BURIRAM, Thailand — Six-time MotoGP champion Marc Marquez made a stunning debut with the Ducati Lenovo Team, leading from the start to win the sprint at the Thailand Grand Prix. His younger brother, Alex Marquez, finished in second place, while two-time champion Francesco Bagnaia, Marc’s new teammate, secured third, completing an all-Ducati podium.
“It was a perfect Saturday,” said Marc Marquez. “The feeling with the bike is great. I was consistent from the start, and when I saw a gap, I focused on managing it.” He added, “I’m happy to start my journey with Ducati Lenovo. Tomorrow is the main event, but winning this sprint is a great achievement. We aim to finish on the podium, and if possible, fight for another victory.”
Starting from pole position at the Buriram International Circuit, Marc quickly established a lead, while Alex struggled to keep pace, never threatening his brother’s commanding position.
This win marks only the second sprint victory of Marc’s career, with his first coming at the Aragon MotoGP in August of last year. He has shown impressive speed throughout the week, topping the charts in the opening practice session before being edged out by Alex in the afternoon.
The 32-year-old Spaniard now leads the championship standings for the first time since 2019, collecting 12 points — three ahead of Alex Marquez and five in front of Bagnaia. He has the chance to extend his lead in today’s main race.
“I’m super happy today; this was our target,” Alex Marquez said. “The start was crucial, and Marc pushed hard. I knew I needed to finish the race, so I stayed patient.”
He continued, “I’m glad we achieved our goal, and I’ll analyze Marc’s lines to be better prepared for tomorrow, but catching him will be a challenge.”
Marquez enjoyed a successful preseason with Ducati after moving from Honda and is viewed as a strong contender for his first world title since 2019.
While Marquez and Bagnaia have been considered a dream team, concerns have been raised about the potential intensity of having two high-profile racers on the same squad.
In other notable performances, 24-year-old Ai Ogura made an impressive MotoGP debut, finishing fourth after advancing from his qualifying spot. Franco Morbidelli came in fifth, followed by Pedro Acosta and Fabio Quartararo.
Australian rider Jack Miller of Prima Pramac Yamaha crashed out at turn eight after qualifying fourth on the grid, while local favorite Somkiat Chantra finished 19th, just outside the points.
Credit: Taipei Times
