MotoGP News: Marc Marquez crashes then wins wet Jerez Sprint race

It doesn’t happen often, but a MotoGP rider can crash and still win. Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) proved it once again, producing one of the most remarkable Sprints in recent memory to take victory on home soil at Jerez.

Starting from pole, Marquez led the way, with teammate Francesco Bagnaia charging from 10th to second and Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) storming from 18th to complete an unlikely podium.

Lights Out

Marquez launched perfectly from pole, while Johann Zarco (Castrol Honda LCR) held second initially. alex Marquez quickly moved into second, Jorge Martín (Aprilia Racing) slotted into fourth, and Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) ran fifth.

Championship leader Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) suffered a nightmare start—seemingly hindered by a tear-off under his rear tire—and dropped all the way to 16th, facing an uphill battle.

Marquez began stretching his lead at the front, but the pack behind was closing fast. Martín attacked alex Marquez, only for the #73 to fight back aggressively at Turn 1, forcing Martín wide. The Aprilia rider struggled with braking, visibly frustrated as his front brake disc glowed red-hot.

The Heavens Open

Alex Marquez soon dispatched Zarco for second. Then, with 10 laps remaining, rain began to fall under the gray Jerez skies. The white flag waved, giving riders the option to change bikes—unusually early for a Sprint.

At first the track wasn’t wet enough to force an immediate decision. Zarco and Di Giannantonio put on a thrilling duel for third, while Raúl Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) climbed steadily into fourth. Behind them, the KTMs of Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech3), and Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) were on the march.

The Front Group

Up front, what had been a comfortable gap for Marc Marquez evaporated as alex Marquez glued himself to his brother’s rear wheel. The younger Marquez looked for a way past, eventually diving through at Turn 9 with six laps to go. Di Giannantonio was closing fast on both.

Then came the first major drama. Marc Marquez lost the front at the final corner as the rain intensified. Instead of rejoining immediately, he picked up the bike and dived straight into the pits for a bike swap—a pivotal decision.

Most of the leaders stayed out initially. This left alex Marquez in front, followed by Di Giannantonio, while Binder led the group that had already pitted.

The Second Marquez Crash

More chaos followed. alex Marquez crashed at the same final corner where his brother had fallen in last year’s Grand Prix. As the rain turned into a downpour, it became clear: wet tires were now essential. The remaining riders streamed into the pits.

Binder briefly emerged as the leader of the pitted group—only to crash himself shortly after. As the order shuffled, a red-and-white Ducati duo of Bagnaia and Marc Marquez began carving through the field, picking off riders who had stayed out on slicks, including Fermín Aldeguer.

The Impossible… Made Possible

Bagnaia led Marquez momentarily, but the eight-time champion wasn’t done. He fought his way back to the front in stunning fashion—going from the lead to as low as 17th after his crash, only to storm back to victory.

Marquez took the win ahead of teammate Bagnaia, who scored back-to-back Sprint podiums. Incredibly, Franco Morbidelli, who had pitted early with the first group, somehow emerged in third.

Brad Binder recovered to finish fourth despite his late crash—a result that would have been headline news on any other day. Di Giannantonio took fifth ahead of Raúl Fernandez, while Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) claimed seventh and the final points positions went to Johann Zarco and Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol).

Jerez Sprint Race Results