logo
Marc Marquez Triumphs Over Brother Alex in Thrilling MotoGP Sprint in France

Marc Marquez Triumphs Over Brother Alex in Thrilling MotoGP Sprint in France

IOL News10-05-2025

THAT WINNING FEELING Ducati Lenovo Team's Spanish MotoGP rider Marc Marquez poses after winning the sprint race, as part of the France Moto GP Grand Prix, at Le Mans Circuit on May 10, 2025. Picture: Loic Venance/AFP
But the Yamaha rider struggled for pace to cross the line in fourth.
Home favourite Fabio Quartararo had set off from pole after lowering the lap record in qualifying.
"I was riding well, let's see if we can finish the job tomorrow (in Sunday's main race) - 'merci beaucoup'," beamed Marquez, after taking the chequered flag waved by Tour de France cycling legend Mark Cavendish.
The Ducati factory rider replaced his younger sibling at the top of the world championship standings after extending his sprint race haul in 2025 to six from six.
Marc Marquez maintained his perfect sprint race record this season at the French MotoGP in Le Mans on Saturday, with brother Alex once again filling the runner-up spot.
Thrilling MotoGP Battle: Quartararo Holds Off Marquez Brothers as Bagnaia Crashes
"Fabio was super fast at the start, I was pushing a lot and said to myself 'I can't follow him'," said sprint king Marquez.
"Then he dropped a bit in pace and I began to feel better and better," he added.
"I did my best, I had fun and I reckon fourth was the best result I could have got today," said Quartararo.
Quartararo held off the Marquez brothers at the start, triggering a delighted roar from the expectant home fans.
Francesco Bagnaia then crashed his factory Ducati early on lap two as Marc Marquez tried to keep tabs on Quartararo.
On lap four of 13 the six-time former world champion was all over the Yamaha leader's rear tyre.
Approaching midway Marc hit the front, with Quartararo briefly stuck in the middle of a Marquez sandwich as Alex raced in third.
The younger Marquez brother riding a Ducati satellite Gresini bike, nipped past the Frenchman on lap eight to finish second as he has done in every Saturday dash since the start of the season.
"Really happy to be second, another P2!" said Alex.
Rookie Fermin Aldeguer, Alex Marquez's Gresini teammate, claimed his first sprint podium in third.
The 20-year-old's celebrations took an unexpected turn when he ran into the rear wheel of the race winner on the cool down lap.
There was no harm done and Marc Marquez made a point of congratulating the youngster with a hug.
"I feel incredible, it's a dream for me to be here with these top riders. We have the speed, we just need more experience," said the young Spaniard.
Marquez goes into Sunday's main race on 151 points in the riders' standings, with Alex on 149.
AFP

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Toprak Razgatlioglu to ride for Pramac Racing in MotoGP next year
Toprak Razgatlioglu to ride for Pramac Racing in MotoGP next year

TimesLIVE

time2 hours ago

  • TimesLIVE

Toprak Razgatlioglu to ride for Pramac Racing in MotoGP next year

Twice World Superbike champion Toprak Razgatlioglu will make the switch to MotoGP in 2026 after agreeing to join the Prima Pramac Racing team, Yamaha announced on Tuesday. Razgatlioglu, the first Turkish Superbike world champion who is known for his showmanship and has 63 wins, won his first title with Yamaha in 2021 before making the switch to BMW, winning the title again in 2024. Pramac made the switch from Ducati bikes to Yamaha this season. Razgatlioglu is second in the 2025 Superbike championship. 'Toprak, the most victorious Yamaha rider of all time in Superbike, has proven to be an exceptional talent, securing the WorldSBK Title twice, which is no mean feat,' said Paolo Pavesio, MD of Yamaha Racing. 'His transition to MotoGP is both a 'homecoming' and an exciting new challenge that's been set up with the clear goal of progressive growth over time.' Razgatlioglu had previously tested the Yamaha bike in 2023. Pramac now have Jack Miller and Miguel Oliveira as their riders this season, with Yamaha saying the 2026 line-up will be confirmed in due course. Current WorldSBK leader Nicolo Bulega is also set to join Ducati's MotoGP test team next year ahead of a potential switch in 2027 when MotoGP's new regulations come into effect.

