Marquez waits two more weeks
Marco Bezzecchi's win in Qatar prevents Marc Marquez from clinching his eighth title this weekend, though the Spanish rider retains a narrow path to victory in Portugal.
By Anthony Lawson ·
Marco Bezzecchi secured his sixth Grand Prix victory of the season at the Lusail International Circuit in Qatar on Sunday. The win kept the MotoGP championship undecided, forcing Marc Marquez to wait another two weeks to claim his eighth world title.
Marquez held a commanding position entering the race. He had won the sprint race on Saturday, meaning he only needed rival Jorge Martin to finish without scoring points to guarantee the championship. However, Martin finished seventh in the main race. This result allowed the Spanish rider to remain in the title fight despite trailing Bezzecchi by 60 points.
Bezzecchi started from pole position but faced a setback on Saturday. He crashed out of the sprint race while attempting a pass on Marquez. The Italian rider described his Sunday performance as a deserved result. He stated that the crash was a shame but part of the game, adding that the recovery made the win special.
The Qatar Grand Prix marked the return of major motorsport to the Middle East. The event had been delayed due to the conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran. Raul Fernandez finished third in the main race, completing the podium.
Marquez explained his strategy for the race. He aimed to manage the first five laps and noted that his riding style was wearing down his front tire. He saw rival Raul Fernandez struggling and decided to attack to gain four additional points. This move helped him maintain his lead in the standings.
Marquez can claim a record-equalling eighth premier class title in two weeks. He needs to finish two points ahead of Martin in the sprint race at Portimao to surpass Valentino Rossi. The Spanish champion currently leads the championship, with Martin in second and Bezzecchi in third. Bezzecchi has a 74-point deficit, which equals the total points remaining in the season.
Martin returned to racing in Qatar after suffering a broken right wrist. His team applauded him after he kept the title race technically alive. Two race weekends remain on the calendar. The next round is scheduled for Portimao.
