The six-time MotoGP world champion survived a high-speed bump from brother Alex to finish an ideal weekend at Lusail Worldwide Circuit.
Ducati’s Marc Marquez returned to the highest step of the rostrum with victory on the Qatar Grand Prix regardless of struggling harm to his bike in a collision together with his brother Alex on the primary lap.
Marc, who had taken his fourth straight pole with a lap report in addition to a fourth dash victory on Saturday gained on the Lusail Worldwide Circuit for the primary time since 2014.
Crimson Bull KTM Tech3’s Maverick Vinales completed second on Sunday however was given a 16-second penalty for tyre strain infringements, handing Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia second place.
VR46 Racing’s Franco Morbidelli, who briefly led the race early on, was promoted to 3rd.
The victory moved Marc as much as 123 factors on the high of the rider’s standings, 17 factors forward of Alex, whereas Bagnaia is third on 97 factors.
“I wanted to handle the entrance tyres, so for that purpose, within the first a part of the race, I used to be quiet,” Marc mentioned.
“Morbidelli was going [ahead] however I predicted or I understood yesterday with the rhythms that he might be not quick within the second a part of the race.
“Massive shock when Maverick overtook me. I assumed it was [Pedro] Acosta as a result of usually he’s the quickest on KTM. He was tremendous quick, however I had that margin for the top. Victory in Qatar is wonderful.”
Lap one collision
Marc had one other excellent begin off the road to take the lead into flip one however contact with Gresini Racing’s Alex led to break on the again of Marc’s bike. Morbidelli, who had began fourth on the grid, capitalised to surge into the lead.
Alex didn’t fare any higher. The Spaniard was concerned in one other collision, this time with VR46 Racing’s Fabio Di Giannantonio, which noticed each riders lose positions.
Alex instantly put his hand as much as apologise and the stewards gave him an extended lap penalty that dropped him right down to twelfth, placing an finish to any hopes of a podium, having completed second in each dash and race this season.
Bagnaia and Marc then swapped positions whereas battling for second, utilizing one another’s slipstream to overhaul, whereas Vinales on the Crimson Bull KTM additionally moved as much as third.
However Marc was clearly struggling with out one fin, and one other flapping loosely within the wind, as Vinales out-braked the six-times champion at flip one to take second place.
Vinales then set his sights on Morbidelli, and the KTM rider took the lead on the principle straight with 12 laps left, whereas Marc and Bagnaia additionally discovered their well past the yellow VR46 bike.
Defending MotoGP champion Jorge Martin was competing in his first race of the season after getting back from accidents however the Aprilia rider went down in a heavy crash on flip 11 and didn’t end. Martin was later identified with six fractures following the incident.
Up entrance, Marc lastly regained the lead for the primary time since lap one when Vinales ran extensive and allowed his compatriot to maneuver up a spot with seven laps left.
That was all Marc wanted within the enterprise finish of the race as he determined there was not a have to preserve his tyres, setting back-to-back quickest laps to open up a niche on Vinales earlier than cruising to the chequered flag.
