- Marc Marquez secures his ninth Sprint win of the season, edging out chief title rival and brother Alex Marquez by 0.3 seconds
- Marco Bezzecchi claims his first Saturday podium of the year, finishing third ahead of Fabio Di Giannantonio
- Polesitter Fabio Quartararo crashes out of contention while running in fourth place
Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) emerged victorious in the Tissot Sprint at the Motul Grand Prix of the Netherlands, fending off a persistent challenge from his brother and chief title rival, Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP). The #93 got to the front early and managed to keep Alex at bay, crossing the line just 0.351s apart to claim his ninth Sprint win of the season. Joining the brothers on the podium was Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing), who secured his first Saturday podium of the year.
Polesitter Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) got off to a brilliant start, with Marc Marquez slotting into second as they entered Turn 1 side by side. The tight battle saw Marquez run slightly wide over the curb, leading to a close moment with teammate Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team). However, the title race leader maintained his second place.
By the end of the opening lap at the GT Chicane, Marc Marquez had carved up the inside of Quartararo to take the lead. Alex Marquez quickly followed suit, with Bezzecchi also overtaking the Frenchman to move into third.
As the Sprint settled into a rhythm, Alex Marquez looked eager to challenge his brother for the lead. Bezzecchi maintained a close third, while Quartararo found himself under pressure from Bagnaia and Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team). Di Giannantonio, who had set the fastest lap of the Sprint, made a move on Bagnaia at Turn 5 on Lap 6, but it didn’t stick.
Half a lap later, Di Giannantonio successfully passed Bagnaia at the GT Chicane. With four laps remaining, the top six were separated by just 1.5 seconds, but Bagnaia had lost touch with the leading group.
Disaster struck for Quartararo on Lap 10 when he crashed out at Turn 10, his YZR-M1’s front end washing away just after he had set his fastest lap of the Sprint. This gave Bezzecchi some breathing room in third, with Di Giannantonio trailing by 0.8 seconds.
On the final lap, just 0.2 seconds separated Marc and Alex Marquez, with Bezzecchi a further 0.7 seconds adrift. Despite the pressure, Marc held firm, leaving no opportunity for his brother to pass at the GT Chicane. The six-time MotoGP World Champion claimed his ninth Sprint win of the season in what had been his most challenging weekend so far.
Reflecting on his performance, Marc Márquez said, “My goal from the beginning was to get a strong start, push, take the lead, and then defend it, as I wasn’t the fastest rider out there today. I was riding well, my level was acceptable, but physically I wasn’t in top shape to attack, and the overall feeling wasn’t perfect. That said, I still managed to secure another win. I knew Alex was right behind me — I could hear his engine in turns 11 and 12 — but I focused on defending my position under braking. Tomorrow, I’ll need to lose less ground in the sectors that are less favourable for me.”
Di Giannantonio finished just over a second behind Bezzecchi in fourth, while Bagnaia settled for a low-key fifth. Maverick Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech3) claimed top KTM honours in sixth, ahead of Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) in seventh, despite the latter having to serve a Long Lap penalty on the final lap for exceeding track limits. Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) and Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) rounded out the points-paying positions in eighth and ninth, respectively.
With the Sprint race setting the stage, Sunday’s Grand Prix promises to be a thrilling affair. While Marc Marquez may have extended his advantage, the likes of Quartararo and Bagnaia will be hungry for redemption, ensuring an exciting battle lies ahead at the Cathedral of Speed.
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