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00:00:01Music
00:00:22Winter is well and truly over as Monday GP powers back into action with the PT Grand Prix of Thailand.
00:00:2744 race in 18 countries across five continents kicks off at the Chang International Circuit.
00:00:32A short flight from bustling Bangkok.
00:00:34The first point in the ability to lift Monday GP's biggest...
00:00:37...for grabs in the sprint next live.
00:00:39It's finally time for racing. It's time for MotoGP.
00:00:50The first MotoGP race to take place here in Thailand was all the way back in 2018.
00:00:55One of eight Asian countries, says Thailand, to host a MotoGP race.
00:01:02One of 12 tracks in Asia in total.
00:01:0412 turns, 4.55 kilometers.
00:01:0712 turns in total.
00:01:10Seven right, five left.
00:01:12Pretty Thai punishing to say the least in one of our exceedingly hot conditions.
00:01:17It is hot, hot, hot as we return from our long winter break.
00:01:2133 degrees, approximately, is the ambient temperature ahead of our first sprint action.
00:01:26Our first race action in what feels like an awful long time, doesn't it?
00:01:31Up next, the Tissot sprint.
00:01:33Well, we're going to see, hopefully, plenty of overtaken in this 13-lapper.
00:01:37This was 12 months ago.
00:01:39No brotherly love at this stage of the Grand Prix as Mark fired on the inside of Alex at turn
00:01:4312.
00:01:57We are back.
00:02:01And we are hopefully back with a bang here in Bururam.
00:02:04And welcome, one and all, to the 2026 MotoGP World Championship.
00:02:11It has felt like an awful long winter.
00:02:15An awful long wait for our first race action of the new campaign.
00:02:19The 78th season in the MotoGP World Championship.
00:02:23But here we go.
00:02:24We can, for the first time this year, say it is indeed time to go racing.
00:02:31It's time for the world's best riders on the world's fastest machines to pit themselves against each other
00:02:40and find out who will prevail at the end of a 22-round campaign,
00:02:45which will take us to the four corners of the globe.
00:02:4844 races, 22 of them sprints, 22 of them Grand Prix, 814 points up for grabs.
00:02:56The first 12 of which will be decided over the next hour or so here at the Chang International Circuit
00:03:04in North East Thailand.
00:03:07No more time for the nerves.
00:03:09No more time for the butterflies.
00:03:11It's now time for the real deal.
00:03:13It's time for business in Borougham as we open shop for the 2026 World Championship campaign in the company of
00:03:20Matt Burr.
00:03:21Lewis Suddivy.
00:03:22Always a pleasure to be talking to you through all the action from the country box.
00:03:26We have the best seat in the house as you do at home.
00:03:30Ready for what we hope will be an absolute classic MotoGP World Championship campaign.
00:03:36Jack Appleyard is with us as always down in pit lane, bringing us great insight and great interviews from the
00:03:42heart of the action.
00:03:44The action, which so far has very much belonged to one rider and one team.
00:03:51Pre-Racing's Marco Betsechi has stole the show and stole the headlines so far here in Thailand.
00:03:57In this morning's Q2 session, despite a late crash at Turn 12, the second of two stalls actually for the
00:04:04Italian on Sprint Saturday here in Borougham.
00:04:06He is on pole position for the third consecutive race.
00:04:10First time for Bez.
00:04:11First time that's ever happened at Fort Aprilia.
00:04:13He did it all thanks to a 128.652.
00:04:17Nothing though to split Bez and our reigning world champion.
00:04:20The defense of the crown starts right here, right now for number 93, Mark Marquez.
00:04:25He's second on the grid, of course.
00:04:27Mark, the winner of the Sprint and the Grand Prix here on his Factory Ducati debut 12 months ago.
00:04:32A front row completed by Ralph Fernandes.
00:04:34Two Aprilia's on the front row.
00:04:35At one stage we thought Aprilia might lock out the front row.
00:04:38But Lewis, awesome, fantastic, phenomenal.
00:04:41You say whatever you want.
00:04:43It's great to be back racing.
00:04:45But despite two crashes here on Sprint Saturday, clearly the man on your screens, Marco Betsecki, is the rider to
00:04:52beat.
00:04:52Yeah, not that he wants to admit it, but he is the favorite coming into this first sprint of 2026.
00:04:59Good afternoon to you all wherever you're watching.
00:05:01This is the moment we've been waiting for since the curtain came down in Valencia in November of last year
00:05:07to see MotoGP bikes line up alongside each other on the grid with the best riders in the world going
00:05:13head to head.
00:05:14And head to head might well be the key topic of discussion in this.
00:05:18Because it feels like we are set for a shootout between Mark Marquez, the defending champion,
00:05:23and the form rider at the end of last season, the beginning of this season, Marco Betsecki.
00:05:28Here he is then, the reigning king of MotoGP, back on top of the throne.
00:05:34Of course, seven times now MotoGP world champion Mark Marquez.
00:05:38He has been here in this situation, done it, got the t-shirts, got the trophies.
00:05:43But even for Mark and all of his experience, he'll be filling those nerves, a few butterflies,
00:05:47as he looks to make a successful start to the defense of his title.
00:05:52This, of course, will be Mark's first competitive race action since the Indonesian Grand Prix in early October.
00:05:59It feels like a long long time ago, of course, when he was involved in a season-ending tangle
00:06:03with his current rival, Marco Betsecki.
00:06:06Perhaps still some doubts about whether the right shoulder injury suffered in Manalika is fully recovered,
00:06:11but he's certainly not slowing him down too much.
00:06:14Marquez goes from second on the grid.
00:06:15Raul Fernandes, 14th at the end of play on Friday.
00:06:19A brilliant lap of a 128.7 to lead Q1.
00:06:22His Q1 time, actually, for Raul was faster than his Q2 time, but for just the fourth time,
00:06:28his MotoGP career, Fernandes flying away from the front row Lewis.
00:06:32Can he stick his nose in the battle?
00:06:34I think he might be, actually, because we actually look at Raul Fernandes through very different lenses now in 2026.
00:06:40He scores now a Grand Prix winner with Trackhouse victorious in Australia last season.
00:06:45He now fully believes that he belongs at the front of MotoGP.
00:06:49A pretty cunning at Marquez from all angles, I think, in this JISO sprint,
00:06:53because Jorge Martin here from fifth on the grid is also going to potentially have something to say.
00:06:58Of course, he is the sprint master in MotoGP.
00:07:02But Marquez here this afternoon could potentially tie Jorge Martin for the most ever sprint wins.
00:07:08Martin leads it 16 to 15.
00:07:10So Martin potentially looking to preserve his record this afternoon.
00:07:1450% of the top eight of this Thai Grand Prix grid have rolled off the production line at the
00:07:20Noali factory back at Aprilia's base in Italy.
00:07:23Ayagura completing their quartet in eighth place.
00:07:26And we know the sort of brilliance that Agur was capable of delivering here in Burham.
00:07:29A sensational debut here for Trackhouse a brilliant one year ago when he was fourth in the sprint.
00:07:34Fifth in the Grand Prix, which eventually turned out to be his season best finishes in both.
00:07:40Completing what is a very strong second row is Pedro Acosta on the factory KTM.
00:07:45Acosta qualifying in sixth place.
00:07:48Fabio de Gianantonio leads that second row.
00:07:50And he is certainly one rider more than capable of taking this fight to Betsecchi and Marquez this afternoon and
00:07:56tomorrow.
00:07:57He has had great race pace just off that front row by four hundredths of a second.
00:08:01One Italian flying on an Akati GP26.
00:08:05We can't sadly say the same for Pekka Bagnia.
00:08:07We thought that we turned the page on Pekka Bagnia's struggles of 2025.
00:08:11Unfortunately, there's a little bit of a hangover from last year's issues for the two-time MotoGP world champion.
00:08:18Again, slightly unfortunate, but also just got the wrong part of the racetrack at the wrong time yesterday in practice
00:08:24when rain was falling.
00:08:25Bagnia didn't get the best of the conditions, nor of himself, which put him in qualifying one.
00:08:31And of course, it was a qualifying one that's featured the aforementioned Ralph Fernandez and Frankie Morvodelli.
00:08:35One of those three was going to have to miss out.
00:08:37In the end, it was Bagnia who starts from the fifth row of the grid.
00:08:41And we know that the sprints weren't exactly his strongest discipline last year.
00:08:45Seven sprint podiums so far for 27-year-old Di Gianantonio, the last of which came in our last sprint
00:08:52to close out 2025 over in Valencia.
00:08:55Two riders on that second row going in search of their first sprint victories.
00:09:01Pedro Acosta's amassed a whole bunch of sprint podiums himself, 11.
00:09:05He was also on that Valencia sprint podium last November.
00:09:08Can those two really start to take a fight with Betsecki and Mark Marquez?
00:09:13Further down the grid, our third row is Alex Marquez in seventh, head of his factory GP26 debut for Beka
00:09:208 Grasinia Racing.
00:09:21Agoura and Morvodelli are on your third row, heading row four and leading the Honda charge.
00:09:26Two Hondas are actually on that fourth row.
00:09:28It's Dwan Mir, the 2020 MotoGP World Champion.
00:09:31He's finding a best of 129.385 this morning.
00:09:35The second of those two Hondas on the first four rows is Johan Zarco in 12th place.
00:09:39It's Brad Binder in a HRC sandwich on that row four in 11th.
00:09:43Yeah, it looks like Honda are going to be in that battle with potentially some of the KTMs and perhaps
00:09:48the tail end of the Ducati.
00:09:50A brilliant battle for the lower sprint points here this afternoon.
00:09:53Reminder, if you're new to the GP, points down to ninth place in the Tissot sprint.
00:09:5812th for the winner, nine for second.
00:10:00And then from third down to ninth, it counts down seven, six, five, four, three, two and one.
