Latest news with #ThaiMotoGP
Daily Tribune
03-03-2025
- Sport
- Daily Tribune
Marc Marquez outduels brother Alex for ‘dream' Thai MotoGP win
Six-time world champion Marc Marquez used all his experience to fight back from a mid-race wobble to outduel his brother Alex Marquez for a 'dream' win in yesterday's season-opening Thai MotoGP. It completed a dominant debut for his new factory Ducati team, with pole-sitter Marquez having romped to victory in Saturday's sprint at the Buriram Circuit for a maximum 37 championship points. The Spanish great took his 63rd MotoGP victory by 1.732sec from younger sibling Alex, who is still seeking a first chequered flag, with Italian two-time world champion Francesco Bagnaia third. Marc Marquez had opened a 1.5 second gap at the front in searing heat, when on lap seven he suddenly slowed on turn three with a tyre pressure problem to relinquish the lead to his brother. Marc tucked into second spot, lurking ominously on Alex's back wheel for another 15 laps as he managed his tyres expertly and kept the pressure issue under control. His strategy paid off as he made a decisive move with less than laps of the 26 to dive under Alex on turn 12 before stretching away to complete a second family one-two, after Saturday's sprint. 'Yesterday I was happy, today I am super happy,' said Marc Marquez. 'I mean it's a dream. I cannot ask for more.
Gulf Today
03-03-2025
- Automotive
- Gulf Today
Marc Marquez outduels brother Alex for 'dream' Thai MotoGP win
Six-time world champion Marc Marquez used all his experience to fight back from a mid-race wobble to outduel his brother Alex Marquez for a "dream" win in Sunday's season-opening Thai MotoGP. It completed a dominant debut for his new factory Ducati team, with pole-sitter Marquez having romped to victory in Saturday's sprint at the Buriram Circuit for a maximum 37 championship points. The Spanish great took his 63rd MotoGP victory by 1.732sec from younger sibling Alex, who is still seeking a first chequered flag, with Italian two-time world champion Francesco Bagnaia third. Marc Marquez had opened a 1.5 second gap at the front in searing heat, when on lap seven he suddenly slowed on turn three with a tyre pressure problem to relinquish the lead to his brother. Marc tucked into second spot, lurking ominously on Alex's back wheel for another 15 laps as he managed his tyres expertly and kept the pressure issue under control. His strategy paid off as he made a decisive move with less than laps of the 26 to dive under Alex on turn 12 before stretching away to complete a second family one-two, after Saturday's sprint. 'I cannot ask for more' "Yesterday I was happy, today I am super happy," said Marc Marquez. "I mean it's a dream. I cannot ask for more. "We started this new journey in the perfect way, with pole position and a double victory, sprint and main race. I want to say thanks to the team. "And to share this weekend with my brother is something unreal for our family. "There are no words to describe how you feel when you are on the podium with your brother." Another Italian, Franco Morbidelli, was fourth on a VR46 Ducati and Japanese rookie Ai Ogura fifth on his MotoGP debut for Trackhouse Aprilia. "For one moment I thought I might hold on to win," said Alex Marquez. "Leading was not easy. I just tried to ride, not to override and not make mistakes. "But he was able to not use a lot of rear tyre and I was using up everything." Marc Marquez enjoyed a strong pre-season with the factory Ducati, having joined from Honda, and is strongly fancied to win a first world crown since 2019. "The last time I felt like this on a bike was at Jerez in 2020," he warned. Marquez and two-time world champion Bagnaia have been hailed as a factory Ducati dream team but some observers have cautioned that the high-octane mix of two fast high-profile racers could prove too combustible. "I gave my all," said Bagnaia. "But Marc, he was playing with us all day. So maximum ambition was to finish in P2 but we finished in P3. "Honestly I tried, but I was like I was in the cinema watching," he added of the battling brothers in front of him. "I am not here to finish third. It was the maximum I could but I will never settle for third place. Next time I will try to be second and then first. "But I need to start work on my setup, on my bike, and close the gap to them." Ogura, who came fourth in Saturday's sprint, put on a stunning performance on his main race debut to finish fifth for Trackhouse Aprilia, beating the factory Aprilia of Marco Bezzecchi, who was sixth. Somkiat Chantra finished 18th as he made history by becoming the first Thai rider to take part in a MotoGP race. The start of the new MotoGP season was overshadowed by the absence of world champion Jorge Martin. The Spaniard suffered broken bones in his right hand and left foot in a horror crash during pre-season testing in Malaysia and more fractures in training a week ago, needing further surgery. Aprilia said Martin would definitely miss the next race, in Argentina in mid-March, with no time frame put on his return to the grid. Agence France-Presse
Yahoo
02-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Marc Marquez wins season-opening Thai MotoGP after duel with brother Alex
