MotoGP News: Marco Bezzecchi goes flag-to-flag in Thai GP

BURIRAM, Thailand – Marco Bezzecchi (pictured) kicked off the 2026 MotoGP season in commanding style, leading every lap of the Thailand Grand Prix at the Chang International Circuit to secure a hat-trick of victories for Aprilia Racing.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

The Italian rider turned his Sprint race disappointment—where he crashed out—into a flawless performance in the main event, crossing the line 5.543 seconds ahead of the field in what proved to be a grueling 26-lap battle of attrition marked by crashes, tire failures, and intense midfield scraps.

“After the mistake in the sprint, it was important to stay calm and bounce back. The victory in Buriram is a very pleasing result. We worked well in testing, so it was crucial to confirm our form over the race weekend as well – something we were unable to do last year, despite a good test here. In the race, I tried to give it my all without making mistakes, so I’m very pleased with this victory.”

Starting from pole, Bezzecchi nailed the holeshot and immediately pulled away, leaving the drama to unfold behind him. Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) made an aggressive early move, dive-bombing past Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) at Turn 7 on Lap 1 to grab second. Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing) soon joined the fray, executing a switchback on Marquez to complete an all-Aprilia top three by Lap 4.

Rookie sensation Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), starting from sixth, methodically worked his way forward. After dispatching Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team), Acosta engaged in a thrilling duel with Martin over multiple laps. The pair traded positions in a series of bold overtakes across Turns 3, 4, and 8, with Marquez capitalizing on Lap 10 by threading his Ducati between them on the straight to briefly snatch third.

The race’s second half turned chaotic. By Lap 21, Acosta and Marquez had reeled in Fernandez. Acosta easily overtook for second at Turn 3 with four laps remaining, but Marquez’s charge ended dramatically when his rear tire punctured at 180 km/h in Turn 4, buckling the wheel and forcing a high-speed runoff. The eight-time world champion miraculously stayed upright but was forced to retire after 20 laps.

NO WAY@marcmarquez93 IS OUT AFTER A MASSIVE PROBLEM 🤯#ThaiGP 🇹🇭 pic.twitter.com/mpADDjvB7m

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) March 1, 2026

MASSIVE damage for @marcmarquez93 👀#ThaiGP 🇹🇭 pic.twitter.com/kSxASfK0RT

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) March 1, 2026

Just a lap later, his brother Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) suffered a heavy crash at the same corner, while Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) limped to the pits with a similar tire issue after 23 laps.

Bezzecchi remained unchallenged out front, marking Aprilia’s strongest showing yet with four bikes in the top five. Acosta solidified his early championship lead with a solid second, while Fernandez held on for third despite fading pace. Martin finished fourth, followed by teammate Ai Ogura in fifth.

Australia’s Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) had a subdued outing, battling at the rear to finish 18th, 47.848 seconds adrift. The race snapped Ducati’s 88-race podium streak, highlighting Aprilia’s rising dominance.

As MotoGP heads to the inaugural Brazilian Grand Prix in three weeks, Bezzecchi’s win sets a high bar for the season. “It was a battle of survival,” one observer noted, capturing the grueling conditions at Buriram.

2026 Thailand MotoGP Race Results – 26 Laps