00:10:05So for Dwan Mir from 10th, he has to try and get forwards into the points and potentially look for
00:10:10better opportunities tomorrow.
00:10:11It looks like Honda have got the third or fourth fastest motorcycle at the moment.
00:10:16Perhaps third fastest if you discount Pedro Acosta, who's put that KTM on the third row of the grid.
00:10:22Brad Binder on the second of the KTMs.
00:10:23It's in between those Hondas that make Q2.
00:10:25He might not have been able to start in Q2 earlier on this morning,
00:10:29but Diogo Moreira certainly caught a few eyes on his debut in Q1.
00:10:34It was some qualifying performance by Moreira this morning.
00:10:37He will go from 15th for Pro Honda LCR.
00:10:41He was only 400th of a second, actually, behind the vastly more experienced Luca Marini.
00:10:48Behind him on the grid, MotoGP World Champion Fabio Quattararo.
00:10:51Yes, we know that the Yamaha currently is having a bit of a woeful introduction to life,
00:10:55full time on its new V4 powered M1.
00:10:58Maverick Finale is a Grand Prix World Champion.
00:11:00Jack Miller a MotoGP race winner.
00:11:02Alex Frinza multiple race winner across all three Grand Prix classes.
00:11:06So too Inea Bastianini.
00:11:08And World Superbike Champion top-rack Vazgat Lioglu behind Diogo Moreira.
00:11:1215th on the grid, looking for a bit of a pre-Home Grand Prix boost,
00:11:15as we head back to Brazil for the first time in 22 years, in three weeks' time.
00:11:20Yeah, spent a lot of time trying to learn from other riders as Diogo Moreira.
00:11:24He's a bit of a sponge.
00:11:25We've seen a lot in Moto2 when he won the World Championship.
00:11:28He would spend a lot of the weekend up behind other riders,
00:11:30looking for potentially some trade secrets.
00:11:33And he certainly got the best out of himself in qualifying,
00:11:36to get himself on the fifth row of the grid.
00:11:38As we now see, perhaps the slowest and April has moved all weekend.
00:11:42They've struggled to keep up with Marco Betsecki so far this weekend,
00:11:45but this is now the slow fuel eco-cruise to the grid,
00:11:49to make sure that they don't use up some of that crucial fuel
00:11:52that they're going to need over the upcoming 13-lapper.
00:11:57How quickly can Marco Betsecki?
00:11:59I'm sure very, very quickly, because that's what he does very, very well.
00:12:02Like most MotoGP riders, can he block out of that late Q2 crash
00:12:06at Turn 12 that completed his rather successful morning?
00:12:11Betsecki then on pole for the 10th time in MotoGP.
00:12:14Somebody who's back in the paddock and a welcome return full time to paddock
00:12:18as sort of a psychic, shall we say, a bit of a mentor to Maverick Vinales.
00:12:23It is three times MotoGP World Champion Jorge Lorenzo, who is with Jack.
00:12:28Yeah, he is indeed. He's just taking a quick phone call.
00:12:31Jorge, obviously here on the grid looking after Maverick in 2026.
00:12:35So let's start with that.
00:12:36Has been a challenge ever since we got to Thailand.
00:12:39And what's the reason behind it?
00:12:41Well, unfortunately, it was not the start that we expected.
00:12:46We still didn't make the race.
00:12:47So let's see how it goes, the race.
00:12:49But for the moment, Maverick, we need to focus to understand
00:12:53how to take the maximum on the bike,
00:12:55how to choose the best riding to get the maximum.
00:12:59And for the moment, we didn't get, we didn't get there yet.
00:13:04Looks as though at the front, it's Marko Betsecki's race to lose.
00:13:07He's been so strong this weekend.
00:13:08Can you see anybody stopping him here?
00:13:13Well, everything can happen in a race.
00:13:14We saw he crash in the, in the last corner.
00:13:18So everything can happen.
00:13:19But in terms of pace and speed, probably he's the favorite.
00:13:23Thanks, Jorge.
00:13:25Yeah.
00:13:25Thanks very much to Jorge Lorenzo.
00:13:27Thanks as always Jack.
00:13:28Maverick finales.
00:13:29He had a pretty brutal KTM debut here one year ago.
00:13:32No points last year.
00:13:3416th at the checkered flag in the Grand Prix.
00:13:3614th over the line in the sprint.
00:13:392025.
00:13:39It was a pretty injury-ravaged campaign, wasn't it?
00:13:42For the Spanish.
00:13:42He missed eight Grand Prix's injured after suffering that nasty left shoulder injury in a wet Q2 in Germany.
00:13:49But only the second time in 11 years in Managipi.
00:13:52Vinales closed out a season without a single podium.
00:13:55The only other one being his rookie season with Suzuki back in 2015.
00:14:00If he's going to be in the podium fight at any stage here this weekend in the spin or the
00:14:03Grand Prix,
00:14:04well, he's going to be having to produce something really, really special.
00:14:07Vinales goes from 17th on the grid.
00:14:09Yeah, just ahead of his teammate.
00:14:11One row ahead of his teammate, Enea Bastionini,
00:14:13who's qualifying problems from his first KTM season, also persist.
00:14:17He's only got Toprak and Michele Pirro behind him,
00:14:20so their best chance of some points is likely to come tomorrow in the full-length Grand Prix over 26
00:14:26laps,
00:14:26which also gets underway at 3pm local time.
00:14:29We're a quarter of an hour away from 3 o'clock and the start of the 2026 MotoGP season
00:14:35in baking hot conditions here in Buriram.
00:14:38And the heat has all been put on by Aprilia so far this weekend.
00:14:42Ducati, it feels, for the first time in several seasons, start the season with a real battle on their hands.
00:14:48Here comes Marco Betsechi then, cruising to pole position, the tenth of his MotoGP career.
00:14:53Sixth time he's been on pole for Aprilia.
00:14:55The first time in his MotoGP career he's starting the season from the front row of the grid.
00:14:59It's been a stunning weekend so far, hasn't it, for the New Orleans factory.
00:15:02All four machines inside the top eight will let you just run through the grid yourselves back at home.
00:15:08Well, we pick it up with Trackhouse boss Davide Brivio.
00:15:11Raul Fernandez on the front row and Ayahu are down in eighth.
00:15:13Four opponents by the top eight, Jack. Big expectations.
00:15:16Yeah, as you can see on that front row of the grid as you just pointed out, Raul Fernandez up
00:15:20there once again.
00:15:20Davide, this isn't something new to him now.
00:15:23We saw from the back end of last year qualifying on the front row, fighting at the front of races.
00:15:28How important is that experience going to be going into this one?
00:15:32Yeah, I mean, Raul did a great job today because he woke up in the morning and said,
00:15:36I have to get to the Q2 and then actually managed to be in the first row.
00:15:41I think these type of things are important.
00:15:43At the end of last year we were talking to him and saying, you have to get used to stay
00:15:47maybe with the top group.
00:15:49And so now, let's say, he has a little bit more experience.
00:15:52But like, you get to know also who you, for instance, he said this morning,
00:15:56Oh, I've never been in a race with Mark Marquez. Let's see if we can do that.
00:16:00So in order to learn and to understand more.
00:16:02So, I mean, starting from the first row, of course, it's worth to try and see what's happened.
00:16:08He's in a good shape.
00:16:09And I didn't expect him to be so, so advanced because during the testing and yesterday,
00:16:16he was not fully comfortable on the bike.
00:16:18But this morning we made some small improvement and yeah, it worked.
00:16:22I imagine that feeling is almost the opposite for Ai, who is probably a little bit further back
00:16:26than where you expected him to be.
00:16:28What can he do from the third row?
00:16:30Yeah, a little bit disappointed because he couldn't put everything together.
00:16:34For sure.
00:16:35I mean, we were 28-7 in the test and whatever.
00:16:38So there was clearly the potential to do much better, but just it didn't work during the qualified session.
00:16:44And we have a good pace.
00:16:46Of course, starting eight is more difficult, but I think we can try to have a good race.
00:16:52The base is there, let's see.
00:16:54Thanks, Davide.
00:16:54You're welcome.
00:16:56Yeah, crucially, the pace has been there for Ayagura.
00:16:59There'll be a tinge of disappointment, half a second slower.
00:17:02He wasn't qualifying this morning compared to that 28.7 he delivered in the test.
00:17:07The 28.7, had he repeated that from last weekend, would have obviously put him on the front row of
00:17:12the grid.
00:17:12Nevertheless, let's look at the positives for the 25-year-old Japanese rider.
00:17:16It is only the fourth time in his mother GP career.
00:17:18He will start inside the top ten.
00:17:20Another three times he's qualified inside the top ten.
00:17:23Here in Burram one year ago, Qatar and Catalonia.
00:17:27So don't discount Agur, as Burram pointed out there, he has got good race pace.
00:17:31So we might see him charge through.
00:17:34Pedro Acosta then.
00:17:35Well, how many times have we said this over the last couple of years?
00:17:37The leading light and carrying the hopes of KTM on his shoulders, going into this season opener in Thailand.
00:17:43The Spaniard goes from six on the grid.
00:17:44Let's get the thoughts of his crew chief, Paul Trebathan.
00:17:46Yeah, great to be joined by Paul.
00:17:48So often I talk to you, Paul, about the fighting spirit that Pedro's got and how often he illustrates that.
00:17:53Is that what it's going to take today from the second row with the Ducats and the Aprilia showing such
00:17:58strength so far?
00:17:59Yeah, I mean, you know, like all the fans and everyone else knows, the character of the boy has not
00:18:05changed this year, I can tell you.
00:18:06So he's in a really good place mentally.
00:18:09We've had a very good winter together.
00:18:11He's put everything on point.
00:18:12No silly mistakes.
00:18:13He's been working really hard.
00:18:15We've got to take our times when it comes, you know.
00:18:17So it's the start of the season.
00:18:19We don't win anything here, but you can definitely lose something.
00:18:21So we really want to just try and put a really good solid weekend together.