Six-time world champion Marc Marquez won the season-opening Thai MotoGP on Sunday to complete a dominant debut weekend at his new factory Ducati team, having also romped to Saturday's sprint. The Spanish great took the 26-lap grand prix by 1.732sec for his 63rd MotoGP victory from younger brother Alex Marquez, who is still seeking a first chequered flag, with Francesco Bagnaia third. It completed a perfect weekend for Marc Marquez, who took pole position, the sprint victory and the grand prix win for a maximum 37 points to open the 22-leg 2025 campaign. He led from pole in stifling heat at Buriram and opened a comfortable 1.5 second lead over his younger brother by lap seven, when he suddenly slowed on turn three to lose the lead. Whatever the problem was, it was short-lived, as Marc tucked into second spot and put relentless pressure on Alex as the brothers tussled for the lead, with Bagnaia lurking less than a second adrift in third. "Yesterday I was happy, today I am super happy," said Marc Marquez. "I mean it's a dream." Alex Marquez was made to work hard to hold the lead on his Gresini Ducati, and with four laps to go, Marc made his move, diving underneath at turn 12 and then disappearing off into the distance. Franco Morbidelli was fourth and Japanese rookie Ai Ogura fifth on his MotoGP debut. Marquez senior had been fast all week, going quickest in opening practice on Friday before being pipped by brother Alex in the afternoon session. "For one moment I thought I might hold on to win," said Alex Marquez. "But he was able to not use a lot of rear tyre and I was using up everything." Marc Marquez enjoyed a strong pre-season with the factory Ducati, having joined from Honda, and is strongly fancied to win a first world crown since 2019. Marquez and Bagnaia have been hailed as a factory Ducati dream team but some observers have cautioned that the high-octane mix of two fast high-profile racers could prove too combustible. "I gave my all," said Bagnaia. "But Marc, he was playing with us all day. So maximum ambition was to finish in P2 but it we finished in P3." The start of the new MotoGP season has been overshadowed by the absence of world champion Jorge Martin. The Spaniard suffered fractures to his right hand and left foot in a horror crash during pre-season testing in Malaysia. Then his Aprilia team said this week that Martin suffered another mishap in training and had to have more surgery. Aprilia said Martin will also miss the next race, in Argentina in mid-March, with no time frame put on his return. bur-dh/pbt
Daily Tribune
02-03-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Tribune
Marc Marquez wins dominant Thai MotoGP sprint on Ducati debut
Six-time world champion Marc Marquez romped to victory in the sprint race yesterday at the season-opening Thai MotoGP for a dream debut with the factory Ducati team. The Spanish great started from pole ahead of younger brother Alex and never looked back for a statement win in the 13-lap sprint. Second at a sweltering Buriram was younger brother Alex, with Marc Marquez's factory Ducati team-mate and twotime former world champion Francesco Bagnaia third. Japanese rookie Ai Ogura was fourth on his MotoGP debut. The grand prix, the first of 22 in the campaign, is on Sunday and Marquez will be hot favourite from pole. 'It was a perfect Saturday,' the 32-year-old said after only the second sprint victory of his career. 'The feeling is great with the bike. Happy to start my new journey with Ducati this way. 'Let's see if we can minimum be on the podium tomorrow but if we can we will fight for the victory.' Marquez has been fast all week, going quickest in opening practice on Friday before being pipped by brother Alex in the afternoon session. Marquez enjoyed a strong pre-season with the factory Ducati, having joined from Honda, and is strongly fancied to win a first world crown since 2019. Marquez and Bagnaia have been hailed as a dream team but some observers have cautioned that the high-octane mix of two fast high-profile racers could prove too combustible. The start of the new MotoGP season has been overshadowed by the absence of world champion Jorge Martin. The Spaniard suffered fractures to his right hand and left foot in a horror crash during pre-season testing in Malaysia. Then his Aprilia team said this week that Martin suffered another mishap in training and had to have more surgery.
South China Morning Post
25-02-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
‘Dream come true': Somkiat Chantra set to make history as Thailand's first MotoGP rider
Somkiat Chantra can barely contain a beaming smile as he prepares to make history as Thailand's first MotoGP rider this week – and all in front of his home fans. Advertisement The 26-year-old will debut at the season-opening Thai MotoGP race on Sunday at Buriram, the first rider from the country to line up in the premier class. 'It's amazing, it's like a dream come true,' said Somkiat, admitting to some trepidation ahead of riding in front of a passionate home crowd, starting with practice on Friday. 'I cannot imagine [the pressure] in Buriram on the first race,' he said. Known by his nickname 'Kong' in Thailand, Somkiat will saddle up alongside French teammate Johann Zarco for Honda-LCR. Advertisement Zarco said he was looking forward to helping Somkiat ease into his rookie season.
