Marc Marquez became the first rider to win five MotoGP sprint races in succession on Saturday, Ducati’s world championship leader extending his advantage to 20 points after taking victory in the sprint race at the Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez.
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The six-time MotoGP world champion passed surprise pole-sitter Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha) at turn six on the second lap, the Frenchman immediately running wide to the outside of the circuit and crashing out to allow Marquez to escape and run out a comfortable 1.001-second winner over younger sibling Alex Marquez (Gresini Ducati).
The 1-2 for the Marquez siblings was the fifth time in five sprints this season that they’ve annexed the top two places, while Marquez’s factory Ducati teammate Francesco Bagnaia finished third, 3.077secs adrift.
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“Today was not easy, especially with this warmth that changed a lot the feeling [on the bike],” Marquez said after winning in front of his home crowd.
“But I already expect this, and while I struggle a bit in the end, I was controlling. I always say on Saturday that I hate the sprint race because I want to control my emotions, but tomorrow is the most important day. In front of this crowd, you have this extra power.”
Ducati, on track to equal Honda’s 1997-98 record of 22 consecutive Grand Prix victories this weekend, locked out the first six places on Saturday, with KTM’s Maverick Vinales (seventh) the closest non-Ducati to Marquez at the conclusion of the 12-lap sprint, 7.849secs in arrears.
After Quartararo’s crash from Yamaha’s first pole in 63 races (Indonesia 2022), Marquez steadily built his lead to over one second on lap four and was never challenged for the remainder of the race.
Australia’s Jack Miller (Yamaha), who qualified 14th, was one of three riders to not see the chequered flag after crashing at the same corner that caught out Quartararo on lap five while running in 15th place.
Earlier on Saturday, Marc and Alex Marquez were each fined 2000 Euros and Alex Marquez had his first lap in qualifying cancelled after both siblings were found by race stewards to have exited the pit lane to start Q2 before the session officially began.
Marc Marquez immediately stopped after crossing the pit lane exit line, while Alex continued on his first lap of the 15-minute session. The Gresini Ducati rider’s lap time cancellation made no difference to his qualifying position, the younger Marquez brother starting fourth, his lowest grid position of the season.
The 25-lap Spanish Grand Prix, round five of the 22-round MotoGP season, will take place at 10pm on Sunday (AEST).
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