SA chase another major cricket title: ‘It would be special,' says Bavuma
SA chase another major cricket title: ‘It would be special,' says Bavuma

The Citizen

time2 hours ago

  • The Citizen

SA chase another major cricket title: ‘It would be special,' says Bavuma

The South Africans surprised by selecting all-rounder Wiaan Mulder in the number three batting position. South Africa's Temba Bavuma speaks to the media at a press conference at Lord's cricket ground in London on Tuesday. Picture: Henry Nicholls / AFP South Africa's latest bid for a major cricketing title gets under way at Lord's in London on Wednesday when the Proteas take on their fiercest rivals, Australia, for the World Test Championship crown. While Australia have won several ODI and T20 titles, South Africa have yet to lift a trophy of any real significance. They have come close, especially in the last few years, but glory has continued to elude them. But now they have another chance, against Pat Cummins' powerful Aussies, in the World Test Championship final. Proteas captain Temba Bavuma said going all the way in the final would be 'special'. 'To be regarded as a top cricketing nation we must be playing for silverware … we've now ticked that, so going over the line is the next step. 'Winning the title would be a massive feather in the caps for this group [of players]. We often speak about excellence, about doing something special for each other and our country, well now we have an opportunity to do that. 'It would be special [to end the wait for a world title]. Just being here is a highlight of my career, but it would be nice if we backed it up with something … winning this would be special in a lot of ways.' Surprises in team selections Both teams sprung surprises when they named their playing XIs on Tuesday, with South Africa opting for Lungi Ngidi ahead of Dane Paterson in the bowling attack, while Australia have decided to go with Marnus Labuschagne at the top of the order, as they continue to look for a suitable replacement for the now retired David Warner. 'It was one of the tougher decisions that had to be made,' said Bavuma on Tuesday about having to pick between Ngidi and Paterson. 'Pato did so much for us at the end of last season, but from a tactical point of view, Lungi gives us a bit more pace and he's also got a good record, and that's taking nothing away from Pato. Lungi has played here [at Lord's] before, and he has the experience, not that Pato hasn't. 'But, we feel Lungi will complement the bowling attack a bit more. We also have [Wiaan] Mulder, who gives us something similar to what Pato can do.' Bavuma added the team had full confidence in all-rounder Mulder batting at number three in the order. 'He's taken confidence from being backed there in recent times and all we want is for him to go out and play his game.'

Sleepless nights and empty seats: FIFA's broken Club World Cup
Sleepless nights and empty seats: FIFA's broken Club World Cup

IOL News

time4 hours ago

  • IOL News

Sleepless nights and empty seats: FIFA's broken Club World Cup

Making the Club World Cup great again? FIFA president Gianni Infantino presents the FIFA Club World Cup trophy to United States president Donald Trump in the Oval Office in the White House. Photo:/AFP Image:/AFP The FIFA Club World Cup gets underway this weekend. In the opening match of the revamped tournament, Egypt's Al Ahly will take on Lionel Messi and Inter Miami. In theory, this should be monumental – the world's best clubs converging in America to crown football's true global champion. FIFA's vision of a blockbuster tournament makes financial sense, and the hype would suggest universal excitement. That's certainly the case in South Africa, where anticipation runs high. Yet elsewhere, particularly in Europe, the enthusiasm feels conspicuously absent. Teams from Africa, Asia, South America, and Down Under will be enjoying their time in the sun in the United States, as they smile all the way to the bank. For the big teams in Europe, they need this tournament as much as one needs a nail in the head. European clubs will feel that they already have a competition that determines the best team in the world in the UEFA Champions League, and that the Club World Cup is an obvious "cash grab" on the part of FIFA. They're not entirely wrong. Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ But this sentiment is typical of Europe, who want to enjoy the best of footballers who come from all over the world, and don't want to share the wealth among everyone else. At the Club World Cup, teams will get paid. South Africa's very own Mamelodi Sundowns will make around R170 million just for being there. Not a bad payday for a PR exercise meant to boost FIFA's image in America. Perhaps European club fear that once African, South American and Asian clubs have money of their own, they won't be able to plunder the continents of their best talents. So, the competition is good, then? In reality, FIFA has shot itself in the foot with the scheduling. The opening match between Al Ahly and Inter Miami will kick off at 2am (SA time) on Sunday morning. Mamelodi Sundowns' clash against Ulsan will be played at midnight. There are games that have been scheduled to begin at 3am and others at 4am. We love our football in South Africa, but not as much as our sleep. And it's winter, it's cold. By 2am on Sunday, many in Mzansi will be in their beds rather than cheering for Messi against Al Ahly.. Another thing that could embarrass FIFA is the fact that no one seems to be buying tickets. According to recent reports, they've had to slash ticket prices from $230 (over R4,000) to $55 (R970). The fact that FIFA thought Americans, who care very little about the game of football, would spend that much on tickets to watch Botafogo take on Seattle Sounders shows how out of touch they are. There will be some exciting games at the tournament, for sure, but FIFA is going to find it tough to keep fans' attention. Sundowns taking on Borussia Dortmund might sound exciting to people living in Pretoria, but to those from Cincinnati, it might not be the best ticket in town. The FIFA Club World Cup could have been a celebration of global football – a chance to uplift teams outside Europe's elite and captivate new audiences. Instead, it's shaping up to be another tone-deaf spectacle: absurd scheduling, overpriced tickets, and a desperate scramble for relevance. While the payouts might sweeten the deal for participating clubs, FIFA's arrogance in ignoring fans – both in timing and accessibility – proves yet again that the game's governing body prioritises profit over passion. Don't be surprised if the world doesn't show much interest. IOL Sport

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store