long straights.
“It’s something super special,” Quartararo said of racing at home, where the atmosphere is electric and the expectations sky-high. He’ll be joined by fellow Frenchman Johann Zarco (LCR Honda Castrol), who’s eyeing a strong performance amid speculation about a potential factory seat in 2026.
Márquez vs. Márquez: A Family Feud at Full Throttle
Álex Márquez’s maiden MotoGP victory in Jerez has catapulted him to the top of the standings, but the younger Márquez remains grounded. “La victoria no tiene que volvernos locos,” he cautioned, emphasising the need for consistency over euphoria.
Marc Márquez, meanwhile, is determined to bounce back after a costly crash in Spain. Reflecting on his misstep, he acknowledged, “Hay que controlar el exceso de confianza,” recognising that overconfidence led to his fall. Despite the setback, Marc remains a formidable force, having won every race he’s finished this season.
Technical Tweaks and Tactical Turns
Francesco “Pecco” Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) is also in the mix, aiming to rectify past mistakes at Le Mans. Recalling a pivotal moment from last year, he noted the need to “frenar más fuerte en la curva 9 de la última vuelta” to avoid a repeat of losing position in the final moments.
In the paddock, discussions extend beyond the track. The Grand Prix Commission has approved a new regulation allowing riders returning from injury to train with prototype bikes, a move prompted by Jorge Martín’s recent challenges. This change aims to ensure that returning riders can safely reacclimate to the demands of MotoGP machinery.
The Le Mans Experience
Beyond the racing, Le Mans offers a festival-like atmosphere with fairground attractions, live music, and stunt shows, making it a highlight of the MotoGP calendar. The circuit itself is renowned for its demanding layout, particularly the Chemin aux Boeuf chicane, which tests riders’ braking prowess.
As the championship battle intensifies, all eyes will be on Le Mans to see who can master the moment and emerge victorious in this high-stakes contest.
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Marc Marquez pips Alex, Quartararo third as Bagnaia takes Q2 tumble
A late lap record pole position, Yamaha on the front row, Bagnaia in the gravel: qualifying sets us up for a floodlit spectacular.
Qatar, 12 April 2025: Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) continues his run of qualifying supremacy with a new lap record pole position at Lusail, putting in a 1:50.499 on his final push to deny Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) by just a tenth.
In third it’s a stunning performance from Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) as Yamaha get back on the front row for the first time since 2022, meanwhile fortunes reversed for Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) as the #63 finds himself down in P11 after sliding out on his second run.
Q1: WILL HE, WON’T HE?
He tried. As he returns to action, it’s not about results just yet for reigning Champion Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing), it’s about getting back in the groove and gaining kilometers. It seems like it may well end up being both, however, as the #1 was sitting second behind rookie Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) for much of Q1, potentially on to move through. In the end it wasn’t quite to be though, with Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) slotting in to second to join Ogura in the fight for pole.Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) just pipped his teammate but finished the session third, missing out on Q2 by just 0.041s.
Q2: DESERT BLOCKBUSTER
Then it was the pole position shootout. Friday saw a gap of just 0.022s between Bagnaia and teammate Marc Marquez, and Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) was ahead of both – teasing much from the potential pole position shootout.Alex Marquez them around their first laps of Lusail and was briefly ahead before his brother pipped him to provisional pole. Morbidelli, Quartararo, Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) and Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) was the top six after the first run, with Bagnaia P9 and looking for more. But in the final five minutes, it was all set to change.
