Six-time MotoGP Champion Marc Marquez battles past Alex Marquez to claim his first gold medal of the season, while Bagnaia edges out a brilliant Ogura for P3.
Marc Marquez Dominates Thailand Sprint, Secures Perfect Saturday
Saturday, 01 March 2025
Marc Marquez’s dream start with the Ducati Lenovo Team continued as he stormed to a commanding Tissot Sprint victory in Thailand, securing a flawless Saturday and igniting his 2025 title bid. Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) delivered an impressive performance to claim P2, earning his first Sprint silver medal, while Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) fought hard to complete the podium in P3 and collect valuable early-season points.
Marquez Rockets Off the Line
As the 2025 season roared to life, Marc Marquez launched perfectly from pole position, seizing the holeshot into Turn 1. Bagnaia initially slotted into P2, but Alex Marquez swiftly reclaimed the position on the run to Turn 3. Meanwhile, rookie sensation Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) made a bold move around the outside of Turn 1 to grab P4, with Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) settling into P5.
By Lap 3, Marc Marquez had already pulled 0.6 seconds clear of his younger brother, while Bagnaia struggled to stay in touch, falling over a second behind. Ogura kept the reigning champion under pressure, shadowing his every move.
Mid-Race Drama and Rookie Brilliance
Further back, Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) was mounting a recovery after a disastrous start left him at the back of the pack. Meanwhile, Aprilia’s attention was focused on Ogura, who remained glued to Bagnaia’s rear wheel in the battle for P3.
With seven laps to go, Jack Miller’s race unraveled as he crashed out from P6 at Turn 8. His misfortune elevated Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) to P6, though a minor mistake at the same corner allowed Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) to slip past.
At the front, Marc Marquez continued to extend his lead, sitting 1.1 seconds ahead of Alex Marquez with five laps remaining. Bagnaia had picked up the pace, reducing the gap to 1.2 seconds, but Ogura was still within striking distance.
Final Laps: A Marquez One-Two, Bagnaia Holds Off Ogura
With three laps to go, the top three positions remained unchanged, though Ogura’s hopes of a podium began to fade as he drifted 0.8 seconds behind Bagnaia. The Moto2 Champion, however, had built a comfortable gap over Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) in P5.
As the final lap approached, Marc Marquez cruised to victory, securing his first Sprint win of the year and marking his return to the top of the MotoGP Championship standings for the first time since 2019. Alex Marquez crossed the line comfortably in P2, while Bagnaia held firm in P3 to kick off his title defense with solid points.
Standout Performances & Notable Results
The ride of the day undoubtedly belonged to Ai Ogura, who finished just 0.9 seconds behind Bagnaia in a magnificent P4. The Japanese rookie outpaced Morbidelli (P5) by 1.3 seconds and finished over six seconds ahead of Acosta (P6)—a stunning debut performance.
Further down the order, Quartararo secured P7, ahead of Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) in P8. Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) put in a gritty ride to P9, scoring Honda’s first dry-weather Sprint points and providing a glimmer of hope for the Japanese manufacturer.
Can Marquez Seal the Perfect Weekend?
With pole position and Sprint victory already in the bag, can Marc Marquez complete a flawless weekend in Thailand by winning Sunday’s Grand Prix? His factory Ducati debut is off to an electrifying start, but Alex Marquez, Bagnaia, and perhaps even a rising rookie like Ogura could still shake things up.
Don’t miss the season’s first Grand Prix at 15:00 local time (UTC +7) from Buriram—it’s shaping up to be an unmissable showdown!
Sundays MotoGP Race, Lights out 08:00GMT
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