Motorcycling-Ducati's Marquez wins Czech GP sprint after penalty scare
(Reuters) -Ducati's Marc Marquez took a record-extending 11th sprint win of the MotoGP season at the Czech Grand Prix on Saturday, but the Spaniard's celebrations were briefly put on hold during an investigation for tyre pressure infringements.
Marquez and factory Ducati teammate Francesco Bagnaia were both forced to slow down during the race and surrender first and second place due to low tyre pressure, or risk incurring an eight-second penalty.
Six-times champion Marquez relinquished his lead but was able to overtake KTM's Pedro Acosta with two laps remaining and cross the finish line first.
Asked if he had done enough to avoid a penalty, Marquez said: "Yeah, we did it. For that reason, I'm smiling. So it's true that it was super towards the limit. And yeah, we're riding comfortable.
"Then I saw that the pressure was not enough. I tried to push some laps on the brakes, but I saw that was too much risk to get on that correct pressure. And then I decided to wait.
"I just stayed super close to Acosta to increase the temperature. And then when I saw the temperature was already inside the rules, pressure was inside the rules, then I pushed in the last few laps."
MotoGP confirmed that no further action would be taken against Marquez.
MARC MARQUEZ LEADS BROTHER ALEX
He leads the riders' championship table with 356 points, with his second-placed younger brother Alex, who finished 17th after a disastrous start, 95 points behind on 261.
KTM-Tech3's Enea Bastiani, who missed the previous round with appendicitis, ended in third at the Brno circuit in the Czech Republic.
For Acosta, it was a first sprint podium since Aragon 2024.
"Well, this is a season where we were struggling so much. And now I see all these people celebrating. You know, it was super tough," the 21-year-old said.
"It was the darkest beginning of a season in my life. Being on the podium again is super nice. Thanks to all of KTM, all the guys that are at home supporting me."
Pole-sitter Bagnaia finished seventh after he was overtaken by Trackhouse Aprilia rider Raul Fernandez in the final lap.
Reigning MotoGP champion Jorge Martin ended 11th on his return to competition after suffering a collapsed lung and bruised ribs in a crash in Qatar in April.
(Reporting by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)
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