BAGNAIA ON THE BACK FOOT
Eager to improve, the #63 was the first out for the second run but then it all came to a crashing sudden halt at Turn 4. The double MotoGP Champion tucked the front, spelling the end of his session too as he couldn’t get back in time to head back out. Di Giannantonio was on a storming lap though, good enough to put him on a provisional front row in second. Rins was also a huge improver, moving into P5, but teammate Quartararo was on his way to steal the show.‘El Diablo’ put in an absolute stunner to take over on provisional pole as the clock ticked down, but Alex Marquez then just snatched it away from the #20. That left Marc Marquez down in P3 but lighting up the timing screens, with the spotlight on the #93. Could he get it done on his final push? Just. The Ducati Lenovo Team rider set a new lap record to take his fourth pole of the year ahead of brother Alex in P2, but Quartararo’s third is his and Yamaha’s first front row since Assen in 2022, showing the steps made by the Iwata manufacturer. And right on the back of his absolute showstopper of a start and Sprint at COTA…
THE GRID
The second row features Friday’s fastest Morbidelli, who was just ahead of Marc on track to improve late on, pipping teammate Di Giannantonio. Then comes another serious standout performer as Maverick Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech3) makes it three manufacturers on the front two rows of the grid in sixth. The #12 also takes top KTM honours by some six tenths over Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), who had a quiet session to finish P12 as last of the Q2 runners.Zarco just missed out on the top two rows but heads the third in P7, ahead of top rookie Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP), with his best grid position so far of P8. Rins is ninth ahead of Ogura, with Bagnaia slowly bumped down to P11 as he was forced to cede the floor after his crash. He and Acosta alongside him will be gunning for gains at lights out, and after Bagnaia took the holeshot from well behind the front row in Texas, they’ll be ones to watch…
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Marc Marquez wins Sprint to take back championship lead; Alex takes P2: Lusail Sprint
Doha, 12 April 2025: The scintillating 2025 Saturday streak continues for Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) as the #93 completed a pole position and Tissot Sprint double at the Qatar Airways Grand Prix of Qatar to wrestle back the Championship lead from second place finisher Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP). The bronze medal went the way of Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team), as fellow Italian Francesco Bagnaia’s (Ducati Lenovo Team) evening ended with a disappointing P8 in Doha.
THE START: MARQUEZ VS MARQUEZ, BAGNAIA STRUGGLES
The top three on the grid all launched off the line very well but it was polesitter Marc Marquez who grabbed the holeshot ahead of Alex Marquez and Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP). Morbidelli and Fermin Aldeguer exchanged P4 at Turn 4, before the rookie got a little bit beaten up as Maverick Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech3) and Johann Zarco (LCR Honda Castrol) forced their way through.
Meanwhile, at the end of the first lap, Bagnaia’s progress was P11 to P8. Not bad, but the Italian needed more. At the front, Alex got the better of Marc at Turn 1 on Lap 2, but the red corner bit straight back. And what were we saying about Pecco needing more? That’s exactly the opposite of what happened on Lap 2.
First Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), then Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) and then 2023 and 2024 title rival, Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing), were ahead of Bagnaia. What was going on with the #63?
MARC PULLS CLEAR AS PODIUM FIGHT HOTS UP
At the front, Marc continued to lead Alex, with the gap between the two hovering around the 0.3s mark. Morbidelli was third, 0.7s further back, with Quartararo 0.3s away from his former teammate in P4. Viñales was well in touch in P5, as a mistake from Zarco cost the Frenchman a place to Aldeguer on Lap 4 of 11.
A fastest lap of the race was then set by Marc Marquez, seeing his lead stretch to 0.5s, but Alex Marquez responded with his personal best lap on the next lap to maintain that half a second. Elsewhere, Aldeguer was flying. The Gresini rider quickly reeled in Viñales and made a move stick with five laps left, with Bagnaia still outside of the points in P11. That was then P10 as Zarco lost more ground after running wide at the final corner, with Bagnaia now facing the tailpipes of Acosta and Ogura.
Three laps to go. Marc Marquez was now 1.2s up the road and looked set to keep his 100% Sprint record, while Morbidelli was keeping Quartararo half a second behind him. Bagnaia passed Acosta at Turn 4 to climb into P9 – in other words, a point-scoring position.
Last lap time! The victory fight seemed over, but the podium battle certainly wasn’t. Morbidelli’s margin had disappeared as Quartararo and Aldeguer swarmed. Could they do anything to pinch a podium from the Italian? Not quite. A small error at the final corner saw Quartararo hand Aldeguer a free pass into P4, but for the fourth Grand Prix in a row, Marc Marquez doubled up on a Saturday. Alex Marquez’s P2 run continued and Morbidelli did just about hold onto a bronze medal.
