The six-time MotoGP World Champion survived the fast bumps of brother Alex to complete the perfect weekend at the Lessile International Circuit.
Ducati’s Mark Marquez returned to the top step on the podium with a victory at the Qatar Grand Prix despite damaging his bike in a collision with his brother Alex on his first lap.
Mark, who won his fourth pole and fourth sprint victory at the Lusail International Circuit since 2014, won the Lesail International Circuit for the first time since 2014.
Red Bull KTM Tech3’s Maverick Vinales finished second on Sunday, but was given a 16-second penalty for tire pressure breach, bringing Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia to second place.
Franco Morbidelli of VR46 Racing led the race for a short time early, but was promoted to third place.
The victory put Mark up 123 points at the top of the rider’s standings, moving 17 points ahead of Alex, with Bagnaia in third place with 97 points.
“We had to manage the front tires, so it was quiet in the beginning of the race,” Mark said.
“Morbidelli went [ahead] But I understood yesterday, he predicted or not yesterday with a rhythm that he wasn’t fast in the second part of the race.
“A big surprise when Maverick overcame me. I thought that was what it was. [Pedro] Acosta is because he is the fastest in KTM. He was very fast, but I had that margin for the end. The victory in Qatar is fantastic. ”
One collision
Mark got off to another perfect start from the line to take over the lead to turn 1, but contact with Alex from Gresini Racing damaged the back of Mark’s bike. Morbidelli, who started fourth on the grid, was capitalized to surge to lead.
Alex didn’t make any more profits. The Spaniards were caught up in another conflict. This time it was the Fabio Di Giannantonio of VR46 Racing, where both riders lost positions.
Alex quickly raised his hand and apologized, and the steward gave him a long lap penalty, dropping him 12th and ending his hopes for the podium, which finished second in all the sprints and races this season.
Bagnaia and Mark then overtook each other using slipstreams, and Red Bull KTM’s Vinares also moved to third place, swapping positions while fighting second.
However, Mark was clearly struggling, not flapping his wings in the wind as he placed second with one fin and a six-fold champion in turn one.
Vinares then set his sights on Morbidelli, with the KTM rider leading on the main straight with 12 laps remaining, and Mark and Bagnaia also passed the yellow VR46 bike.
The MotoGP champion defender was competing in the first race of the season after returning from injury, but the Aprilia rider fell in a fierce crash on Turn 11 and did not finish. Martin was later diagnosed with six fractures following the incident.
In advance, Mark regained the lead for the first time since lap one when Venales ran big, allowing his compatriots to move to the seven laps remaining.
At the end of the race, Mark decided that what he needed was no longer to save on tires, and set the fastest laps in a row to open a gap to Binales before cruising into the checkered flag.
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