00:18:24And I know when the lights go out, the monster will return for sure.
00:18:27But I think he's in a good place to handle it.
00:18:30Thanks, Paul. Have a good one.
00:18:30No worries, mate.
00:18:32Yeah, we are awaiting to awaken the Acosta monster then very, very shortly over 13 laps in the sprint.
00:18:38And of course, we are so, so excited.
00:18:41We welcome to Mono GP.
00:18:42Finally, it's felt like it's been a long journey to get to this level for top track Raz Gatlioglu.
00:18:48But a moment of history beckons for the 29-year-old Turk.
00:18:51The first Turkish rider ever to race in Mono GP.
00:18:55At the moment, it certainly doesn't like he's got the tools at his disposal to be fighting where he wants
00:19:01to be.
00:19:01This is very much a big learning curve for him, gaining experience of Michelin tyres,
00:19:07gaining experience of the light of Mono GP bikes, but it feels like to have 300 horsepower in his right
00:19:12hand.
00:19:12He looks pretty relaxed, looks pretty chilled as there's a little bit of a pre-sprint debrief with Alex Rins.
00:19:18Those two 19th and 21st respectively on the grid.
00:19:22Regardless of results, Lewis, it is just amazing to see top track Raz Gatlioglu here in Mono GP to test
00:19:30himself against the very best on planet Earth.
00:19:33Yeah, he brings genuine star quality to Mono GP and you have to admire the bravery to come over here.
00:19:40Because as you saw there on the screens, only three previously have done this, come across as reigning World Superbike
00:19:45champion
00:19:45and thrown themselves into the shark tank that is Moto GP.
00:19:50And I think top track has done a very solid job so far this weekend.
00:19:54I know it might not look it to many just looking at the pure situation of him starting 21st on
00:19:59the grid,
00:20:00but to qualify 10th behind Alex Rins, 3 tenths behind Jack Miller and half a second behind Fabio Quattararo,
00:20:06who's probably the fastest rider in the world over a single lap, is no mean feat.
00:20:11But what can Ducati do then?
00:20:13Are they the underdogs coming into this Tissot sprint with Mark Marquez starting second?
00:20:17Davide Tardoxi is with Jack.
00:20:18Yeah, it's a great point, Lewis.
00:20:19Not often do we get the chance to say ahead of a race that Ducati and Mark Marquez are the
00:20:24underdogs going into it.
00:20:25But is that the case going into this, Davide?
00:20:28I think that is the case to collect points.
00:20:30I would say Marco Bezzecki shows and Aprilia because there is another Aprilia on the front row.
00:20:37Looks very fast on this racetrack, mainly on the last part of the track, T4.
00:20:42But yeah, the main is to collect points.
00:20:45First of 44 races, so we are looking to the championship to collect points
00:20:51because I think that Marco will be very, very tough to pick.
00:20:55I think that the huge surprise of the morning was the performance of Peko.
00:20:58We thought that it was a new Peko, the old Peko, that had returned after what we saw in pre
00:21:03-season.
00:21:04What happened?
00:21:05It happens that in the last two flying laps he makes two mistakes.
00:21:08That's why he was red and red on the first two splits and then he makes mistakes and it can
00:21:13happen.
00:21:14But we know that Peko is fast.
00:21:16He shows that during the winter test.
00:21:19So we are confident and again, he's the first of 44 races.
00:21:24So we are confident and we'll see.
00:21:26Thanks, David.
00:21:28It is a long, long season.
00:21:30The first 12 of 264 points available on sprint Saturdays.
00:21:35About to be 44 over 13 laps.
00:21:37We just saw there Diogo Moreira.
00:21:39First Brazilian in 19 years to appear in Mudder GP.
00:21:42Going all the way back to Alex Barros in 2007.
00:21:45Proof that dreams really do come true.
00:21:47He dreamt of this moment his Mudder GP race debut for so, so long.
00:21:53Well, there's been so much pre-season focus on the brilliant performance of the Aprilia RS GP with Marco Betsecki
00:22:00on top of that motorcycle.
00:22:02So far, it's been a stunning Borough Ramp round.
00:22:06Betsecki leading all three practice sessions on pole position.
00:22:08Can he do it in the sprint?
00:22:09Let's get the thoughts of the boss, Massimo Rivula.
00:22:11Yeah, that's the big question, Bertie.
00:22:13As you say, it's been perfect so far this weekend.
00:22:16Fastest in every single session.
00:22:18But these are the ones that count, Massimo.
00:22:20How is Marco feeling ahead of it?
00:22:22He's okay.
00:22:23Maybe a bit disappointed for the last corner crash.
00:22:27But at the end, they didn't change the grid order.
00:22:30So, it's a warning that is maybe useful to keep the brain on, you know, when you start battling in
00:22:38the first battle of the season.
00:22:41So, I mean, the speed is there, but never say never, because Marco is just there.
00:22:46I mean, still, I think Marco is the first candidate.
00:22:49And it's been not only a great day for Marco, but for the entire Noali factory.
00:22:53Three bikes in the top five, four inside the top eight.
00:22:56It looks as though you guys are here to fight and compete this year.
00:23:00Yeah, that is the thing that I like the most, and the bigger rewarding to the Noali factory job.
00:23:05I think all the people should be quite happy of what has been done.
00:23:11Maybe everybody thought that the 126 was a transition year, but it's just not true.
00:23:18I mean, we all want to get the last one of the fastest bikers ever.
00:23:22So, that's bullshit.
00:23:25Thanks, Massimo. Good luck.
00:23:27Thanks, Jack. Thanks to Massimo Rivoli.
00:23:28Yeah, Massimo, he is far too savvy to be writing off Marc Marquez.
00:23:33There's a 33-year-old Spanier then, looking to be just the second rider in Grand Prix history to win
00:23:38eight Mother GP titles.
00:23:40As victorious this year, he will tie Italian icon, Giacomo Agostini.
00:23:44It's very good reason, not just because of Marc's back catalogue throughout his career,
00:23:48but last year in this format on Sprint Saturdays, there were only four rounds, Silverstone, Mizano, Indonesia and Matejgi,
00:23:56where Marc Marquez started a sprint and didn't win.
00:24:00On the other 14 rounds, he participated in a sprint.
00:24:03He cleaned up. He won the lot.
00:24:05And it was a big platform for him to win last year's World Championship.
00:24:09You can't write him off. Never, ever, ever, Lewis. Underestimate 93.
00:24:13Now, once the red light shuts off and there are points and prizes up for grabs, Marc Marquez summons something
00:24:19extra,
00:24:20as all the greats in motorcycle racing and in general sport do.
00:24:24When the pressure is on and when the big moments turn up, the best show up.
00:24:30So for Marc Marquez, he will certainly be looking to, at the very least, make Marco Betsecki work for this.
00:24:36And having already seen two mistakes from Marco Betsecki today, can Marc Marquez potentially force Marco into a third?
00:24:44This could well be the title battle throughout 2026.
00:24:48We could be talking in Valencia in November of a season of Marc versus Marco.
00:24:54The first chapter is just a few minutes away.
00:24:58Marco Betsecki, four times a sprint winner in one of GP.
00:25:02His last success in Phillip Island in Australia.
00:25:06Some final words of encouragement from Davide Tardotzi.
00:25:09I'm sure the message is loud and clear.
00:25:12The message crystal clear to Marc.
00:25:14This is just one of 44 battles you're going to face in 2026.
00:25:19Let's just make sure we see the checkered flag.
00:25:23Do nothing crazy.
00:25:24We don't need to be taking the unnecessary risks at the early part of the season.
00:25:27But this is Marc Marquez.
00:25:29He's all in for the win, isn't he?
00:25:31Every time he throws a leg over a motorcycle.
00:25:33It's just his natural instinct.
00:25:35It's his DNA.
00:25:36Born to win.
00:25:38Back to winning ways he was last year, of course.
00:25:40Crown world champion in emotional scenes up in the Mateigi mountains at the Japanese Grand Prix last September.
00:25:48But this is a new story, a new chapter.
00:25:50He's got to summon more motivation.
00:25:52He climbed all the way back to the top of the mountain last year.
00:25:57Now he's got the big target once again on his back.
00:25:59First time Marc comes into a season as the defending champion since 2020.
00:26:04And I don't care whether it's race one or race 44.
00:26:08Marc Marquez will be well aware that having seen Marco Vecicchi top every single session so far this weekend.
00:26:14FP1, practice, FP2 and qualifying.
00:26:18Just what kind of psychological blow Marc Marquez could strike if he can upset and it would be an upset
00:26:25to beat Marco Vecicchi today.
00:26:27Jorge Martin, 28 year old Spaniard, started his weekend with a crash at turn 12.
00:26:32The rest of his weekend has gone rather swimmingly.
00:26:34First time we've seen Martin qualify on an Aprilia inside the top 10.
00:26:39He goes from fifth place on the grid.
00:26:42We know Jorge, a pass master in the sprint format when he was on a factory at Ducati.
00:26:48Fabio the Gian Antonio felt like he made too many mistakes in his last two flying laps this morning in
00:26:53Q2 to get himself on the front row.
00:26:56But if you delve deeply into the lap by lap analysis in every session so far this weekend, the Gian
00:27:01Antonio has caught the eye.
00:27:03He has got, without any question, podium potential.
00:27:07Could be a medal around the neck of the Gian Antonio at the end of this 13-lap sprint.
00:27:11I think his first primary goal will be to try and clear Raul Fernandes on the first lap.
00:27:16If, as we're expecting, it potentially to be a battle between Vecicchi and Marquez at the front of the field.
00:27:20If Gian Antonio is going to go with that, he needs to clear that track house of Perilio that starts
00:27:24just over to his right on the front row of the grid.
00:27:28The riders always get that unique fitting of butterflies and nerves.
00:27:33I'm sure the fans feel the same.