THE POINTS SCORERS
Aldeguer’s mid to late Sprint pace was nothing short of sensational as the rookie bagged a very impressive P4, with Quartararo backing up his front row with a hard-earned P5. Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) was 0.5s adrift of the Yamaha star in P6, Ogura was the lead Aprilia in P7, with Bagnaia having to settle for a low-key P8. Work to do for Bagnaia ahead of Sunday’s Grand Prix.
Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) earned the final point in P9 as Viñales’ soft tyre gamble failed to pay off in the second half of the Sprint – the KTM rider slipped from P5 to P10. And speaking of Aprilia, in his first Sprint appearance since the 2024 Solidarity GP, World Champion Martin crossed the line in P16 to get crucial mileage under his belt after his injury layoff. How good was it to see the #1 back in the battle?
So once more, Saturday belongs to Marc Marquez. Can anyone find a way of beating the six-time MotoGP World Champion on Sunday evening? We’ll find out at 20:00 local time (UTC +3).
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Marc Marquez clinches gold in blockbuster Austin Sprint
Marc MThe #93’s 100% win record remains intact, but it didn’t come easy as a brilliant Tissot Sprint unfolds in Texasarquez clinches gold in blockbuster Austin Sprint
Austin (Texas, US), 29 March 2025: Stateside Tissot Sprint glory went the way of Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) – but not without a decent slice of drama and fireworks thrown in along the way. The #93 eventually beat Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) by less than a second in Austin to keep up his 100% victory record in 2025, as Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) – after leading on the first lap – brought home a bronze medal to set us up beautifully for Sunday.
AN OPENING LAP SHOWDOWN: Marquez vs Bagnaia vs MarquezWithout any shadow of a doubt, the opening lap of the Sprint was the best lap of the season – and it’ll take some beating too. Bagnaia, from P6, launched away superbly to grab the holeshot up the hill into Turn 1. Marc Marquez bit straight back at Turn 2 to retake the lead from his teammate, but at Turn 3, it was Pecco doing the overtaking again. It didn’t take long before Marquez decided to pounce back though, Turn 7 his chosen spot.So it was Marc Marquez leading Bagnaia and Alex Marquez. But at Turn 17, the #93’s Sprint very nearly came to a premature end. An almighty rear-end slide led to the six-time MotoGP Champion getting thrown out of the saddle, which cost the Championship leader P1 and P2. Thought we were done? Nope. Bagnaia and the Marquez brothers were locked together on the exit of Turn 19 and into Turn 20, the final corner, Marc Marquez passed both to retake the lead, with Alex Marquez slotting into P2. That’s worth several rewatches.
HOW THE SPRINT WAS WON
That was some opening lap. But after hitting the front again and getting into a rhythm, Marc Marquez started to build a gap to Alex Marquez. It was 0.6s on Lap 3, as Bagnaia lost touch with the top two. The Italian had Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) swarming all over his rear tyre before the Frenchman had a huge moment on entry to Turn 15, which allowed Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) to slide through. Now, Quartararo was in a VR46 sandwich, with Fabio Di Giannantonio sitting in P6.
On Lap 5 of 10, Marc Marquez’s advantage had shrunk from just under a second to 0.4s. That did rise back up to 0.6s on the next lap though, as Pecco found pace. But was it too late to lock onto the rear end of Alex Marquez?
Meanwhile, a ferocious battle was unfolding between the two VR46 Ducatis and Quartararo. The trio exchanged fourth with four laps to go as the Yamaha star dug deep to try and cling onto a chance of finishing P4 – and what a job he was doing.
With two laps to go, Marc Marquez’s lead was up to 1.4s, while Alex Marquez was still holding Bagnaia at bay by just over a second. However, heading onto the last lap, Alex had reeled in Marc. It was 0.7s over the line, so could anything be done by the younger Marquez to end his brother’s early season momentum?
The answer was no. Marc Marquez held firm to pick up his third Tissot Sprint win on the bounce, with Alex Marquez continuing his P2 streak. Bagnaia claimed an important P3, just under two seconds away from his teammate, but the 2022 and 2023 MotoGP World Champion will be wanting more in Sunday’s Grand Prix despite being pleased with the result.
