Marc Marquez claimed victory in the MotoGP season-opening sprint race in Thailand, making a strong debut with Ducati. He led from the start, with his brother Alex finishing second and Francesco Bagnaia third. Marquez expressed satisfaction with his performance, while defending champion Jorge Martin will miss the season start due to injuries from a crash.
In an impressive beginning to the MotoGP season, Marc Marquez of Spain executed a flawless start with Ducati, leading from the first lap to secure victory in the inaugural sprint race held at Thailand’s Buriram International Circuit. The 32-year-old, a six-time world champion, transitioned from Gresini Racing at the end of the previous season, achieving his first win for Ducati. Notably, the podium was entirely dominated by Ducati riders, with Marquez’s younger brother, Alex, finishing in second place and Francesco Bagnaia, the reigning champion from both 2022 and 2023, taking third place.
Marc Marquez expressed his satisfaction with the race day, stating, “It was a perfect Saturday” and highlighted his positive feelings regarding his new bike. Leading into the main event on Sunday, Marquez also noted, “The feeling is great with the bike. I got out and I was consistent, and then I saw that the gap was already there, and then I tried to manage.” His performance places him in pole position and atop the standings for the first time since his last title in 2019.
In a significant blow to the competition, Aprilia’s defending champion, Jorge Martin, will be unable to participate in the start of the 22-race season. Martin underwent surgery to address injuries from a crash that resulted in fractures to his right hand and left foot during testing, marking a challenging start for the team.
In summary, Marc Marquez made a remarkable debut with Ducati by winning the season-opening sprint race in Thailand, establishing a strong lead from the outset. His success was complemented by his brother Alex’s second place and Francesco Bagnaia’s third, reflecting Ducati’s dominance. However, the absence of competitor Jorge Martin due to injury adds an element of unpredictability to the upcoming races.
Original Source: www.bbc.com