00:27:34I know we feel the same here in the comedy box as finally we get to go racing once again
00:27:39in Mudder GP.
00:27:40Our first front row start of 2026 features two of Perilio's third place.
00:27:45Ralph Fernandes on the track house RSGP.
00:27:47Starting the defense of his world championship from second on the grid is Mark Marquez.
00:27:51But having dominated the weekend so far, can Marco Betsecki continue that domination?
00:27:56As we get set to race in our first sprint of 2026.
00:28:00InIRE The eBay hard, we refer to your mix.
00:28:11Our first program is Mark Marquez, their first has been making decisions for the� ko dataset on reflex.
00:28:17Make sure it's activities, your souvent단es atGodest prevent 500 of the dust.
00:28:17We are here today.
00:28:21Then look at him.
00:28:21The Podcast of the grpt.
00:28:21That was close.
00:28:21I have no idea of anything you can do this and I think itesteak of your head to watch the
00:28:21ninja
00:28:21Deep in sheer strength, make sure of a little mind.
00:28:22This is Mark Marquez.
00:28:25Google is fixed, especially here trying to speak with seems your opponent on the limits.
00:29:27This looks to capture an eighth MotoGP world title.
00:29:32He claimed 2025 glory, his first success in six long injury-ravaged years.
00:29:40Late September, over in Matej at the Japanese Grand Prix.
00:29:43That all, though, seems like a distant memory.
00:29:47Plenty of pursuers in the chasing pack, led at the moment by Aprilia star Marco Betzecchi, who will fire away
00:29:55from pole position in our opening round of 2026.
00:29:58The Aprilia rider has been supreme so far here at the Chang International Circuit in Thailand.
00:30:06Led all three practice sessions, and for the 10th time in his MotoGP career, he will start from pole position.
00:30:13Mark begins the defense of his title from second place.
00:30:17Baking hot, scorching hot conditions here.
00:30:19We're grateful for a bit of cloud cover to give us a little bit of a shelter from what are
00:30:24punishing energy sapping conditions.
00:30:28Betzecchi has had a couple of blips.
00:30:30It hasn't all been plain sailing so far in this opening Grand Prix weekend.
00:30:33A crash this morning at Turn 3, and he ended qualifying, which he did end up on top spot on
00:30:39the floor at Turn 12.
00:30:40Ralph Fernandes may be a surprise name on the front row of the grid.
00:30:43Two Aprilias on the front row, four Aprilias in the top eight.
00:30:47Keep an eye on Fabio de Gian Antonio and Pedro Acosta, fourth and sixth on the grid.
00:30:52They've shown great race pace all weekend.
00:30:54What can sprint specialist Jorge Martin do?
00:30:57A best-ever fifth place on the grid for the Factory Aprilia team.
00:31:01Alex Marquez, seventh on the grid, second he was in both the Sprint and the Grand Prix here last year.
00:31:06As you just saw up there on that graphic, a win in this upcoming 13-lap sprint for Mark Marquez.
00:31:12We've done a level of 16 sprint wins with Jorge Martin as we complete our opening warm-up lap of
00:31:21the season.
00:31:23The testing has been completed, qualifying's been completed.
00:31:27All the prep work, all the hard work, on and off the track now.
00:31:32It's finished.
00:31:34Time for the talking to stop.
00:31:37Time for the action to start.
00:31:38Who is going to strike the first big blow in 2026?
00:31:42Will it be Marco Betsechi, who has looked in commanding form all weekend?
00:31:47Can Mark Marquez repeat his dream Factory Ducati debut of 12 months ago, when he won the Sprint and won
00:31:55the Grand Prix here in Thailand?
00:31:58Here we go then.
00:31:59We've got the green flag that's cleared at the back.
00:32:02The rides are being held here for a little bit longer than what they were hoping for.
00:32:05The green flag's cleared some time ago.
00:32:07Marshall does walk away at the front of the grid.
00:32:09Ride is primed and ready.
00:32:11We're going to go racing in 2026.
00:32:13It's life's out of a racing in the Sprint here in Thailand.
00:32:16A brilliant launch by the Factory Ducati.
00:32:19Reigning world champion Mark Marquez, who toughs it out on the brakes with Marco Betsechi from pole position into turn
00:32:24one.
00:32:24Marquez then leads here early doors.
00:32:27Ralph Fernandez holds on to third place.
00:32:29Alex Marquez had a really good start from that third race.
00:32:31But Alex is going on the inside of Fabio Di Gellantorio from seventh to fourth.
00:32:35And Marco Betsechi looking to try and attack straight away on Mark Marquez, but can't get through.
00:32:39Contact there between Alex Marquez and Di Gellantorio.
00:32:41And Di Gellantorio is livid with that.
00:32:43Well, Digi has been hung right.
00:32:45Has to run more contact between Alex and Zarco.
00:32:47Further down the field, that punted Alex off the circuit on the exit of three.
00:32:51Great start by Alex Marquez, but super scrappy since.
00:32:54And the winner out of all that was Pedro Acosta, who's through into fourth.
00:32:57He's cleared Martin on the first lap.
00:32:58And look at Vignanes by the looks of it on the KTM off in the background.
00:33:02Everybody josting for position, of course.
00:33:04We've not seen them in competitive race action since the Valencia Grand Prix.
00:33:07They're all trying to blow off a few cobwebs here, aren't they?
00:33:10Marquez, it is, though, that leads halfway around this first lap.
00:33:13They're coming in now to sectors three and four, where Marco Betsechi has been so, so good.
00:33:17And he is proving it right on cue.
00:33:19Betsechi hits the front for the first time.
00:33:21He's through on Mark.
00:33:22And Mark couldn't launch a counterattack.
00:33:23He thought about coming back on the inside, but he was unable to.
00:33:26Ralph Fernandes will now look to attack Mark Marquez.
00:33:28Acosta and MartĂn.
00:33:30And Juan Mir are the Honda right with them.
00:33:31Alex Marquez was briefly fourth.
00:33:33Wasn't he going on the brakes into turn three?
00:33:35He slips all the way back down to 18th place.
00:33:37But Gian Antonio in it as Marquez goes on the inside.
00:33:40That's really aggressive on the inside from Mark Marquez.
00:33:43He does take the lead.
00:33:44Pedro Acosta further back.
00:33:46Dive bombs Ralph Fernandes for third.
00:33:48And MartĂn and Mir right behind.
00:33:49Agora's up into seventh place ahead of Brad Binder.
00:33:51So the damage for Alex Marquez, he completed that first lap in 17th place.
00:33:56Digio's down to 12th.
00:33:58Yeah, the big loser.
00:33:59Alex Marquez losing 10 places.
00:34:01Digio losing 8 in terms of their grip places.
00:34:03Frankie Morbidelli had a poor first lap as well.
00:34:05Down 9th from 9th to 18th.
00:34:08Mark Marquez then leads Betsechi a little bit wide though.
00:34:11He opens the door for Marco Betsechi.
00:34:12There are two different lines.
00:34:14So Mark will now get the run out of turn three.
00:34:15But Betsechi back in front.
00:34:16Yogo Moreira came over to the finish line at the end of that first lap in 11th.
00:34:20Brilliant first lap by Moreira on his mother GP debut.
00:34:24It's Betsechi there now from Mark in second place.
00:34:27Acosta closing up on the 93 ahead of him as they tip it left now through the second gear turn
00:34:32five.
00:34:33It's Aprilia versus Ducati versus KTM.
00:34:36There's a big battle going on for fourth between two more Aprilias.
00:34:39It's Fernandes versus MartĂn for fourth place.
00:34:41Fernandes back ahead of the 2024 world champion.
00:34:43Yeah, I think MartĂn got through, didn't he?
00:34:45On the brakes in the five and then just ran wide.
00:34:47That allowed Ralph Fernandes back through.
00:34:49Peko Bagnoles.
00:34:50Oh, Betsechi down!
00:34:51Marco Betsechi has his third crash of sprint Saturday.
00:34:54It's all gone wrong at the worst possible time for Marco Betsechi.
00:34:58He crashed this morning in FP2.
00:35:00He crashed after setting the fastest time in qualifying at turn 12 this morning.
00:35:04And he has dumped it out of the lead here in the sprint.
00:35:08Drama to kick off 2026.
00:35:10As Pedro Acosta now goes on the inside of Mark.
00:35:13He made that move on Ralph Fernandes to get on the podium on the last lap.
00:35:16He runs it a little bit hot.
00:35:17Mark dies back to the inside line.
00:35:19But Marco Betsechi's blown it here in Buriram.
00:35:21Well, I said before the sprint got underway.
00:35:23Mark Marquez's M.O. into this triumph forced Marco Betsechi into a mistake.
00:35:28And Marco obliged for the mistake on just the second lap of the first sprint of the season.
00:35:33A guilt-hatched opportunity now for the reigning champion.
00:35:36He led all three practice sessions.
00:35:38He qualified on pole position.
00:35:40He was the massive, overwhelming favorite to win the first sprint of the season.
00:35:44What did Massimo Rievel have taken the jack pre-race?
00:35:47Never say never.
00:35:48This is MotoGP.
00:35:49And this is heartache for Bez.
00:35:51And unfortunately for Marco Betsechi, that will sting all the way into Sunday's Grand Prix.
00:35:57Mark Marquez will not be able to believe his luck.
00:36:00Leading this sprint now on that three.
00:36:02It's far from a comfortable lead because Pedro Costa is giving this a right good go on the KTN.
00:36:07Plan A completely unraveled there for Aprilia.
00:36:09What a battle this is as well now for the bronze medal here in this opening sprint.
00:36:13Between two Aprilis, Ralph Fernandes and Jorge MartĂn.
00:36:16How many times have they already passed each other in two and a half laps?
00:36:19Real good battle.
00:36:20That's keeping Juan Mir interest as well for this third place.
00:36:22The factory Honda rider picking his way through the field.
00:36:25Tenth on the grid.
