Marc Marquez extended his remarkable streak in MotoGP by securing victory in the sprint race at the Austrian Grand Prix on Saturday. This latest triumph at the Spielberg circuit saw Marquez narrowly beat his brother Alex Marquez, with Pedro Acosta completing the podium for KTM’s factory team on their home track.
Marc Marquez Continues Unbeaten Streak in MotoGP Sprints and Races
Since Marco Bezzecchi’s win at the British Grand Prix in May, Marc Marquez has remained undefeated in both MotoGP sprints and grand prix events. Demonstrating his experience and skill, Marquez once again showed why he remains a dominant force in the sport by overcoming a challenging start position and taking control mid-race.
Marquez Brothers Lead Early, but Marc Charges Past to Win
The opening laps saw the Marquez brothers take advantage of a strong start to position themselves at the front, outpacing polesitter Marco Bezzecchi. Initially, Alex Marquez was in front as they approached the first corner, with Marc close behind. The expectation was that Marc, the elder sibling, would make a strategic move when the moment was right.
After patiently trailing his brother for nine laps, Marc executed a decisive overtake on the tenth lap, expertly braking past at Turn 3. From that moment, he surged ahead to secure a comfortable victory despite beginning the race in fourth place.
Pedro Acosta Secures Third, Bezzecchi Holds Off Rivals Early On
Marco Bezzecchi maintained his third position on the opening lap before conceding the spot to Pedro Acosta of the KTM factory team on the second lap. Following this exchange, Acosta and Bezzecchi maintained their respective positions without significant changes until the end of the sprint.
Midfield Battles and Mechanical Issues Shape the Rest of the Field
Raul Fernandez, riding for Trackhouse Aprilia, showed promising form by running as high as fifth early in the race. However, Brad Binder of KTM took that position from him on lap eight, shortly before Fernandez was forced to retire due to a mechanical failure.
Brad Binder held fifth place until the checkered flag, while behind him, Fermin Aldeguer of Gresini Ducati engaged in a competitive and entertaining race-long duel with Enea Bastianini from Tech 3 KTM. Fabio Di Giannantonio on the VR46 Ducati and Johann Zarco with LCR Honda rounded out the points-paying positions.
Francesco Bagnaia Struggles and Withdraws from Sprint Race
Francesco Bagnaia, who started on the front row alongside Bezzecchi and Alex Marquez, faced difficulties early in the sprint. His GP25 rear wheel spun excessively at the start, causing him to fall back rapidly through the field. Persistent problems with the bike’s rear section forced Bagnaia to retire after completing eight laps.
Official Sprint Race Timing and Performance Overview
The sprint race times reflect the close competition among the top riders, with Marc Marquez completing the event in 20 minutes and 56.071 seconds. Alex Marquez finished 1.180 seconds behind, followed by Pedro Acosta at 3.126 seconds off the pace. The rest of the top ten placed riders spanned up to approximately 12 seconds behind the leader.
What This Victory Means for Marc Marquez and the MotoGP Season
Marc Marquez’s continued success at the Austrian Grand Prix sprint reinforces his status as a leading figure in the current MotoGP championship. By strategically overtaking his brother and maintaining a dominant pace, Marquez has strengthened his momentum heading into the main race. This performance also highlights the Marquez family’s competitive presence, with both brothers featuring prominently at the front.
Looking ahead, Marquez’s string of victories is likely to impact championship standings and further motivate his challengers to close the gap. Meanwhile, the factory KTM team and Pedro Acosta will take encouragement from their strong home-track showing, aiming to build on this podium in the forthcoming main event.
