Marc Marquez proved once again why he’s the man to beat this season, winning the Qatar MotoGP on Sunday after surviving a dramatic first-lap collision with his brother, Alex Marquez. The victory marked Marc’s seventh win in eight races and his third Sunday main race victory in just four weekends — an emphatic statement of form and focus.
The drama kicked off right from the start. Marc began from pole, with Alex lining up beside him. As the two brothers approached Turn 2, Alex braked too late and rammed into the back of Marc’s Ducati. Both riders lost valuable time, with Marc momentarily dropping positions. However, the elder Marquez kept his cool, assessed the race tactically, and clawed his way back through the field with expert precision.
Franco Morbidelli briefly took advantage of the chaos, grabbing the lead on his Gresini Ducati. But he couldn’t maintain the pace to hold off the more aggressive riders in the pack. Maverick Vinales, riding for KTM, charged through the group and surged into the lead, showing strong form throughout the middle laps.
Behind him, Francesco “Pecco” Bagnaia and Marc Marquez started closing in. With seven laps remaining, Marc launched a calculated attack, sweeping past Vinales and pulling clear with a commanding lead. He eventually crossed the finish line 1.8 seconds ahead of Vinales, with Bagnaia completing the podium in third.
“I told you before the race, I need to manage the tyres,” Marc said post-race. “That’s why I stayed calm early on. But when Pecco came up, I knew it was time to go.”
Alex Marquez, on the other hand, had a tough race. The early collision damaged his bike, and he was hit with a long-lap penalty. After finishing second in every previous race this season, Alex could only manage seventh on this occasion.
“Vinales was surprising. He had pace,” Alex admitted. “But I had some margin at the end. The contact early on really affected my race.”
Meanwhile, reigning world champion Jorge Martin had a nightmare return. Racing for the first time after pre-season crashes that left him nursing injuries — especially in his left hand — Martin crashed out with eight laps to go. After losing control, he slid into the gravel and sat on his knees, visibly emotional and frustrated.
Marc Marquez’s consistent performance this season — with wins in every sprint and a near-perfect Sunday race record — sends a strong signal that he’s hunting for the crown. With form, strategy, and sheer willpower on his side, Marc continues to raise the bar on the 2025 MotoGP grid.