00:36:26He's up to fifth.
00:36:27Moreira now up inside the top ten on the brink of the point scoring places.
00:36:31He's superb by the Brazilian.
00:36:32Although he has already been given a track limit warning after two laps.
00:36:35So he needs to heed that warning as Acosta once again closes right up behind the world champion.
00:36:39Into the final part of the lap.
00:36:42The other big winner in these early stages is Peko Bagnia.
00:36:44Who is having a good sprint and there weren't many of those last year.
00:36:47He's up from 13th into the point in eight.
00:36:49Yeah, Mark, critics right on the circuit.
00:36:51A 130.076.
00:36:53That was exactly two tenths ahead of Acosta in second place.
00:36:57Well, an early present here in this 2026 defensive side of a Mark Marquez.
00:37:03Marco Betsechi.
00:37:04Well, he blinked once this morning.
00:37:06Then he blinked twice.
00:37:07And he's blinked a third time.
00:37:09Three crashes in one day.
00:37:11I have to say inexcusable at this level.
00:37:12Yeah, and whether it's an unforced error or a forced error by thing.
00:37:16Just the sheer weight of who's behind him.
00:37:18The ranked world champion, Mark Marquez.
00:37:19Either way, it's no point for Betsechi.
00:37:22There was someone off in the background there at turn three.
00:37:24I think it might have been Miller who lost the place to the recovering Alex Marquez.
00:37:28He's now up into 13th.
00:37:29It wouldn't be long before Alex Marquez is back with his best mate Digia again.
00:37:32Yeah, there's not going to be a lot of love lost between Digia and Alex Marquez after their turn three
00:37:36instant.
00:37:37This was where Pedro Acosta briefly got through on Mark on that real tricky braking zone.
00:37:44Trail braking with a lot of lean angle into that first gear turn 12.
00:37:47Just running that little bit off.
00:37:49That's a good glare to his right-hand side.
00:37:51Gets a face full of the side of Mark's factory, Ducati.
00:37:54So Pedro Acosta led that sprint for about, what, five, six, seven metres.
00:37:59At least he can say he led it.
00:38:00Yeah, and we're fully expecting those two to beat Ducati teammates next season.
00:38:04So Pedro already just trying to send a little bit of a warning shot across the bows of Mark Marquez.
00:38:09He is not letting Marquez get away with this as they now come into the final corner to complete lap
00:38:14four.
00:38:14So we're approaching one third distance in this sprint.
00:38:16And it's a 29.9, plays a 30.0.
00:38:19Not a lot to choose between the two Spaniards up front.
00:38:21Mark, first and only rider then so far in this sprint to dip into those 129s.
00:38:26First rider in those sub-90 second laps.
00:38:29Just look how low that Ducati was sitting as he engaged the rear-eye-eye device to lunge out of
00:38:34that first corner.
00:38:35That slingshot then through that kink of turn two.
00:38:38The advantage between Mark and Acosta in second place was just over three and a half tenths.
00:38:42This is Ayagura's charting, starting to make his charge through.
00:38:45Just picks off Dwan-ri on that long run down into turn three.
00:38:49So Ayagura, who's come from eighth on the grid, now up into P5.
00:38:52Not sure anything will console Massimo Rivola at the moment, but if he is after a consolation, he's got Apulia's
00:38:58running third, fourth and fifth at the moment.
00:39:00Fernandes, MartĂn and Acosta underlining what a package they have underneath him, which will pile on the pain for the
00:39:06lost gold medal that surely Marko Vecicchi has thrown away today.
00:39:11Well, he's been P1 in every session so far today, but he's also, in every session, been on the deck,
00:39:15and that's crucial.
00:39:17Big, big mistake.
00:39:18Nobody's going to be able to console Marko Vecicchi.
00:39:20He will know more than anybody that he's dropped the ball big time there, hasn't he?
00:39:24Big time.
00:39:25Further back down the field, we're looking at a battle between Marini and the Gian Antonio.
00:39:29A battle which the Gian Antonio will feel he should not be engaging in right now,
00:39:33because his podium hopes were pretty much ended, with Alex Marquez's aggression down into turn three.
00:39:40Didger has picked himself up into tenth.
00:39:42This, of course, is the battle for the final point-scoring position.
00:39:45Yeah, the Stuarts haven't had any sort of look at that, so they're clearly satisfied that there wasn't any foul
00:39:49play there.
00:39:50It was just a first one, first lap, first corner sort of incident.
00:39:54I have to say, looking further back, the Yamahas are going pretty well, top racks towards the front of them.
00:39:58So, look, in third and fourth at the moment, as Alex Marquez does go in hot and runs Didger off
00:40:04the road,
00:40:04we also see a couple of KTMs going wide, but you can understand why Didger is rather cross with that,
00:40:09because it was none of his making.
00:40:10Yeah, I think Alex was mindful of maybe having contact with Agura, just ahead of him, or Ralph Fernandes, rather.
00:40:16And then he just slightly picked up, and then, of course, luckless on the outside was Didger with no where
00:40:21to go.
00:40:22Oh, this is going to be a tough conversation, isn't it?
00:40:23As Marco Vecicchi trudges to the back of the factory at Perilla Garage.
00:40:27We said when he crashed this morning in FP2, and we said in qualifying,
00:40:31when he's been upright on that april this weekend, he's been pretty much untouchable.
00:40:35He's been lightning fast.
00:40:37But when all is said and done, his Saturday will show nil plait,
00:40:42and that's the most important stat.
00:40:43You've got to be in it to win it, and he's not.
00:40:45And Ducati, this backs up what David Tardoczi was saying, both to Jack and clearly to Mark,
00:40:50with all the spring gone on the way.
00:40:51Mark, whatever you do, just bring home some very solid points.
00:40:54It's a long, long season, and if you can minimise the non-scores, it puts you in a very strong
00:40:59position.
00:40:59Lewis, I'm sure we know how Massimo Riever operates.
00:41:02I'm sure that was the same message to Vecicchi.
00:41:04Look, Marco, yeah, we know you've been absolutely awesome so far this weekend,
00:41:08but your practice pace and pole position counts for zip, mate, if you don't get the job done.
00:41:13I'm sure the message to Marco was like, look, just let this spin come to you.
00:41:16We don't need to push too hard too soon.
00:41:19Seemed to fall on deaf ears, didn't it?
00:41:21Yeah, when the visor went down and the red mist of the battle came in,
00:41:25Marco Mazzetti did make the mistake.
00:41:27Big head shake there for Mark Marquez coming out of turn one,
00:41:30and is Pedro Acosta now going to start to pick up some slipstream
00:41:32and some encouragement behind the 93?
00:41:36Pedro Acosta has never won a sprint.
00:41:40Still chasing that elusive first Grand Prix victory in Mano GP.
00:41:44There was a twist there, wasn't there for Mark as he was starting to lean that battery,
00:41:48the caddy into turn three.
00:41:50They go full power then, full throttle then now on this long run to turn four.
00:41:54They'll flick it left now, third gear through here,
00:41:56about 180 kilometers now and a little bit more.
00:41:59Yeah, here's Acosta then, riding the ripples on the outside curb there,
00:42:03closing in a little bit here on Mark, isn't he?
00:42:05Further back, Ralph Fernandes looks like he's safe and secure in third place at the moment.
00:42:10He's 1.4 seconds ahead of Jorge Martins.
00:42:14Fabio Quattararo, the latest rider, to pick up a track limit this morning.
00:42:17Points at the moment for Martina, Guramiya, Binda, Bagnaia and the Gian Antonio,
00:42:21who's finally, finally, after that runoff at turn three on the first lap,
00:42:26helped by Alex Marquez.
00:42:27He's back in the point scoring places.
00:42:29Pedro's getting a run at Mark Marquez here.
00:42:31He's good in this final sector, 37 behind 93.
00:42:34We've already seen Pedro Acosta attack.
00:42:35Mark wants it to turn 12.
00:42:36He's now going to attack for a second time.
00:42:38Pedro Acosta up the inside of the reigning world champion
00:42:41and he forces him out of the way.
00:42:43Shark attack incoming and this time around, is it a successful attack?
00:42:46Can he hang on?
00:42:47Oh, they go side by side.
00:42:49This is the action we have missed.
00:42:51This is why we love my GP.
00:42:53Mark Marquez got the slightly better drive as Acosta ran a little bit wide,
00:42:57compromised his exit, being so aggressive on entry.
00:43:00This is what we've waited for.
00:43:02Acosta versus Marquez.
00:43:04What did Port of Athens say to Jack pre-race?
00:43:06We're going to awaken the monster.
00:43:08The monster has woken up and arrived here in Burham.
00:43:12Pedro Acosta going toe to toe.
00:43:15The clubs are off here.
00:43:16Marquez versus Acosta in our opening sprint.
00:43:18Nobody's been waiting for this longer than Pedro Acosta.
00:43:22So much frustration for him over the last couple of years in MotoGP.
00:43:25Watching riders who he feels he's superior to take victories.
00:43:28Whether Mark Marquez is superior to Pedro Acosta,
00:43:30we might find out in the fullness of time.
00:43:32But this is the first genuine head-to-head at the front of a race
00:43:36between the Spaniard who currently dominates
00:43:38and the Spaniard who wants to replace him at the top.
00:43:40A painful watch.
00:43:42He's trying to put a brave face in it.
00:43:43He clapped a smile.
00:43:45A little bit of a cheeky wink from Marco Betsechi.
00:43:47And then intimating it.
00:43:48Tomorrow is another day.
00:43:49He gets to live to fight another day.
00:43:52But Pedro Acosta.
00:43:53I think it was just set his personal best lap of this sprint as well.
00:43:56Down to 1.30.354.
00:43:58That was 3.10 quicker than Mark Marquez.
00:44:01We know that Mark was losing the lead at Turn 12 from Pedro Acosta.