SATURDAY POINTS SCORERS IN AUSTINAfter a phenomenal mid-race scrap, Di Giannantonio won the fight for fourth, with Morbidelli keeping Quartararo behind him as the former teammates clinch P5 and P6 respectively – a top effort from the Yamaha star. Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) collected seventh and acted as the lead KTM on Saturday, as Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol) earned two Sprint points with a hard-earned P8. That was a great ride from the Italian who flew the HRC flag in the points after teammate Joan Mir crashed out from the top nine early doors, with Honda again showing progress – and that was Marini’s first Sprint points with Honda too.
Meanwhile, the final Sprint point went the way of rookie Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) after a great late battle with Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) and Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing).
If that first lap and subsequent battles didn’t get the juices flowing for Sunday in Austin, then we’re not sure what will. Tune into the MotoGP Americas Grand Prix at 14:00 local time (UTC -5) to see who will collect COTA’s 2025 crown!
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Marc Marquez takes history-making COTA pole, Diggia pips Alex Marquez to second in Texas
The #93 becomes the first rider ever to take eight poles at one venue, with Diggia and Alex Marquez denying Acosta the front row Austin (Texas), Saturday, 29 March 2025: Qualifying for MotoGP at the Circuit of the Americas was a rollercoaster, with history made and some late shuffles changing the front row once and then again. Having topped Friday afternoon and Saturday morning action, COTA master Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) remains the rider to beat with his eighth pole at the circuit though, and that’s a new record for poles at one track in MotoGP.
Second it’s Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) after he had a lap scrubbed and reinstated, with Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP).
PRESSURE ON: the battle to ascend into Q2
First up though, Q1 and the dogfight to get into the shootout of Q2; big names in abundance, there were always going to be headlining acts sidelined from a shot at pole. On his first flying lap, yellow flags were out due to a highside on the exit of Turn 9 for Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) after running marginally off the kerb. He was perfectly OK and after grabbing the nearest scooter, he rushed back to pitlane and hopped on his spare bike. Due to the yellow flags, the first laps were largely cancelled. After that, there was also a red flag due to the air-fence needing to be re-deployed.
Following a brief stoppage, 08:36 remained on the clock, making for a second half of the session full of activity, including Fernandez’s return to the track. Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol) was the first rider to set a lap time, with the benchmark of 2:02.001 for everyone else to beat but after the first runs, nobody was able to; Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) found time and went up to P2 before making an impressive save at Turn 1. Despite other efforts, Marini and Quartararo sailed into Q2, leaving Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) as one of the big disappointments, rooted to P13 with Aprilia out of Q2 for the first time since Thailand in 2022.
POLE BATTLE: Q2 ignites in the USA
First laps in, Marc Marquez set the benchmark of a 2:01.522, the fastest time of the weekend but on the second flying lap, plenty of riders were on course to better it. At Turn 11, the #93 had a big moment but escaped a fall, although the lap had now gone. With the first half of the session done, Di Giannantonio had moved into P2 ahead of Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), whilst in P5, Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) had saved a crash on his elbow at Turn 19 but a forced to be reckoned with inside the top five. He was just behind Alex Marquez who was up in P4.
FIGHT UNTIL THE END: Marquez brothers in pole scrap
The final five minutes were the deciding moments, with Marc Marquez leading Mir and thus giving his ex-teammate a good look at his lap at COTA. Just behind, Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) was trying to latch on but fell at Turn 1; he soon remounted whilst teammate Alex Marquez was on a storming lap and went provisional pole ahead of his brother. But the timing screens were alive with red sectors.
Marc Marquez managed to respond to grab pole but behind, Di Giannantonio, who originally had his lap cancelled for yellow flags, had it reinstated for P2. Alex Marquez rounded out the front row whilst Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) and Pecco completed the second row.
Top Honda honours were swept away by Marini who heads up the third row ahead of teammate Mir, making it the first time in and Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP), with the latter two setting identical lap times. Maverick Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) took his first top ten with KTM, ahead of 2021 World Champion Fabio Quartararo and late crasher Aldeguer. -
Marc Marquez wins ahead of brother Alexas Morbidelli makes podium return: MotoGP
A tense fight between the brothers unfolds in Termas as Morbidelli keeps Bagnaia behind to clinch a long-awaited Grand Prix podium with Ducati
Termas de Rio Hondo (Argentina), 16 March 2025: Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) lit up his comeback run again in Termas de Rio Hondo as the famous #93 battled his way past younger brother Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) in the closing stages of the Gran Premio YPF Energía de Argentina to remain undefeated. Third place went the way of Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team), the Italian returning to a Sunday parc ferme for the first time since 2021, as Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) is forced to settle for P4 in Termas de Rio Hondo.
