Sprint win in Qatar proves a turning point for Marc Marquez

Marc Marquez holds off brother Alex to win fourth straight sprint and regain top spot in MotoGP standings.

Marc Marquez of Ducati Lenovo celebrates on the podium after winning the Qatar MotoGP sprint race at Lusail International Circuit on April 12, 2025. Photo by Karim Jaafar/AFP

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

Marc Marquez won the Qatar MotoGP sprint race on Saturday, beating his younger brother Alex Marquez in a tense battle to reclaim the lead in the MotoGP championship standings. The result extended Marc Marquez’s dominant sprint streak this season, with the win in Lusail marking his fourth straight sprint victory and signaling his growing mastery aboard the factory Ducati. The Qatar triumph also marked his first win at the Lusail International Circuit since 2014.

Marc Marquez arrived in Qatar viewing the weekend as a potential damage-limitation exercise. The Lusail track, with its predominance of right-hand corners, has never favored his riding style. Despite this, the eight-time world champion not only took pole but also stormed to victory, reinforcing his grip on the 2025 MotoGP campaign.

"The most important for me is not the points," Marc said following his win. "On a circuit where I know, and my opponents know, I struggle, I am there. This makes me happy."

His assessment showed a rider more focused on long-term consistency than chasing short-term rewards. It was also a psychological win, coming just one race after his costly crash while leading in Austin.

"The most important thing after the Austin mistake was to keep the same mentality," he said.

Marc Marquez started Saturday with his fourth consecutive pole position of the season — his 70th career pole — but significantly, his first in Qatar since 2014. That set the tone for a race where he managed the pressure with poise, holding off a determined charge from his brother Alex to secure the checkered flag.

Alex Marquez entered the weekend atop the standings by a single point and was eager to defend his lead. He made an early move to lead on the first lap and refused to let his brother escape easily. Riding for Gresini Ducati, Alex chased hard but finished 1.577 seconds behind Marc, once again coming in second place — a pattern that has defined his season so far.

"I know him and he knows me," Marc said with a grin. "He knows where I am struggling a bit on this circuit and I know where he is struggling."

Alex has now finished second in all four sprint races and all three Grand Prix races in 2025, showcasing remarkable consistency, if not yet outright dominance.

"For sure I tried," Alex said. "Marc was better than me."

Marc’s adaptation on a circuit that typically challenges him was even more notable considering Lusail's layout. Known for having more right-hand bends — historically a weakness in Marc's riding — he displayed newfound balance and control.

"I'm just working on my riding style," Marc explained. "I am losing there, but I am losing much less than in previous years."

Morbidelli impresses, Bagnaia recovers, Martin struggles

Italian rider Franco Morbidelli took third place on the VR46 Ducati, finishing nearly four seconds behind the Marquez brothers. His podium finish solidified his standing as a growing contender this season and elevated him to fourth in the overall standings.

Fermin Aldeguer, continuing to build a reputation as a fierce late-race competitor, snatched fourth place from Fabio Quartararo in the final lap, delivering another highlight performance for Gresini.

Meanwhile, it was a difficult day for Marc Marquez’s Ducati teammate Francesco Bagnaia. The reigning world champion crashed during qualifying and had to start the sprint from 11th on the grid. Though he climbed to eighth and earned two valuable points, Bagnaia admitted frustration with his performance.

"Yesterday and this morning I was feeling fantastic on the bike," Bagnaia said. "But I just crashed. I lost it. It was my mistake."

Despite the minimal points haul, he looked ahead to Sunday’s longer race with optimism but also visible irritation.

"Starting from behind I'm struggling to overtake riders and we're struggling to understand why," he said. "But it's not possible to finish eighth when you're fighting a rider like Marc."

Bagnaia added, "Tomorrow I will overtake 10 riders on one lap." Whether that bold statement translates into results remains to be seen.

Another story from the Qatar sprint was Jorge Martin’s return to racing. The defending champion, who missed the first three rounds of the season due to multiple fractures from pre-season crashes, struggled on his Aprilia. Starting from 14th, Martin briefly climbed into the points before fading to 16th.

"It was nice to see the chequered flag, and not crash," he said. "It will be really tough to finish tomorrow."

His performance served as a reminder that while talent endures, race fitness can only be regained through laps and time on the bike.

Marc Marquez wins Qatar MotoGP sprint

Marc Marquez wins Qatar MotoGP sprint — not just as a stand-alone headline but as a sign of evolving strength. With his flawless sprint record and four poles in four rounds, he has proven that his shift to Ducati was not only strategic but transformational. Lusail’s right-heavy circuit posed one of the few remaining puzzles for Marquez, and his victory shows how quickly he’s solving them.

While his brother Alex remains consistent, the small gaps separating victory from second place might ultimately determine the fate of this championship. The rest of the grid, including challengers like Morbidelli and Bagnaia, will need to respond quickly if they hope to keep pace.

The Qatar sprint not only reshaped the standings but hinted at what might come next — an even more aggressive push from a resurgent Marc Marquez, who now leads the championship once again and heads into Sunday’s race brimming with confidence.

With the MotoGP season heating up, all eyes will be on Lusail once more for the Grand Prix. If Saturday’s sprint was any indication, Marc Marquez is no longer just back — he’s the rider to beat.