Lusail – Marco Bezzecchi won Sunday's MotoGP main race in Qatar. The Italian started from pole position on his Aprilia and led to the finish at Lusail International Circuit. Ducati rider Marc Márquez came second, with Raúl Fernández third on a Trackhouse Aprilia. It was Bezzecchi's twelfth win in the premier class.
The rider from Rimini defended his lead at the start after crashing in Saturday's sprint. Fernández passed Márquez early and initially followed Bezzecchi. The two Aprilias pulled away. Behind them, Pedro Acosta challenged Márquez and briefly passed him, but let him back through a few laps later because of tyre-pressure considerations.
Later in the race, Márquez set the fastest lap and closed the gap to Fernández. The Spaniard took second place in the final laps. Bezzecchi was already several seconds ahead and secured the win without another change of leader. Aprilia machines therefore claimed two of the three podium places.
Bezzecchi wins in Qatar as Márquez extends championship lead
Jorge Martín, who rides for the Aprilia factory team, moved from eleventh on the grid to seventh. He had recently returned from a wrist injury. Márquez extended his lead over Martín to 60 points. Bezzecchi is 74 points behind the championship leader. With 74 points still available, the title cannot be decided before the next race weekend in Portugal.
Italian rider Francesco Bagnaia missed the main race. The Ducati rider broke two metatarsal bones in his right foot in a crash during Saturday's sprint and returned early to Italy for treatment. Sunday was therefore a success for Aprilia, while Ducati can clinch the riders' championship with Márquez in Portugal.