How it unfolded at the front: Marquez vs Marquez, Morbidelli climbs to P3
Marc Marquez fended off Alex Marquez to collect the holeshot into Turn 1 as drama unfolded for Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing). The Italian, who made contact with Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) after struggling to get his RS-GP stopped into Turn 1, crashed at the opening corner. Rider ok, and Quartararo dropped back.
At the front, Johann Zarco (LCR Honda CASTROL) was hounding third place Bagnaia, with Turn 8 a popular passing place for the Frenchman. This squabbling between Pecco and Zarco saw the Marquez brothers skip to a 0.7s lead, with Alex shadowing Marc in the opening three laps.
On Lap 4, there was a change for the lead. Alex Marquez capitalised on a small mistake made by Marc Marquez at Turn 1, as blue led red for the first time in Argentina. Meanwhile, Morbidelli had picked his way past Zarco and Bagnaia to climb into P3.
After a busy opening handful of laps, the Grand Prix settled down a tad as the riders settled into their early race rhythms. The blue corner Marquez was leading the red corner Marquez by 0.3s, Morbidelli was 0.7s behind the #93, with Bagnaia a further 0.8s off the back of his fellow Italian. Zarco, meanwhile, was 0.3s behind the #63 Ducati.
On Lap 11, it was as you were at the front. Bagnaia was losing ground though on the top three and Zarco was still swarming all over the rear end of his GP25. A couple of laps later, Morbidelli began to lose touch with Alex Marquez and Marc Marquez, but crucially, the #21 was still over a second clear of Bagnaia and Zarco.
With 10 to go, Marc Marquez had a bit of a moment coming through the fast Turn 11. It was a warning that cost the six-time MotoGP World Champion a couple of tenths, but a lap later, that deficit had been clawed back. And now, the #93 was properly swarming all over the rear Michelin tyre of Alex Marquez.
The closing stages: Marc Marquez makes his move
Lap 18 of 25 – an attempted pass. Marc Marquez lunged at Turn 5 but couldn’t get his bike hooked up and stopped in time, so Alex Marquez kept the lead with seven laps to go. And having run wide, the margin between the leader and chaser was up to 0.4s.
What a showdown it was. On Lap 19, the brothers exchanged fastest laps of the race, with Marc going slightly quicker to latch himself on the back of Alex. Then, another move. Again it was Turn 5 and this time, it was a pass that stuck. Now it was all about whether Alex Marquez had anything in response.
The early signs were no, there wasn’t a response. With four laps to go, Marc Marquez stretched his advantage to 0.7s. At the beginning of Lap 22 of 25, the gap was then just over a second, as Marc Marquez’s teammate Bagnaia was trying to put a late attack together to steal P3 from Morbidelli.
LAST LAP! Marc Marquez held a 1.5s lead over Alex Marquez, with Bagnaia 0.5s behind Morbidelli. Could the 2022 and 2023 MotoGP World Champion find a way to earn a late podium? No he couldn’t. And Alex Marquez couldn’t do anything about Marc Marquez from clinching another victory in 2025 as the #93 made it four wins from four – two Sprints, two Grands Prix – to begin his factory Ducati career in perfect fashion.
Another brilliant effort from Alex Marquez saw the #73 finish second again, as Morbidelli clung on to pocket his first MotoGP podium since the 2021 Spanish GP. Bagnaia was breathing down his neck but the latter walks away from Argentina with an underwhelming P4.
Points scorers: Argentina Sunday edition
On the final lap, Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) pinched P5 away from the incredibly impressive Zarco, as Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) collected a P7 after yesterday’s Lap 1 crash in the Tissot Sprint. Reigning Moto2 World Champion Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) produced a stellar ride to cross the line in P8 from 15th on the grid, but was then disqualified after the race for using a version of software not homologated by the Championship. That moves Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) up into P8 and means three Hondas are classified in the top 10 as each rider behind gains a place – putting Joan Mir in ninth and Honda HRC Castrol teammate Luca Marini in tenth.