00:44:05There's a replay, unfortunately,
00:44:07of Betsechi's premature bath here in Boran.
00:44:10But it is Mark Marquez that has the advantage.
00:44:12Not by much at all.
00:44:14About, what, a couple of bike lengths.
00:44:16Ducati gets off that final corner really, really well.
00:44:19It just has the much better traction.
00:44:21The better drive grip compared to that KTM.
00:44:23One point worth making, though,
00:44:25if this is close on the final lap.
00:44:26Pedro Acosta did lead over the finish line there,
00:44:28even if Mark Marquez got him into Turn 1.
00:44:30The finish line here in Boran,
00:44:32as I'm sure you're all aware from the first couple of races here
00:44:34when Mark Marquez won them at the last corner,
00:44:36is right on the exit of that Turn 12.
00:44:38So if Acosta can stay with Mark
00:44:40and potentially launch a raid into the final corner on the final lap,
00:44:43he might just be able to beat that Ducati to the line.
00:44:46That's how we look in the comedy box as well.
00:44:48We can barely watch.
00:44:49This is Manor GP at its best.
00:44:51It's why we've been waiting three long months,
00:44:54four moments like this.
00:44:56Mark Marquez, though, once again,
00:44:58just showing the genius talent,
00:45:00showing the mercurial talent.
00:45:03There's doubts about whether that right shoulder
00:45:05he's so badly injured in Mandelica has fully recovered.
00:45:07Last weekend, he was having to climb off his sickbed
00:45:10just to ride his GP26 in the test.
00:45:13Yet here he is, starting the defense of his crown,
00:45:17just like nothing's happened in the winter.
00:45:20Like it's just been a normal routine winter for him.
00:45:23The guy is just pure, pure class.
00:45:26And he is not one to make excuses either.
00:45:28No matter how poorly he was feeling at the test,
00:45:30he didn't make a big deal out of it.
00:45:32And no matter how much pain he might be in,
00:45:33he's not going to make that any sort of excuse
00:45:35as we're on board with another former world champion,
00:45:38Jorge MartĂn now looking back at Ayagura.
00:45:41This is an all-appreciated battle for fourth.
00:45:43And Ayagura looks like he has the superior pace right now.
00:45:45You can still see that in the picture-in-picture shot,
00:45:49Mark Marquez again darts away,
00:45:52just gains those crucial few meters.
00:45:54But giving that little bit of a breather,
00:45:56that little bit of a buffer back to Acosta
00:45:58in that second place.
00:46:00RaĂºl FernĂ¡ndez has a very comfortable at the moment
00:46:02third place locked in,
00:46:04of course, for just what will be his third ever sprint.
00:46:07RaĂºl, 1.3 seconds back at Ayagura.
00:46:10Here comes Ayagura going on the inside of Jorge MartĂn.
00:46:13Aprilia versus Aprilia.
00:46:14Just a little bit further up the road, though.
00:46:16Mark Marquez pushing a little bit hard into turn three.
00:46:19He does drop back across the nose of Pedro Acosta.
00:46:22Acosta's now right behind him.
00:46:24Acosta, now look, the 37 behind the 93,
00:46:26right in the front of your picture.
00:46:27Mark definitely went wider than anyone would want to go
00:46:30into turn three.
00:46:31I said earlier on there were various lines through there,
00:46:33but neither of those were the line Mark Marquez was on.
00:46:35If that continues to get a little bit scrappy,
00:46:37it'll keep RaĂºl FernĂ¡ndez very interested,
00:46:40potentially waiting to pick up the pieces
00:46:41behind Marquez and Acosta.
00:46:44Of course, there's a real fascinating subplot
00:46:47to this top two battle because it looks like
00:46:50the rumour mill not very too often off the mark.
00:46:54Pedro Acosta will be Mark Marquez's back-to-ducati team-mate
00:46:57in 2027.
00:46:58What a mouth-watering prospect that already proposes to be.
00:47:01Here he comes.
00:47:01Now, Acosta, we know how good he is
00:47:03in this 9, 10, 11 section.
00:47:05We know how good he is on the brakes
00:47:06into this final corner.
00:47:09Is he going to be close enough to strike again on Mark?
00:47:11Mark leaves his braking as late as he dares,
00:47:13but Acosta just goes with a full block pass.
00:47:15That's not going to work out.
00:47:17Runs in hot again.
00:47:17That's three times now, isn't it,
00:47:19that he's passed Mark Marquez at turn 12.
00:47:21Well, Mark Marquez is going to have to have the widest Ducati
00:47:25he's ever ridden into that final corner on the final lap.
00:47:27If Pedro Acosta is anywhere near close to the rate of time,
00:47:30that Ducati, he is coming through.
00:47:32This is it.
00:47:32You've got to get stuck into Mark.
00:47:34You know, he's one of the most aggressive riders in history.
00:47:36Well, you've got to fight a fire with fire.
00:47:38Give him as good as you're getting,
00:47:38and that's exactly what Acosta's doing,
00:47:40trying to ruffle his feathers,
00:47:42trying to break his rhythm.
00:47:43This time around, Mark,
00:47:44it's all pretty neat and tidy on the brakes
00:47:46down into turn three.
00:47:48And it looks like,
00:47:50well, certainly coming out of turn 12,
00:47:51that Ducati just hooking up a little bit better
00:47:53on gas as we charge now down towards turn four.
00:47:56Agoura has passed away Martin out of picture,
00:47:59so they're now fourth and fifth,
00:48:00but it's now a track house three, four.
00:48:02Martin is now fifth.
00:48:03He's around about a second clear of Dwan Mir in sixth.
00:48:07So as far as Martin is concerned,
00:48:09he looks locked in for a fairly safe P5 now.
00:48:11Loving this, absolutely loving this.
00:48:14This is going to go all the way
00:48:14down to the last corner, isn't it?
00:48:17Mark versus Acosta.
00:48:19Two of the most naturally gifted riders
00:48:21I think we've seen in the modern generation.
00:48:24Acosta continues to pile the pressure on Mark here.
00:48:28We're coming in front of one of the big stadium sections.
00:48:31He can almost reach out and grab the rear arrow
00:48:33on Mark's GP26.
00:48:35Surely there is another raid,
00:48:37another attack coming from the Sharkland now.
00:48:39He's trying to take another big chunk out of Marquez.
00:48:41Into this final corner.
00:48:42He levels Mark in the breaking zone.
00:48:44He's got the inside line.
00:48:45Marquez can't turn in.
00:48:47Who can pick up the throttle better?
00:48:48Who can get the drive good?
00:48:49Acosta once again,
00:48:50just about holds it over the line.
00:48:52But Mark powers back through.
00:48:53Acosta, is he going to try again into turn one?
00:48:55But once again,
00:48:56Acosta did lead Mark Marquez over the finish line.
00:48:59I think Pedro Acosta might know now.
00:49:01That's what he's got to do on the final.
00:49:02I think he's behind Mark Marquez.
00:49:03He's just going to try and nail him into that final corner
00:49:06because the finish line is right on the exit of it.
00:49:08Top-rack Razgathlyoglu's MotoGP debut has ended in the gravel.
00:49:12I think Top-rack's gone down in the final corner at turn 12.
00:49:16And let's hope he's okay.
00:49:17You can't, though.
00:49:18Can you take your eyes off this battle at the front?
00:49:21What a way to start 2026 in MotoGP.
00:49:25Marco Betsecki, dominant throughout the whole weekend,
00:49:27crashing out the lead on lap two.
00:49:29And it was a present for us neutral
00:49:31because he's left us with this tantalizing battle
00:49:35that surely will go all the way down to the last lap.
00:49:37Yeah, there is Razgathlyoglu crashing out at the final corner.
00:49:40That is fighting fire with fire.
00:49:43Pedro Acosta, he's an uncompromising character
00:49:46around the outside going through turn seven.
00:49:48You just can't do that.
00:49:49Elbow to elbow, knee to knee now, into eight.
00:49:52Acosta leads here, love and a half to go
00:49:55of an instant classic sprint.
00:49:57Acosta going for the element of surprise.
00:49:59Surely not even Marquez would have seen that move coming.
00:50:02So now it's Marco who has to go on the attack.
00:50:05Wow, wow.
00:50:07This is just pulsating MotoGP at its very, very best.
00:50:11Who is going to come out on top in this epic battle?
00:50:14Marquez comes from a long, long way back.
00:50:16So, so far back.
00:50:18Incredible.
00:50:19Look at Ralph Fernandez catching them.
00:50:20Pedro Acosta gets pushed out to the guard back.
00:50:22Well, mate, Mark Marquez, super aggressive on the inside.
00:50:25How many times have they passed each other in that final corner?
00:50:29Final lap on the way.
00:50:30We don't want this to end.
00:50:31We want this to be 130 laps, not 13.
00:50:35But Mark Marquez then now leads by, let's just check through the first sector.
00:50:39What is a vantage will be?
00:50:41Half a second.
00:50:41Wow, half a second.
00:50:42Ralph Fernandez could still take a silver medal here.
00:50:46Unbelievable.
00:50:47That was a clear, clear message from Mark Marquez.
00:50:50Stay behind me, Junior.
00:50:52Those might be teammates in the future.
00:50:54We're talking about the current Mark Marquez and to many, the next Mark Marquez.
00:50:58And Pedro Acosta put firmly in his place there by the reigning world champion.
00:51:02This was such a late, late lunge.
00:51:05Mark Marquez came from so, so far back.
00:51:08But stewards are going to have a look at it.
00:51:10Acosta got a real big nudge.
00:51:11He's looking there to see where Ralph Fernandez is.
00:51:15Well, big, big call for Simon Crave.
00:51:17The MotoGP stewards to make here because we are on the final lap.
00:51:20Mark Marquez is going to take the check and flag first there to Pedro Acosta.
00:51:24But we might not have heard the last of this.
00:51:26MotoGP, we love you.
00:51:28Mark Marquez has to drop one position.
