Marc Marquez dominates Sprint Race with Ducati debut win

Marc Marquez secures pole position and a dominant Sprint Race victory, signaling his strength with Ducati ahead of the main race.

Marc Marquez of Spain and Ducati Lenovo Team celebrates after winning the sprint race of the MotoGP PT Grand Prix of Thailand at Chang International Circuit in Buriram, Thailand, on March 1, 2025. Photo by Steve Wobser/Getty Images

By Randy Ahmad and Adila Ghina

Marc Marquez delivered a commanding performance in the MotoGP Sprint Race, securing victory from pole position in his first Sprint with Ducati. From the moment the lights went out, the Spanish rider never relinquished his lead, showcasing complete control over the race.

"It was a perfect Saturday. The feeling with the bike was very good. I was consistent in keeping the gap. I got my first pole position and my first sprint win for Ducati. Tomorrow we have to be on the podium at least, but the target is to win," said Marquez, who rides the number 93 bike.

His younger brother, Alex Marquez, pushed hard in pursuit but was unable to close the 1.18-second gap to the leader. Meanwhile, Francesco Bagnaia, Marc’s Ducati teammate, struggled with cornering challenges, preventing him from mounting a serious challenge for the top spot.

Marquez builds a comfortable lead

Right from the start, Marc Marquez built an early advantage of 0.6 seconds, extending his lead to 1.2 seconds by the seventh lap. Behind him, a tense battle unfolded between Alex Marquez and Bagnaia for second place. Despite their best efforts, the podium positions remained unchanged throughout the race.

Marc Marquez of Spain and Ducati Lenovo Team leads the pack during the sprint race of the MotoGP of Thailand at Chang International Circuit in Buriram, Thailand, on March 1, 2025. Photo by Mirco Lazzari/Getty Images

By the time the checkered flag waved, Marc Marquez had sealed his first Sprint Race victory for Ducati, with Alex Marquez finishing second and Bagnaia securing third. The top three riders expressed satisfaction with their performances, having battled through a demanding race.

Ai Ogura shines with first MotoGP points

One of the standout performances of the race came from Ai Ogura. The Trackhouse Racing rider finished fourth, just behind the Ducati trio, earning his first points in MotoGP. This result marks a significant milestone for Ogura in his debut season and highlights his potential as a rising star in the championship.

All manufacturers score points in Sprint Race

The race proved to be a balanced competition, with every manufacturer managing to secure points. Ogura’s fourth-place finish gave Aprilia a strong result with six points, while Franco Morbidelli added five more for Ducati.

Pedro Acosta secured four points for KTM, capitalizing on an incident involving Jack Miller, who crashed at Turn 8. Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo recovered from a poor start to claim three points, while KTM’s Brad Binder took two points. Honda’s Joan Mir rounded out the scorers with one point after overtaking Johann Zarco on the final lap.

Marquez sets sights on main race victory

With his dominant Sprint Race performance, Marc Marquez has firmly established himself as a top contender for the main race. His ability to control the pace and maintain his lead underlines his strong adaptation to the Ducati. As MotoGP heads into the main event, his rivals face an uphill battle to challenge his supremacy.