Marco Bezzecchi and Aprilia Racing are hat-trick heroes in MotoGP for the primary time after the Italian dominates a dramatic PT Grand Prix of Thailand to back up his 2025 Portugal and Valencia victories with a Buriram magnificence firstly of 2026. Tissot Sprint winner Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) completed P2 to verify he leaves Thailand as 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 struggle. And which means Ducati’s unbelievable record-breaking podium streak of 88 in a row is over – for the primary time for the reason that 2021 British GP, no Ducati rider stood on the Sunday rostrum.
BEZ GETS THE LAUNCH, MM93 UNDER ATTACK
After an unbelievable Tissot Sprint on Saturday, it was time for lights out on Sunday and getting the right launch from pole was Bezzecchi, with Marc Marquez holding 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 chew at #93. Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing) was briefly forward of the 2025 World Champion, however the latter bit back.
Bezzecchi was into an ideal 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 back to P4 by the 2024 World Champion, after which, Acosta entered the battle.
ACOSTA VS MARTIN VS MARC MARQUEZ
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 all the way down to P5 and as issues stood, the present King had zero solutions.
As Bezzecchi and Fernandez continued to set the same 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 approach by way of on Martin. On the exit of a transfer at Turn 3, Acosta was by way 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.
PODIUM CHASE ON AS DRAMA BEGINS TO UNFOLD
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 as the Grand Prix entered its remaining 10 laps.
Behind, Marc Marquez sat 1.4s away from Acosta, with Martin sitting 0.8s back of the main Ducati. Bezzecchi, in the meantime, was over three seconds up the street 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 beneath a second away from the #25, and Marc Marquez was lurking too. Until he wasn’t. As we panned back to observe Fernandez, Acosta and Marc Marquez come by way of Turn 4, it was clear the latter had an issue. And it turned 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 pressured to retire from the Grand Prix with rear tyre issues too after the 2020 World Champion had strung a really robust race collectively within the high six, and unexpectedly, there have been 4 Aprilias within the high 5, with Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) exhibiting 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 look forward to a Grand Prix win goes on, however that was one other chic efficiency from the KTM star, who will head to Brazil as the MotoGP World Championship chief. And honest 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.
YOUR POINTS SCORERS IN THAILAND
Having missed the Sepang Test and contemplating what he went by way of in 2025, Martin shall 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 high 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 residence spherical subsequent. Rounding out the points-paying positions have been Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP duo Fabio Quartararo and Alex Rins.
THANK YOU, THAILAND
Round 1 = accomplished. What a begin to the yr that was in MotoGP, as Acosta heads to Brazil as the World Championship chief after a drama-filled opening chapter. Boy, it is good to be back.
MotoGP Thai Grand Prix results!
