MotoGP News: Marquez’s Victory in Thai GP Sprint Overturned After Acosta Clash

The 2026 MotoGP Sprint race at the Chang International Circuit in Buriram, Thailand, turned into a spectacle of raw aggression and high drama, with rookie Pedro Acosta (pictured) emerging victorious in a heart-pounding 13-lap battle against reigning champion Marc Marquez.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

What could have been a dominant win for Marquez was overshadowed by a late-race contact incident that led to a penalty, handing Acosta his maiden Sprint victory and KTM’s first MotoGP race lead of the season.

The action exploded from the start as pole-sitter Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) nailed the holeshot, fending off an immediate challenge from Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) into Turn 1. Bezzecchi briefly pulled ahead, taking the lead at Turn 3 on the opening lap. However, disaster struck on Lap 2 when Bezzecchi lost the front at Turn 8, crashing out from the lead and gifting Marquez the top spot. “It was a tough one to swallow,” Bezzecchi said afterward. “The bike felt great, but I pushed too hard too early.”

With Bezzecchi out, Marquez seemed poised for a straightforward win, but Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), starting from sixth, had other ideas. The young Spaniard sliced through the pack with blistering pace, closing in on Marquez by mid-race. Acosta’s first bold move came at the final corner on Lap 7, diving inside to take the lead—only for Marquez to repass him on the straight using superior Ducati power.

MOTOGP MEMULAI SEASON DENGAN GORENGAN REKKKK

MARC MARQUEZ LATE DIVEBOMB PEDRO ACOSTA YANG MEMBUAT ACOSTA KELUAR TRACK.

MARC MARQUEZ TERKENA PENALTY DROP 1 POSITION DI LAST LAP 🤯🤯#MotoGP #ThaiGP

pic.twitter.com/kuHoY7Bxoq

— Lambe Resing (@LambeResing) February 28, 2026

The duel intensified, with Acosta launching repeated attacks. On the penultimate lap, Acosta nailed an inside pass at Turn 5 after light contact, but Marquez fought back aggressively at Turn 12, making contact that pushed Acosta wide off the track. Acosta recovered without crashing, but the incident drew immediate scrutiny from race stewards. Deemed responsible for the bump, Marquez was hit with a penalty to drop one position, which he served dramatically in the final corner by yielding to Acosta.

Crossing the line first on track, Marquez’s compliance with the penalty elevated Acosta to the win, with Marquez settling for second. Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) capitalized on the chaos to secure third, fending off teammate Ai Ogura, who finished a strong fourth in his debut season highlight.

Further back, Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing) rounded out the top five, followed by Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) in sixth. Early drama included Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) tangling with Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) on Lap 1, which dropped Alex to 11th while Di Giannantonio recovered to eighth. Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) charged from 13th on the grid to ninth, salvaging points despite a tough qualifying.

The penalty sparked heated debate in the paddock, with Marquez defending his move as “hard but fair racing,” while Acosta shrugged it off with maturity: “It’s MotoGP—contact happens. I’m just happy to get the win for KTM.” The result shakes up the early championship standings and sets the stage for a fiery main race tomorrow, where tire degradation on the abrasive Buriram track could amplify the rivalries.

2026 Thai Grand Prix MotoGP Sprint Race Results (Final Classification After Penalty)