That’s the Italian’s best Sunday result in Honda colours, as Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP), Maverick Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech3), Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP), Quartararo and Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) rounded out the points scorers in Termas.
Two Sprints, two Grands Prix, four wins for Marc Marquez. It’s been a magical start to 2025 for the six-time MotoGP King and next up is a trip to the Circuit of The Americas – a track the #93 adores. Can anyone halt Marc Marquez’s momentum in Austin? Alex Marquez and Bagnaia will be two riders who’ll be desperate to do just that.
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Marc Marquez slams in a 1:36 for pole, Zarco completes front row behind Alex Marquez
Marc Marquez slams in a 1:36 for pole, Zarco completes front row behind Alex Marquez
Termas de Rio Hondo 15 March 2024: Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) has now taken back-to-back poles for the first time since 2019, with another stunner coming in from the #93 at the Gran Premio YPF Energia de Argentina. His 1:36.917 is the first ever 1:36 of the venue, a new lap record, and puts him quarter of a second clear at the top.
Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP), who was close on Friday too, is next on the chase in second, with Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) making some magic in third for Honda’s first front row since 2023 – just 0.042 off the #73 ahead.
STORY OF QUALIFYING: the battle for Q2
An early hot lap on bagged Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) a slot at the top with Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) in hot pursuit in P2 provisionally, but the final 4 minutes were going to be dramatic as everyone hit the track for their shot at going into Q2. It was all over at Turn 2 for Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda LCR) who fell and would therefore not improve, whilst Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) replicated his fellow rookie a lap later, likewise missing out on a plac in Q2. On the first lap of his second run, Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) then came to the fore and went P2, demoting Miller to P3 and joining Morbidelli in the pole shootout.
Q2 CORKER: #93 on fire to annihilate lap record
The business end of qualifying: Q2 ignited and straight away, the lap record was obliterated by none other than Marc Marquez, who was fractionally outside the first-ever 1’36s motorcycle lap of the Termas de Rio Hondo circuit. A huge performance by Zarco then put him provisionally on the front row, and it looked like that eas actually quite a benchmark for the rest.
With the final five minutes beckoning, it was full throttle to try and better their lap times. Alex Marquez was following his brother, whilst Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) salvaged P4. However, it was his teammate Marquez who was lighting up the time screens; on his penultimate flying lap, he set the first and only-ever 1’36 lap of Termas de Rio Hondo. A 1’36.917 sees him go from pole, his first back-to-back poles since 2019’s Austrian and British Grands Prix. Alex Marquez secures P2 and Zarco clung on to a first Honda front row and his first since 2023’s season-closing Grand Prix in Valencia, with no one else able to pip the Frenchman.
FIREWORKS BEHIND: dark horses in top places
It’s fourth place for Pecco who seeks to make a traditional fast start off the line but he’ll have ‘El Tiburon’ Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) for company too, with the #37 putting himself right in amongst the sharp end of the grid. Completing the second row, Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) is still less than a tenth of a second off the front row and after he was second fastest on Friday.
Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) bettered his season opener qualifying with P7 in Argentina, ahead of Q1 ascendant Morbidelli. Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) goes from P9, one place ahead of Mir, with the 2020 World Champion making it two Hondas in the top ten in tenth. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) round out the Q2 field, with Rins taking his best grid slot since Sepang last year after direct entry to Q2 gained on Friday too.
Now it’s nearly time to Tissot Sprint. Join us at 15:00 (UTC-3) for a tango to remember! -
Strategic masterclass sees Marc Marquez double up in Buriram stand-off
Becoming the first rider to win on their Ducati factory debut since Casey Stoner in 2007, Marc Marquez departs Thailand with a perfect start to his title charge.
