Saturday Supremacy: Marquez Untouchable in Qatar

Relentless #93 takes sprint win and championship lead as Bagnaia falters in Lusail

Marc Marquez continued his commanding run of Saturday form at the 2025 Qatar Airways Grand Prix of Qatar, claiming pole position and dominating the Tissot Sprint to retake the MotoGP Championship lead. The Ducati Lenovo rider didn’t put a wheel wrong under the lights of Lusail, fending off an early challenge from brother Alex Marquez—who finished second for BK8 Gresini Racing—before pulling away to yet another Saturday masterclass. Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing) completed the podium with a gritty ride to third, as reigning champion Francesco Bagnaia endured a tough Sprint, finishing eighth.

All three front-row starters launched cleanly, but it was polesitter Marc who grabbed the holeshot ahead of Alex and Fabio Quartararo. Morbidelli and rookie Fermin Aldeguer briefly scrapped over fourth, but the Spaniard was sent backwards by aggressive moves from Maverick Viñales and Johann Zarco. Bagnaia advanced early from 11th to eighth, but the momentum didn’t last—Pedro Acosta, Ai Ogura, and Jorge Martin all got through by Lap 2, leaving the #63 on the back foot.

Marc Marquez reasserted control at the front, gradually edging clear of Alex as the laps ticked down. Morbidelli held steady in third, but the fight behind him intensified. Aldeguer launched a late-race charge, passing Viñales and reeling in Quartararo. A final-corner slip from the Yamaha rider handed Aldeguer fourth, capping another eye-catching ride from the MotoGP rookie.

Quartararo settled for fifth with Di Giannantonio close behind in sixth. Ogura took seventh as the highest-placed Aprilia, while Bagnaia managed to claw back eighth after a late move on Acosta, marking a subdued performance for the defending champ. Bezzecchi secured two points in ninth, and Viñales—who gambled on a soft rear tyre—faded to tenth. Jorge Martin, easing back in after injury, finished 16th.

With four Sprint wins from four, Marc Marquez is in unstoppable Saturday form—strong, strategic, and clinical. As the grid resets for Sunday’s full-distance Grand Prix, the question remains: can anyone stop the #93?

QATAR SPRINT RACE