Buriram [Thailand], March 3 (ANI): Marco Bezzecchi and Aprilia Racing are hat-trick heroes in MotoGP for the primary time after the Italian dominated a dramatic PT Grand Prix of Thailand to again up his 2025 Portugal and Valencia victories with a Buriram magnificence at first of 2026, based on a launch from MotoGP.
Tissot Sprint winner Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) completed P2 to verify he leaves Thailand because the MotoGP World Championship chief, as Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) begins the yr with a P3 in a Grand Prix which noticed reigning World Champion Marc Marquez endure a race-ending puncture whereas within the podium combat. And which means Ducati’s unbelievable record-breaking podium streak of 88 in a row is over – for the primary time because the 2021 British GP, no Ducati rider stood on the Sunday rostrum.
After an unbelievable Tissot Sprint on Saturday, it was time for lights out on Sunday and getting the proper launch from pole was Bezzecchi, with Marc Marquez maintaining maintain of P2. But not for lengthy. Turn 7 noticed Fernandez pinch P2 away from the reigning World Champion, after which, a 3rd Aprilia was having a chunk at #93. Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing) was briefly forward of the 2025 World Champion, however the latter bit again.
Bezzecchi was into an amazing early Grand Prix rhythm on the entrance, with Fernandez 0.9s away on the finish of Lap 3. Then, attacking down at Turn 3 on Lap 4, Martin struck once more. Marc Marquez was shuffled again to P4 by the 2024 World Champion, after which, Acosta entered the battle.
Turn 12. #93 vs #37. Shades of a memorable Sprint scrap. Acosta made a transfer up the within keep on with climb into fourth, with Marc Marquez right down to P5, and as issues stood, the present King had zero solutions.
As Bezzecchi and Fernandez continued to set an analogous tempo in P1 and P2, we strapped ourselves in to take pleasure in Martin vs Acosta. The KTM star had a number of bites on the cherry on Lap 8 and 9, however Aprilia’s #89 was defending brilliantly.
Then, Acosta did discover a means by means of on Martin. On the exit of a transfer at Turn 3, Acosta was by means of however getting a Lap 10 two-for-one deal on the run as much as Turn 4 was Marc Marquez. But Acosta wasn’t having any of that. The pre-Grand Prix title chief selected Turn 8 to assault his compatriot, and it was a leap up the within that labored. Acosta, finally, was P3.
Now, although, by Lap 14, the hole to second-place Fernandez and chief Bezzecchi had grown. However, Acosta was starting to catch the Trackhouse Aprilia, with the hole just under two seconds because the Grand Prix entered its last 10 laps.
Behind, Marc Marquez sat 1.4s away from Acosta, with Martin sitting 0.8s again of the main Ducati. Bezzecchi, in the meantime, was over three seconds up the highway and in relative cruise management. It was the Italian’s 25 factors to throw away at this stage.
With seven to go, Fernandez’s grip on P2 was loosening. Acosta was now below a second away from the #25, and Marc Marquez was lurking too. Until he wasn’t. As we panned again to look at Fernandez, Acosta and Marc Marquez come by means of Turn 4, it was clear the latter had an issue. And it grew to become apparent it was a rear tyre puncture. Drama in Buriram, the reigning World Champion was out of the Thai Grand Prix.
Then, final yr’s runner-up was out too. Alex Marquez crashed on the fast Turn 4; fortunately, the #73 was up and strolling, however that ended a disappointing weekend on the workplace for the Gresini Racing star.
More drama then occurred. Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) was compelled to retire from the Grand Prix with rear tyre issues too, after the 2020 World Champion had strung a really sturdy race collectively within the high six, and hastily, there have been 4 Aprilias within the high 5, with Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) displaying some aggressive late tempo.
And so, after a punishing Thai Grand Prix, Bezzecchi made amends for his Sprint error to clinch victory on Sunday and win three Grands Prix in a row for the primary time. Acosta’s anticipate a Grand Prix win goes on, however that was one other chic efficiency from the KTM star, who will head to Brazil because the MotoGP World Championship chief. And truthful play to Fernandez. After some critical shoulder troubles surfaced in Warm Up, the Spaniard celebrates one other P3 to seize a double Round 1 podium.
Having missed the Sepang Test and contemplating what he went by means of in 2025, Martin will probably be elated to start out the marketing campaign with P4, with the very spectacular #89 completed three tenths forward of Ogura. The Japanese rider recovers to spherical out the highest 5, with the lead Ducati rider over the road being Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) in P6.
Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) fingers KTM a double top-seven end in P7, as Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) leaves it late – the ultimate nook of the ultimate lap to be exact – to pocket P8 from Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team). It’s P9 on Sunday for the 2022 and 2023 MotoGP World Champion, as Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol) accomplished the highest 10.
Johann Zarco (Castrol Honda LCR) and Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech3) have been P11 and P12 throughout the road, with rookie Diogo Moreira (Pro Honda LCR) pocketing factors on debut with a P13 forward of the Brazilian’s dwelling spherical subsequent. Rounding out the points-paying positions have been Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP duo Fabio Quartararo and Alex Rins. (ANI)