Buriram, 2 March 2025: The goosebumps of the season-opening Grand Prix are always special and the moment finally came to fruition as the PT Grand Prix of Thailand launched MotoGP in 2025. A tactical race with plenty of talking points, it was six-time MotoGP World Champion Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) who bagged 25 points, but in a race where the results don’t tell the entire story…
AS IT HAPPENED: Marquez holeshots before relinquishing lead
Grabbing the holeshot and seizing the initiative in a repeat of the Sprint on Saturday, Marc Marquez lead them through the opening laps. Brother Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) was second whilst Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) occupied P3. Another good start from Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) saw him briefly inside the podium places on Lap 1 but he was soon shuffled back. Pedro Acosta’s (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) charge in the leading places soon came to an abrupt end with a fall at Turn 1 on Lap 4.The race looked to be taking a familiar tone to the Sprint but you can never guarantee anything in the most exciting sport on Earth. On Lap 7, coming out of Turn 3, leader Marquez seemingly slowed down with no apparent or visual reason. He slotted in behind his brother, who assumed the lead of the Grand Prix; whilst Marc may not have led every lap of the year, a Marquez has. Whether it was for tyre pressure concerns, tyre/fuel conservation or another factor, we now had a tense Grand Prix at the front between the rival siblings.
BATTLES ELSEWHERE: Miller in contention, Mir top ten goes begging
Further back, there was a good fight for sixth place with Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing), Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP), Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) and Joan Mir (HRC Honda Castrol). However, for Mir, the 2020 World Champion’s optimism turned to despair as he fell on Lap 16 at Turn 12, tucking the front and unable to remount.Maintaining the status quo for the next handful of laps at the front, Marc remained glued to his brother; on Lap 18, Pecco was likewise just a second back but after a couple more laps, started slipping back but was in a safe third place ahead of the #21 of Franco Morbidelli. Having initially looked as if he didn’t have the pace to go with the leading brothers, the #63 closed back in.
DECISIVE MOVE: Marc attacks with 3 to go
It came too late to have a say though as on Lap 23 at Turn 12, Marc attacked Alex and retook the lead. All eyes were now on whether or not the #73 had anything left in the locker, but he didn’t. The six-time MotoGP Champion had it all under control. 93 Grand Prix weekends after he last led the World Championship, Marc Marquez doubled up at the Destination of Speed and took his first Grand Prix victory in the red of Ducati. A 112th podium, he matches ex-teammate at Honda Dani Pedrosa in the rostrum rankings.Bagnaia closed in on Alex as the race reached its climax but couldn’t have a say, with Alex holding on and joining his brother on the podium. Pecco’s third place means the top three from the Sprint emphasised their strength with a repeat showing in Sunday’s Grand Prix. Morbidelli clinched fourth place ahead of an impressive Ogura, who can be proud of a double top five on his debut weekend to welcome him up to MotoGP. Ogura’s result is the best by a rookie in a Grand Prix since 2013 – some kid called Marc Marquez back then. It’s also the first top five for a Japanese rider in a Grand Prix since 2021’s Styrian GP, with Takaaki Nakagami also in P5. Bezzecchi fought through for P6 ahead of a late-charging Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR), already bettering Honda’s best result from last year at the same Grand Prix.
BEST OF THE REST: Binder and Bastianini come through
Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) had a quiet race to P8, ahead of a resurgent Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) who turned his pre-season woes into Grand Prix gains in ninth; Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) came through to deny Miller the final place within the top ten, although Miller’s first Grand Prix with Yamaha saw him as the top representative for the Iwata manufacturer.With Miller taking P11, Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol) was next up and saw off pressure from rookie Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP), Miguel Oliveira (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) and Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP), with the 2021 World Champion having a nightmare opening lap where he was as low as 18th and never really recovering. Home-hero Somkiat Chantra (IDEMITSU Honda LCR) took 18th, just five seconds from points on his debut.
That’s a wrap on Buriram. For Marc Marquez it’s the first time he’s won the opener since 2014. For Ogura, it’s the best rookie GP result since… Marc Marquez in 2013.
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Duel Down Under: Marquez vs Martin lights up the Island
Nightmare start, dream end: the #93 charges through and gets the gloves off to beat Martin, with Bagnaia doing some damage limitation in third.
Melbourne, 20 October 2024: Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP) and Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) went toe-to-toe at the Qatar Airways Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, escaping to create a private showdown at front and dueling through the final four laps – split by less than a second over the line. Marquez came out on top despite dropping back after a nightmare start, with the #93 stalking the #89 through the latter stages before making his attack and making it stick. In the title fight, Martin’s second place nevertheless sees him increase his lead by four points, with key rival and reigning Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) completing the podium at a distance on Sunday.