00:51:30Mark Marquez, then, on his dashboard, has to drop one position.
00:51:34That's it.
00:51:35That is it.
00:51:35Pedro Acosta is going to be the first sprint winner of 2026.
00:51:39It will be his first sprint win.
00:51:41A major talking point.
00:51:44Controversial, maybe, the drop one position.
00:51:46Yeah, he's doing it.
00:51:47He's going to slide into second place.
00:51:48Pedro Acosta, then it is, that will take victory in our first sprint in 2026.
00:51:54It was an all-time classic.
00:51:57What a way to start MotoGP in 2026.
00:52:03The greatest motorsport show on earth is back and some.
00:52:09Back with a bang here at the Chang International Circuit.
00:52:12That was 13 laps of absolute, pure, unadulterated tension and drama.
00:52:23That sprint had absolutely everything.
00:52:27If that was your first time watching MotoGP, well, welcome.
00:52:32Yeah.
00:52:32That was just off the scale sensational.
00:52:37Welcome back, MotoGP, back with the biggest of bangs.
00:52:42Marc Marquez, on the bike at least, didn't appear to have any complaints.
00:52:46He heeded the message.
00:52:47He dropped a position.
00:52:48He shook hands with Pedro Acosta, who, in sprint terms at least, is a MotoGP winner at last.
00:52:54And Pedro Acosta leads the MotoGP World Championship for the first time in his career.
00:53:00The shark has arrived.
00:53:03The shark has shown its teeth in round one here in Buram.
00:53:09Crew Chief Poulter of Athens said it's time to awaken the monster.
00:53:14There's a monster talent that Pedro Acosta is blessed with.
00:53:18That sprint just had everything.
00:53:20It was edge-of-the-seat drama from start to finish.
00:53:23Watch this move.
00:53:24Marc at a moment, that's why.
00:53:26Marc at a massive moment going into five.
00:53:28Acosta had no choice.
00:53:29Acosta had so much better corner speed after the big mistake there from Marc Marquez.
00:53:35Where do you even start to cover off what we have just witnessed?
00:53:39That has to be the best sprint we've ever seen, without any shadow of doubt.
00:53:44Second place for Marc Marquez, the World Champion.
00:53:45Let's get the thoughts of the boss, Davide Tolos.
00:53:47We're on for a lie down, Jack.
00:53:49Davide, only one talking point.
00:53:51Was that penalty fair, in your opinion?
00:53:53I think that we saw a lot of this kind of overtakes.
00:53:59Marc didn't touch Pedro.
00:54:02He didn't went out of the racetrack.
00:54:05So, I think that is unfair.
00:54:07You said on the grid beforehand, Marc needs to understand it's 44 races.
00:54:11That completely went out of the window.
00:54:13Because it was Pedro, because of what's to come next year, was that in his mind?
00:54:17I don't think they are intelligent guys that want to win races.
00:54:20So, both Marc and Pedro knows exactly this kind of job.
00:54:24And I think that will be absolutely not a problem.
00:54:27And I am sure that Pedro, in the opposite position, will do the same.
00:54:32Thanks, Davide.
00:54:34Yeah, thanks very much, Jack.
00:54:36Thanks to Davide Tardotzi.
00:54:37Yeah, we haven't heard the last of that.
00:54:38Yeah, Marc Marquez, as we saw on track, has taken his medicine.
00:54:42He's taken his punishment.
00:54:43Interesting to see what Marc thinks of that last corner drama.
00:54:47Because Davide Tardotzi was pretty clear in his mind what he thought.
00:54:51We said, didn't we, that was going to be a controversial call.
00:54:54To kick off 2026.
00:54:56And Davide Tardotzi clearly feels like that was harsh.
00:55:00And I think where I certainly agree with Davide Tardotzi.
00:55:03Is that I don't think Pedro Acosta would have been any different had the roles have been reversed.
00:55:07These are two ruthless, cutthroat world champions.
00:55:11Who will do whatever it takes to win.
00:55:14Marc Marquez did everything he could.
00:55:16But credit Pedro Acosta, who did not give him a moment's rest.
00:55:20And he is rewarded with his first gold medal.
00:55:22Well, we have just watched the world's fastest gladiators.
00:55:26Are you not entertained?
00:55:29That was something super special.
00:55:33The perfect way, the perfect way to start 2026.
00:55:38Wow, just wow.
00:55:41Speechless.
00:55:41That was just stunning.
00:55:44Stunning.
00:55:46It had everything.
00:55:47Drama from lights out to checkered flag.
00:55:51Some of the best 13 laps you'll ever, ever see.
00:55:54What an advert that was for Moda GP.
00:55:57And this is great sportsmanship.
00:55:59You know what, Mark has always been one to dish it out.
00:56:02Yeah.
00:56:02But he's always been one to take it as well with some grace.
00:56:04He won't like it.
00:56:05He'll be hating it.
00:56:07But it will be stored.
00:56:09And he'll be like, next time, pal, you're going to get it back.
00:56:11Yeah, he's made his point, hasn't he, Mark Marquez, today with the move on its own.
00:56:15He certainly made Pedro Acosta clear what was going on there.
00:56:18Discussing it now, you can see Gigi Deligne and Mark Marquez debating it.
00:56:22Mark Marquez now doesn't look all that happy with what happened.
00:56:26I'm sure Jack can't wait to put the question to him what Mark thinks of that.
00:56:29But I guess what Mark will think about when he settles down later on is,
00:56:33Mark Bensecki scored nothing today.
00:56:35And Mark scored nine points.
00:56:37I think publicly, Mark, gracious in defeat, privately, he's seething.
00:56:42He does not like to lose, as we mentioned.
00:56:44Second to Mark Marquez, first loser.
00:56:47That is it.
00:56:47Now, he will say that there was no contact.
00:56:51He stayed on the road.
00:56:52He stayed on the racing line.
00:56:53He stayed on the road.
00:56:55You sort of think back to the Bastionini-Martin incident, don't you, Leighton?
00:56:59Mazzano in 2024.
00:57:01That will be, I'm sure, ball top.
00:57:02Well, said it in commentary.
00:57:04It was going to be a big, big talking point.
00:57:06It's going to be a controversial moment already in sprint one of 2026.
00:57:13The first chapter of, I think, many in the years to come in the Marquez Acosta story.
00:57:21Oh, dear.
00:57:22Right, OK, let's just try, shall we, and reflect and regroup.
00:57:26There's a tie-pressure penalty, potentially, under investigation, we have to say, at this
00:57:31date, for Jorge Martin, which will be pretty unfortunate.
00:57:35Martin took the chequer flag in fifth.
00:57:37He could get an eight-second penalty if found guilty, which would drop Jorge Martin outside
00:57:42the points-going places.
00:57:43Where do you even start to talk about a rider who had a front-row seat for all the drama
00:57:47was Ralph Fernandes, third in that sprint.
00:57:49He is with Jack.
00:57:51Raoul, what a performance, what a way to start 2026.
00:57:54You were in Q1 this morning.
00:57:55You've just finished Saturday on the podium.
00:57:57Can you believe that turnaround?
00:57:59Not really, not really.
00:58:01I think it is, as I told you this morning, in qualifying, it was for the team.
00:58:05The team and Aprilia make together a super good job.
00:58:08And today I feel super good with the bike.
00:58:10Normally with the soft tyre on the sprint, I don't really like it.
00:58:13But today we make a good job.
00:58:16Anyway, for tomorrow will be a very long race.
00:58:19I managed because I saw the gap with Martin and I.
00:58:22So basically I just enjoyed the show with Mar and Pedro.
00:58:26It was fantastic.
00:58:27And when I was close to them, maybe for tomorrow we can find something on the straight.
00:58:33Because especially in the second sector, we lost a lot of time.
00:58:38But anyway, I'm happy we started the year super well.
00:58:41So it is the first time also that I started the MotoGP Championship with points on the first race.
00:58:47So I am very happy.
00:58:48Brilliant performance.
00:58:49Well done.
00:58:50That was a mega performance by Ralph Fernandes.
00:58:53All the chaos unfolding ahead of him.
00:58:55Marco Betseki crashing out the lead.
00:58:56And then all the late fireworks with Acosta and Mark.
00:58:59He was actually only half a second away from winning the whole thing.
00:59:03Unbelievable.
00:59:05What a turnaround it has been for Ralph Fernandes.
00:59:09This was what Davide Tardossi told Jack.
00:59:11Mark didn't touch Pedro.
00:59:13He didn't go off track.
00:59:14I think it's unfair.
00:59:16I'm sure Pedro would do the same.
00:59:18My memory immediately goes back to Misano 24 in the Grand Prix.
00:59:22And Aya Bastienini, when part of the factory Ducati team,
00:59:25had that instant on the last lap with Jorge Martin.
00:59:28This one is going to run long into the night.
00:59:31It's this is going to be trending already, I'm sure, globally on social media.
00:59:39What do you expect?
00:59:40Mark Marquez is one of the most aggressive racers in Grand Prix history.
00:59:43They're racing for a sprint win ultimately, aren't they?
00:59:45Mark Marquez has won two previous Grand Prix's at that corner in not too dissimilar circumstances.
00:59:51Andrea Vizioso in 2018.
00:59:52Fabio Quattararo in 2019 had been on the receiving end of that.
00:59:56Pedro Acosta, in many respects, the contact, you could argue, happened because Acosta desperately didn't want to let the corner
01:00:02go and tried to ride around the outside.
01:00:05Tough racing.
01:00:06The good news, folks, is we've got another 43 races so far this year.
01:00:11Fua.
01:00:12Gigi Delinha there just congratulating Pedro Acosta.
01:00:16They know just the supreme talent that Acosta is blessed with.
01:00:20That's why they're potentially making all the big moves in the 2027 rider market.
01:00:25Mark Marquez on the brink of re-upping with Ducati for the next two years.
