Marc Marquez Takes Sprint Glory in Qatar as Podium Battle Thrills to the Line
Saturday, 12 April 2025 – Lusail International Circuit
Marc Marquez’s incredible 2025 form continued under the lights of the Lusail International Circuit as the eight-time World Champion delivered another Saturday masterclass. Clinching both pole position and the Tissot Sprint victory at the Qatar Airways Grand Prix of Qatar, the Ducati Lenovo Team rider edged out younger brother Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) to retake the Championship lead. Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) fended off late pressure to secure a hard-fought third place, as the scrap for the final podium spot went all the way to the last corner.
Launch Off the Line: Sibling Rivalry Takes Center Stage
All three front-row starters launched strongly as the lights went out, with polesitter Marc Marquez grabbing the holeshot into Turn 1. Alex Marquez tucked in behind, followed by a rapid-starting Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP), while Morbidelli and rookie Fermin Aldeguer jostled for fourth in the early corners.
Aldeguer was soon on the receiving end of some aggressive early moves as Maverick Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech3) and Johann Zarco (LCR Honda Castrol) muscled their way through. Meanwhile, Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) made decent headway from 11th on the grid to slot into eighth by the end of the opening lap—but with his title rivals already ahead, it wasn’t the start he needed.
As Alex Marquez lunged past his brother into Turn 1 on the second lap, Marc quickly retaliated to reclaim the lead moments later. But Bagnaia’s situation was rapidly deteriorating. Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP), and Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing)—Bagnaia’s 2023 and 2024 title rival—each moved ahead of the #63, leaving him floundering outside the points.
Marc Marquez Builds a Gap as the Fight Behind Intensifies
Out front, Marc Marquez settled into his rhythm, managing a narrow advantage over his brother as the gap hovered around three-tenths of a second. Morbidelli ran a solitary third, with Quartararo breathing down his neck. Viñales remained in touch in fifth, but a mistake from Zarco allowed Aldeguer to reclaim ground and slot into sixth on Lap 4.
Marc Marquez posted the fastest lap of the race to stretch his lead to half a second, though Alex responded with a personal best to keep the leader honest. Behind them, Aldeguer was flying. The rookie displayed impressive pace, catching and overtaking Viñales with five laps to go. Bagnaia, still outside the top ten, finally moved past Zarco and then Acosta to haul himself into the points in ninth.
Final Lap Drama: Morbidelli Under Fire as Marc Seals It
With three laps remaining, Marc Marquez had extended his lead to over a second, looking on course to maintain his perfect Sprint record. Morbidelli, however, was under mounting pressure as Quartararo and Aldeguer closed in fast.
As they began the final lap, the podium battle was wide open. Morbidelli was hanging on, with Quartararo searching for a way through. But it was Aldeguer who made the decisive move—capitalizing on a slight mistake by Quartararo at the final corner to sweep into fourth.
Up front, there were no such concerns for Marc Marquez, who eased across the line to take his fourth consecutive Saturday Sprint win. Alex Marquez made it another one-two finish for the brothers, while Morbidelli clung on for third—his best result of the season so far.
Top Ten: Sprint Results and Talking Points
Aldeguer’s late-race pace earned him a stellar P4, underlining the rookie’s growing confidence and speed. Quartararo took fifth after a strong opening stint, ahead of Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) in sixth. Ai Ogura brought his Aprilia home in seventh, while Bagnaia could manage only P8—a result that raises questions ahead of Sunday’s main event.
Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) scored two points with a solid P9, as Viñales faded to tenth after gambling on the soft rear tyre—an option that didn’t pay off in the latter stages.
Jorge Martin, in his first Sprint race since the 2024 Solidarity GP, finished 16th. Still recovering from injury, the reigning World Champion used the race to gain valuable mileage rather than chase results. Even so, seeing the #1 back in action was a welcome sight for fans.
The Bigger Picture: Can Anyone Stop Marc?
With another Saturday sweep, Marc Marquez has once again taken control of the title fight—reclaiming the lead from his brother Alex. Sunday’s full-distance Grand Prix will be the next test: can anyone rise to the challenge and stop the resurgent #93?
The Grand Prix of Qatar goes green at 20:00 local time (UTC+3), and with changing track conditions expected under the night sky, the race is wide open. But one thing is certain—Marc Marquez is back at the top, and he’s not planning on going anywhere.
Gonzalez Snatches Doha Pole from Dixon in Late Charge
Here’s a rewritten version of the article in a natural, journalistic style with proper structure and section titles, maintaining the original length and tone, but sounding more human-written than AI-generated:
Gonzalez Clinches Pole in Doha Duel with Dixon
Saturday, 12 April 2025 – Lusail International Circuit
Manuel Gonzalez (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) came out on top under the lights at the Lusail International Circuit, securing pole position for the Qatar Airways Grand Prix of Qatar. The Spaniard edged out Jake Dixon (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) by just over a tenth and a half, continuing their growing rivalry at the front of the Moto2™ field in 2025.
