Marco Bezzecchi took a lights to flag victory as Marc Marquez retires due to a rear tyre puncture

It was the opening Grand Prix of 2026 in Thailand, Marco Bezzecchi started from pole position and looked to rectify his crash in the Tissot Sprint after being the favourite all weekend, Marc Marquez started from second with Raul Fernandez in third. Fabio Di Giannantonio was fourth with Jorge Martin in fifth and Sprint winner Pedro Acosta in sixth.

The lights went out and it was Bezzecchi who took the holeshot ahead of Marqez and Fernandez. At turn seven Fernandez past Marc for second place as Bezzecchi had a 0.7 second lead after three sectors. At the final corner Martin overtook Marquez but the reigning champion got the cutback to hold onto third place.

On lap three Fernandez set the fastest lap of the race as he tried to close the gap to Bezzecchi, Acosta made a lunge on Di Giannantonio at the final corner to move into fifth place.

Martin then made a lunge on Marc Marquez into turn three and made it stick to make it an all Aprilia podium. Marc then dropped another position to Acosta at the final corner.

On lap eight Acosta tried to pass Martin into turn 12 but Acosta ran a bit wide and Martin was able to hold onto third. Acosta then tried into turn three but was wide again, Marquez was looking to take advantage.

Acosta tried again into the final corner but was unable to make it stick. Acosta tried again into turn three and the pair were side by side on the exit but it was Marc Marquez who move into third as they headed into turn four. Acosta pulled a block pass on Marquez into turn eight.

Acosta was closing in on Fernandez by four tenths a lap, the gap was 2.2 seconds with 12 laps to go.

Joan Mir made a late lunge on Di Giannantonio at the final corner on lap 19 to move into sixth place.

Acosta was now on the back of Fernandez and Marquez had followed him as the battle for the podium raged on.

Ai Ogura who had a poor start was climbing through the order into eighth place full lock at turn three.

Marc Marquez was out of the race with a rear puncture, his brother Alex Marquez a lap later crashed out of eighth place at turn four, Mir also retired due to a mechanical.

Bezzecchi crossed the line to win the Thailand Grand Prix and become the first Aprilia rider to win three consecutive Grand Prix’s. Acosta finished in second and was the championship leader as Raul Fernandez made it back-to-back third places.

Martin held off a late-charging Ogura for fourth. Di Giannantonio was the top Ducati in sixth ending their 88 race podium streak. Brad Binder was seventh as Franky Morbidelli overtook Francesco Bagnaia at the final corner to take eighth as Luca Marini rounded out the top ten.

Acosta leads the championship on 32 points making him the first KTM rider to lead the MotoGP championship. Bezzecchi is in second on 25 points with Fernandez in third on 23 points.

Featured Image: Marco Bezzecchi