Marc Marquez claims thrilling Thai MotoGP victory over brother Alex
Six-time world champion Marc Marquez delivered a statement victory in the season-opening Thai MotoGP on Sunday, overcoming a mid-race setback to defeat his younger brother, Alex Marquez, in a dramatic duel at the Buriram Circuit.
The Spaniard’s triumph marked a dream debut for the factory Ducati team, following his sprint race win on Saturday. Marc Marquez completed the weekend with a dominant 37-point haul, taking his 63rd MotoGP victory by 1.732 seconds ahead of Alex Marquez, while two-time world champion Francesco Bagnaia finished third.
Marc Marquez had built a 1.5-second lead in the sweltering conditions before encountering a tyre pressure issue on lap seven, momentarily relinquishing the lead to his brother. However, he managed the problem expertly, shadowing Alex Marquez for 15 laps before executing a decisive overtake with three laps remaining.
“I cannot ask for more”
“Yesterday I was happy, today I am super happy,” said Marc Marquez. “I mean it’s a dream. I cannot ask for more.
“We started this new journey in the perfect way, with pole position and a double victory—sprint and main race. I want to say thanks to the team.
“And to share this weekend with my brother is something unreal for our family. There are no words to describe how you feel when you are on the podium with your brother.”
Alex Marquez, still seeking his first premier-class victory, admitted he had briefly believed he could hold on for the win.
“For one moment I thought I might hold on to win,” he said. “Leading was not easy. I just tried to ride, not to override and not make mistakes.
“But he was able to not use a lot of rear tyre, and I was using up everything.”
Ducati’s dream team battle looms
Marc Marquez, who switched from Honda after a strong pre-season, is widely tipped to contend for his first world title since 2019. His partnership with Bagnaia has been described as a “dream team,” but some have warned that the dynamic could lead to internal rivalry.
Bagnaia acknowledged the Marquez brothers were simply too strong.
“I gave my all,” he said. “But Marc, he was playing with us all day. So maximum ambition was to finish in P2, but we finished in P3.
“I am not here to finish third. It was the maximum I could do today, but I will never settle. Next time I will try to be second and then first.”
Japanese rookie Ai Ogura impressed on his MotoGP debut for Trackhouse Aprilia, finishing fifth behind Franco Morbidelli. Local hero Somkiat Chantra made history as the first Thai rider to compete in a MotoGP race, crossing the line in 18th.
The season opener was overshadowed by the absence of reigning world champion Jorge Martin, who remains sidelined with multiple fractures suffered in pre-season testing. Aprilia confirmed he will also miss the next round in Argentina, with no timeline set for his return.
(Source: AFP)