With the two trading blows throughout the early rounds of the season, it was Gonzalez who had the upper hand in Saturday’s showdown, denying Dixon what would have been a crucial psychological advantage heading into race day. Dixon, forced to settle for second, will no doubt be looking for redemption when the lights go out on Sunday.
Joining them on the front row is Aron Canet (Fantic Racing Lino Sonego), who ended qualifying just a few tenths adrift. The experienced Spaniard is still seeking his first big result of the season, and a front-row start could be the spark he needs to ignite his title bid.
Q1: Familiar Faces Under Pressure
Qualifying 1 saw some high-profile names battling for a place in the second session. Senna Agius (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP), already a podium finisher in 2025, delivered under pressure and topped the session to move through to Q2.
He was joined by Filip Salac (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team), Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team), and Celestino Vietti (Team HDR Heidrun) – all riders who might have expected a smoother path into the pole fight, but who ultimately got the job done. The pace was tight, and the stakes high, with all four managing to book their place among the fastest.
Q2: Gonzalez Reasserts Himself
Once into Q2, the battle at the top was once again defined by the increasingly familiar storyline of Gonzalez vs Dixon. Gonzalez laid down the marker early with a strong opening run, and as Dixon looked to respond, he couldn’t quite match his rival’s time—falling just short and securing second place on the grid.
Meanwhile, Aron Canet made his presence known with a solid third-place effort, making it an all-Spanish front row for Sunday’s showdown.
Behind the front three, Albert Arenas (Italjet Gresini Moto2) continued to build momentum with a strong fourth place, confirming the pace he’s shown throughout the weekend. Rookie sensation Daniel Holgado (CFMoto Inde Aspar Team) impressed once again, taking fifth in just his third Moto2™ race weekend, while Zonta Van Den Goorbergh (RW – Idrofoglia Racing GP) rounded out the second row in sixth.
The Rest of the Grid: Surprises and Recovery Drives
Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) will head up the third row in seventh, joined by Salac in eighth and Barry Baltus (Fantic Racing Lino Sonego) in ninth. Marcos Ramirez (American Racing Team) locked down tenth position, showing a return to form after a tough few weekends.
Behind them, rookie David Alonso (CFMoto Inde Aspar Team) starts just outside the top ten, continuing to impress in his step up to the intermediate class.
Eyes on the Front: Another Gonzalez vs Dixon Showdown?
With Gonzalez and Dixon once again sharing the front row, all signs point toward another fierce fight between the two title contenders. But with Canet eager to get in the mix and Arenas and Holgado close behind, Sunday’s race could deliver more than just a two-horse race.
The stage is set under the Lusail floodlights, and if qualifying is anything to go by, the Moto2™ battle in Doha is just getting started.
Yamanaka Secures First-Ever Pole as Kelso and Rueda Follow Close Behind
Yamanaka Seizes First Career Pole in Qatar Thriller
Ryusei Yamanaka (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI) has claimed his first-ever pole position in dramatic fashion under the lights at the Qatar Airways Grand Prix of Qatar. The Japanese rider edged out Joel Kelso (LEVELUP-MTA) by just 0.041 seconds to secure top spot on the grid. Championship leader Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) completed the front row, setting the stage for what promises to be a gripping race.
Q1: Fernandez Fights Through, Almansa Leads
After making an impressive start to the 2025 season, Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) unexpectedly found himself needing to battle through Q1. He made the cut, but it was his teammate David Almansa who topped the session with a commanding gap, proving the pace is still there for the Leopard duo.
They were joined in Q2 by Cormac Buchanan (DENSSI Racing – BOE) and Stefano Nepa (SIC58 Squadra Corse), with Nepa successfully cleared to ride after undergoing a fitness review following his crash on Friday.
Q2: Yamanaka Times It Right
The fight for pole in Q2 came down to the final minute. Yamanaka posted a blistering lap just in time, overtaking Kelso for provisional pole. Shortly after, a crash from Scott Ogden (CIP Green Power) brought out yellow flags, halting any further real threat to Yamanaka’s lead. His slender advantage of 0.041 seconds held firm, securing a long-awaited maiden pole position.
Rueda, who had looked quick all session, was bumped to third, but still secured a spot on the front row as he continues his strong title push.
Starting Grid: Rossi and Piqueras Lead the Chase
Just behind the front row, Riccardo Rossi (Rivacold Snipers Team) starts fourth, joined on the second row by Angel Piqueras (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI), who adds more firepower to the team’s weekend, and rookie Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo), who continues to impress in his debut season.
Fernandez, coming through from Q1, starts seventh with Almansa right behind him. Another rookie showing promise, Guido Pini (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP), rounds out row three in ninth.
Completing the top ten is Nicola Carraro (Rivacold Snipers Team), with David Muñoz (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) just missing out as he gets ready to mount a comeback from P11.
With such a tightly packed front group and fresh names at the top, Sunday’s race is shaping up to be an all-out showdown. Can Yamanaka convert his pole into a first win, or will the title contenders strike back? We’ll find out when the lights go out.
Official MotoGP Press Release
