Marc Marquez won the Qatar MotoGP Sprint, but the incident that dominated discussion came at Turn 1 on the opening lap. Marco Bezzecchi tried to move underneath him and the two motorcycles made contact. The Aprilia rider crashed, while Marquez kept his machine upright even though the airbag in his racing suit deployed.

The FIM Stewards reviewed the incident and decided that no further action was necessary. Massimo Rivola was visibly unhappy with that outcome, while Davide Tardozzi strongly defended it. Ducati’s team manager called the collision a racing incident and rejected the idea that Marquez had taken an outside risk.

Two readings of the clash

Marquez said he had taken his usual line through the corner and did not know Bezzecchi was alongside him. Fabio Di Giannantonio, who finished second in the Sprint, saw the situation differently. He told Marquez that the rider should check before closing the line because Bezzecchi was on the inside.

The Sprint victory gave Marquez the first of five chances to secure the 2026 championship. To clinch it in the Qatar Grand Prix, he would have needed to win while Jorge Martin scored no points. Tardozzi did not expect the title to be decided there, however. He considered Bezzecchi the fastest rider on the medium tyre and said he should win the race.

Ducati’s priority is to collect as many points as possible, whether the championship is settled in Qatar or Valencia. Marquez said Bezzecchi had been the fastest rider throughout the weekend, but identified Martin as his main title rival. Martin finished third in the Sprint with a recently fractured wrist and expected the Grand Prix to be an especially demanding physical challenge.

Bagnaia faces surgery as Portimao becomes target

The Sprint had more serious consequences for Pecco Bagnaia. The Ducati Lenovo rider fractured two bones in his right foot after Fermin Aldeguer took him out on the opening lap. Bagnaia was travelling to Italy for surgery, which was expected to take place in Turin the following day.

Tardozzi said the full extent of the injury would become clearer after the operation, but expressed confidence that Bagnaia will try to race at Portimao. The season ends a week later in Valencia, where the two-time world champion is expected to make his Aprilia debut in the post-race test.