Marc Marquez wins wet and wild Jerez sprint

Ducati star slips off, swaps bikes and takes victory in the first ever flag-to-flag Motogp Sprint race

Marc Marquez won an extraordinary Spanish GP Sprint Race in torrential rain, in what was the first-ever flag-to-flag Sprint race in MotoGP.

Having qualified on pole position, the reigning champion led the field into Turn 1 in gloomy but dry conditions, ahead of Zarco, brother Alex, and Jorge Martin – who made a lightning start from seventh on the grid.

It soon became clear that Zarco did not quite have the pace to match Marc out front, who quickly skipped out to a one-second lead. As the second lap began, Alex Marquez was desperate to get past the Frenchman as Marc escaped at the front, but it was Jorge Martin who capitalised, sliding past the Gresini rider into the final turn. Alex fought back into Turn 1, but disaster struck for Martin, who ran wide with a technical issue, his front brake glowing bright red as he pulled out of the race. Zarco and Alex Marquez then swapped positions several times before Alex finally made the move stick into Turn 1, with Di Giannantonio wasting no time getting past the LCR Honda rider as well.

Championship leader Marco Bezzecchi had made a dreadful launch and found himself riding with a similarly slow-starting Bagnaia down in 15th position, but at the front a battle was brewing as Alex Marquez quickly reeled his brother in, while Di Giannantonio was setting fastest laps in third as he rapidly reduced the two-second deficit to the leaders.

On lap seven, raindrops prompted marshals to display the wet-surface flags and Marc looked spooked, slowing enough that Alex Marquez was able to ride around the outside of him to take the lead at Turn 8. The reason for Marc’s caution soon became obvious when the heavens opened in earnest, throwing a moist curveball at the slick-shod riders. Grip levels fell off a cliff as they negotiated saturated corners that had been dry only a lap before.

With five laps to go, the leaders had to decide whether it was time to pit for full wet tyres. Alex Marquez elected to stay out and Marc followed him through Lorenzo Corner, but then lost the front of his Ducati and slid off. Marc kept a death grip on the clutch and, given his proximity to the pit lane, was able to remount quickly and make a belated call to collect his second bike instead.

Alex Marquez was now leading, but soon succumbed to the soaking conditions, crashing out while braking. That put Di Giannantonio into the lead, but he was circulating at a snail’s pace, barely able to lean his Ducati as a reflective sheen of water formed on the tarmac. When ‘Diggia’ finally elected to swap bikes, Aldeguer inherited the lead as the only rider still on track on slick tyres – but not for long.

Bezzecchi was suddenly in the hunt but also crashed out, leaving Bagnaia in the lead as he blasted past Aldeguer as if he was standing still. Marc Marquez was now charging as well though, his warmed up rain tyres giving the Spaniard the scent of a sensational home victory with just three laps to go.

Marquez quickly caught Bagnaia and fired his Ducati up the inside of his team-mate, forcing Bagnaia to pick the bike up or risk contact. From there, Marquez took control and eased away at the front, exuding that trademark Marquez confidence that has at times seemed lacking in 2026, to take a well-earned, if somewhat fortuitous. three-second victory over Bagnaia – who was himself  nonetheless thrilled to cross the line in second having started 10th.

Franco Morbidelli finished third ahead of Brad Binder — another rider who crashed and remounted — with Di Giannantonio, Fernandez, Quartararo, Zarco, Marini and Rins rounding out the top 10.

Marquez’s victory lifts him to fourth in the championship standings on 57 points, now a more manageable 24 points from the title lead thanks to the leading Aprilia pairing of Bezzecchi and Martin failing to finish, while Acosta sits third with 60 points.

Marquez’s pole position and Sprint win may have come in wet conditions, but it could be the impetus the world champion needs to finally fire up his ailing title defence.

SPANISH MOTOGP SPRINT RACE