01:00:28Well, then, really looking forward, really eager to understand the thoughts post-sprint of Mark Marquez,
01:00:34as a reigning world champion, second day, and he's with Jack.
01:00:38Mark, an incredible race to start the season, but a hugely controversial one.
01:00:42In your opinion, was the penalty fair?
01:00:45In my opinion, race direction decide, so just I follow the rules.
01:00:49And in the race itself, the battle with Pedro was an intense one.
01:00:53Davide said on the grid beforehand, it's a long season, but that went out of the window.
01:00:57Why did you fight so firmly, so strongly with Pedro?
01:01:00Yeah, when I saw Bezzecki crash, then I just slowed down the race.
01:01:06I was just trying to control.
01:01:08I know that the championship is super long, and it was what I tried to do.
01:01:13Control the pace of the race, and every time Pedro overtook me,
01:01:18I overtook a straight away on the next corner.
01:01:20But yeah, unfortunately, I get that penalty.
01:01:24But nine points, fair race, after injury, not bad. I'm happy.
01:01:29Thanks, Mark. A great ride.
01:01:31Thank you, thank you.
01:01:33I think Mark Marquez should get a job working for the United Nations in terms of his diplomacy.
01:01:37I think what he didn't say perhaps sort of gives you an indication of what he really thinks about this.
01:01:44It is certainly a scintillating but controversial opening to 2026.
01:01:51A big shake of the head.
01:01:52I mean, they look like they've almost lost the World Championship there, don't they?
01:01:56The fact freed the catty crew.
01:01:57But like Mark said, he for sure is going to be thinking bigger picture.
01:02:02It's nine important points.
01:02:03I'd love to just stay quiet there.
01:02:08But Pedro Acosta then is a sprint winner in the best sprint without any question we've ever seen.
01:02:14Let's get his thoughts on that last corner drama.
01:02:16He's with Jack.
01:02:18Pedro, wow, what a way to kick off the year.
01:02:20What a show you and Mark put on.
01:02:22How does it feel at last to be a MotoGP winner?
01:02:26Yeah, super cool to make a sprint like this versus Mark.
01:02:29It's true that maybe I don't feel really like a winner, you know, because he let me pass.
01:02:34But anyway, we have the opportunity tomorrow.
01:02:36All the crew is working super fine.
01:02:38I just want to thank everyone from Matichofen who was working super hard.
01:02:42Also from the people that are helping me every day at home, like my Trevor and Mark, all my management
01:02:48team.
01:02:49Also Miguel and Eva are always able to give me a place to train for this.
01:02:53I don't know, it's a good way to start the season.
01:02:57But tomorrow maybe we will try to get this real victory.
01:03:01Congratulations.
01:03:03And as you saw on screens there, he's the first KTM rider ever to lead the MotoGP World Championship.
01:03:11He's looking over at Charlotte.
01:03:12I think he's a bit bemused himself.
01:03:13Yeah, what happened there, Mark?
01:03:14Yeah, what happened there?
01:03:15Because as he said, it was a present, it was a gift.
01:03:19But if you want to win the lottery, you've got to buy a ticket.
01:03:22And that was a nice quick embrace.
01:03:25I mean, Acosta's body language there, Lewis, clearly feels in his own mind he wasn't expecting Mark to be penalised.
01:03:31No, he seemed as fine with it as clearly the Ducati team as a whole were.
01:03:36Yeah, there's going to be plenty of debate that will run all the way into tomorrow's tie Grand Prix over
01:03:41the events of the last couple laps.
01:03:43All 13 laps were absolutely extraordinary in the Tissot Sprint this afternoon.
01:03:49And Mark Marquez, you just saw a little snapshot there before he spoke to Jack of that he's clearly not
01:03:53100%.
01:03:54You saw him there shaking out his right arm.
01:03:56And he, of course, had that shoulder rehabilitated over the winter.
01:04:01FIM President then, George Villegas, will do the honours in the first sprint ceremony of the season.
01:04:05And a bronze medal to Raul Fernandes, his third sprint medal.
01:04:09And as Matt mentioned, he wasn't far off winning the sprint in the end with Mark and Pedro trading haymakers.
01:04:16It's silver and second to Mark Marquez.
01:04:19Maybe not second to who he thought he'd be finishing second to today.
01:04:22But Mark Marquez does pick up nine important points to start his title defence.
01:04:27And as Pedro said, it's not a Grand Prix.
01:04:31So I guess in the very strictest sense of the word, he still has to wait.
01:04:35But he has a gold medal round his neck.
01:04:38And after a toe-to-toe with Mark Marquez, it's Pedro Acosta, who is your first sprint winner of 2026.
01:05:42Well, so often in the past, we have labelled sprint Saturdays, super Saturdays.
01:05:48And it's no exaggeration to say that that was a truly super Saturday.
01:05:55What a way to get us underway racing-wise in MotoGP in 2026.
01:06:02A 13-lap sprint, which feels like, at the end of it, had a season's worth of drama, a season's
01:06:10worth of talking points in it, when all said and done, and what the history books will show in 50,
01:06:15100 years' time, it'll be Pedro Acosta's name that will sit at the top of the standings.
01:06:21He's credited with taking the checkered flag first by just over a tenth of a second clear of Mark Marquez.
01:06:27But that does not come even remotely close to trying to tell the story of what has unfolded here this
01:06:35afternoon at the Chang International Circuit.
01:06:38Confirmation there that Hoy Martin is indeed under investigation for a potential tire pressure penalty.
01:06:43If he is found guilty, that will see eight seconds added to his race time.
01:06:50Luis is much more adept at maths than what I am.
01:06:52I knew you were going to be right on the key, man.
01:06:54That's why I thought, do you know what, Bertie?
01:06:56Out of the points.
01:06:56Don't even try.
01:06:57Don't even try.
01:06:58He's smarter than you.
01:06:59Let him work it out.
01:07:00Bang on the money, as always.
01:07:03Well, Pedro Acosta, our first sprint winner.
01:07:05We all need a lie down.
01:07:06Pedro Acosta, your first sprint winner of the season by a tenth of a second.
01:07:10But there is so much more to it than that.
01:07:13Mark Marquez, a rather potentially frustrated second.
01:07:17Certainly his team were.
01:07:17Ralph Fernandes, third.
01:07:183-4 for track house with Iger at fourth.
01:07:20Martin provisionally fit, but may drop back if he's penalised later on.
01:07:24Brad Binder, sixth on the road ahead of Dwan Mir.
01:07:26A rather irked Fabio Di Gianantonio and Peko Bagnia,
01:07:30who does make his point from 13 on the grid.
01:07:34One retirement.
01:07:35Top track did remount after his crash.
01:07:36He kept the engine running, finished 20th.
01:07:38But Marco Betzecchi crashing on that too whilst leading.
01:07:42So Pedro Acosta, for the first time,
01:07:44leads the MotoGP World Championship as do KTM.
01:07:48Mark Marquez, three points behind in second.
01:07:51Of course, Marco Betzecchi yet to register a point
01:07:53after his third crash of the day.
01:08:26Team standings are also led by Rave Bull KTM Factory Racing
01:08:29after Brad Binder backed up Acosta's win with 6th place,
01:08:33Trackhouse 2nd ahead of the Ducati Lenovo team.
01:09:02The whole race was a highlights package,
01:09:05but let's try and condense that down into a few minutes for you.
01:09:08Marco Bencechi began as the overwhelming favourite,
01:09:11and we actually had an entertaining battle between the two pre-sprint favourites,
01:09:14with Marc getting the better of Bencechi into Turn 1.
01:09:18Into Turn 3, the fast-starting Alex Marquez made contact with Fabio Di Gio Antonio,
01:09:23both off the road, Digio livid, as he would have to make do with 8th place.
01:09:29Bez hitting the front then on the first lap,
01:09:32with Marc Marquez desperate to try and keep the high ground,
01:09:35attacking into a Turn 12, which would have all the talking points
01:09:38over the course of the 13-lap sprint.
01:09:43Slide error for Marc, it's Turn 3 on Lap 2,
01:09:45open the door for Bez to regain the lead once more,
01:09:48but he wouldn't stay there for very long.
01:09:52A crucial, crucial error into Turn 8 on the second lap
01:09:56saw Aprilia's hopes of sprint victory go up in smoke.
01:10:05Moments later, Pedro Acosta signaled his intentions
01:10:07by diving up the inside of the world champion into the final corner.
01:10:14And one of the great sprint battles would start from there,
01:10:18one of the great MotoGP battles we've ever seen,
01:10:20as Pedro Acosta taking the fight to the rider,
01:10:23who we all suspect will be his teammate in 2027-37 versus 93.
01:10:34Side by side, they went into Turn 1,
01:10:36as Marc Marquez grimly hung on to his advantage.
01:10:40A moment on the front end there into Turn 5,
01:10:42open the door for Acosta to hit the front one more time.
01:10:49Extraordinary action between two of MotoGP's Alpha superstars.
01:10:54This was the key moment, though,
01:10:56which will have everyone talking long into the night.
01:10:59Marquez up the inside of Acosta into the final corner
01:11:01on the penultimate lap.
01:11:03Acosta ultimately taking the victory,
01:11:05as the stewards told Marc Marquez to drop one position,
01:11:09a decision which did not please the Ducati Lenovo squad.
01:11:13Marc heeded the instruction and led Acosta through
01:11:16into the final corner of the final lap.
01:11:18Pedro Acosta, a sprint winner at long last,
01:11:20and leads the MotoGP World Championship
01:11:23into our first Grand Prix Sunday of 2026.
01:11:27If it's anything like as good as that,
01:11:29make sure you pack your popcorn,
01:11:31make sure you take your place in front of your TV.
01:11:343 p.m. local time tomorrow for the Thai Grand Prix
01:11:37after a spellbinding sprint in Thailand.
01:12:103 p.m. local time tomorrow for the Thai Grand Prix.
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