The drama was immediate as Marquez’ rear wheel spun up a cloud of smoke off the line, a tear off trapped under the rear tyre which was then unceremoniously ejected as he dropped the clutch. That allowed the Gresini machine to quickly take off and slot back into the fight, but the kerfuffle – and a great start from the #89 – saw Martin streak away to take the holeshot ahead of Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team), with Bagnaia up into third early on as he threaded the needle past Marquez’ drama. Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing) was in P4, with another stunning launch from Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) putting the South African into fifth from P11 on the grid.
Behind, in no time at all Marquez was somehow already attacking Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) to move back into sixth, and after a tango at Turn 4 the #93 made it through. From there, he was on a mission. Next was Binder, and the gap to the South African was gone in a couple of laps. Then it was Morbidelli and with 22 to go into Turn 1, Marquez was through and into the podium places. Now, the clear air to his 2025 teammate was the target as the #1 continued to hold race leader Martin within around half a second.
By 16 to go, a small mistake from the Championship leader made it a six-wheeler at the front, the three machines glued together: Martin, Bagnaia and Marquez. Bagnaia wasted no time as he attacked at Turn 3 and made it through, but Martin hit back at Turn 4. That opened the door enough for Marquez to head through too, resetting it to Martin – Marquez – Bagnaia in that order at the front.
With 13 to go, the #1 and the #93 set identical laps, and less than a tenth off race leader Martin. With all on the soft tyre and plenty of kilometers to go, the chess game seemed out in full force but the Jaws music was starting to fade in from Marquez. Next time round, he was right on the back of the Pramac ahead. 10 laps to go, two tenths between two riders, and one second back to the reigning Champion. Then 1.9. It was becoming a duel Down Under, and the tension simmered away lap by lap before a final four to remember.
Four to go, Martin left the door just enough ajar at Turn 4 and there was no second invitation needed as Marquez sliced past. Into Turn 1 with three to go, Martin returned the favour. At Turn 4, Marquez did the same once more, and sent both just wide enough for the gloves to now clearly be off. No contact, and they just about stayed on track away from the green, but it was a lunge. If it was designed to create some metres of clear air in the lead it didn’t quite work as they stayed stuck together split by 0.111 over the line, but the #93 was now hammer down.
This time at Turn 1, there was no gap. Martin tried to make one at Turn 2 but no dice, and around three Marquez started to make some metres. By the start of the final lap, the #93 was half a second clear, and gaining himself just enough breathing space to call that a third win of the year.
Bagnaia couldn’t quite find enough to go with the duo in the lead once they’d broken away, but kept it tidy in third for a very valuable 16-point haul, keeping the deficit at 20 points with a maximum of 111 still to race for.
In the fight behind the podium, Bastianini dropped back before picking his way forward again, with Binder, Morbidelli, Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) and Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) for company in a tight fight. By the flag though it was two duels. Diggia took fourth from Bastianini by three tenths, and behind them it was a near photo-finish for sixth as Morbidelli and Binder crossed the line split by just 0.016. Viñales was forced to settle for eighth.
Another group fought it out behind that one, with Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) rising to the fore there. The Frenchman stormed up from P18 on the grid to take ninth and another top ten, denying Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse Racing), home hero Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) and Alex Rins (Monster Energy Energy MotoGP). Luca Marini (Repsol Honda Team) had another solid day to take more points in P14, with Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP) taking the final point after the #73 had headed well wide at Turn 1 and served his Long Lap for his collision with Joan Mir (Repsol Honda Team) in Japan.
Mir slid out on Sunday, and Bezzecchi crashed early after completing his Long Lap for his incident with Viñales in the Tissot Sprint. He remounted but at the back of the pack. Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) didn’t start after being declared unfit on Sunday morning due to shoulder trauma incurred on Saturday.
After the drama, the weather, the well-calculated lunges and high-speed chess, that’s a wrap on Phillip Island. The Championship top two are now split by 20 points, with Marquez still just about hanging on as a contender for the crown and Bastianini now at a real last chance saloon in Buriram. Join us for the PT Grand Prix of Thailand next weekend for another two showdowns in front of a wall of noise from that main grandstand… and a final corner designed to make them roar!
