Marco Bezzecchi wins in dominant fashion as Marc Marquez takes his first non-winning podium of the season with Jorge Martin in seventh

Marc Marquez had his first chance of defending the MotoGP World Championship, if he won the Qatar Grand Prix and Jorge Martin finished in P16 or didn’t finish, Marquez would be crowned world champion for a tenth time.

Marco Bezzecchi started from pole after another disappointing Tissot Sprint where he crashed in a collision with Marquez at turn one in a battle for the lead, the Italian needed to win the race to keep his championship hopes alive. Marquez was second alongside Fabio Di Giannantonio. Raul Fernandez was fourth, Ai Ogura was fifth and Johann Zarco rounded out the second row. Martin started from tenth. Francesco Bagnaia who was having his best weekend since the Czech Grand Prix was declared unfit due to a fracture in his right foot following a collision with Fermin Aldeguer in the Sprint. Luca Marini was also out of action due to fatigue, this meant there were only 16 riders for the Qatar Grand Prix

The lights went out and Bezzecchi took the holeshot ahead of Marquez, Fernandez overtook Marquez at turn two, Di Giannantonio was sat up by Ogura who was sat up by Fernandez and the number 49 was in ninth behind Martin.

Pedro Acosta took two in one at turn one on lap two for fourth place, then Enea Bastianini did the same at turn five for fifth place. Di Giannantonio was ahead of Martin.

Bezzecchi and Fernandez had pulled 1.5 seconds over Marquez who had his future teammate Acosta for company.

Acosta went through on Marquez at turn 15 to move into the final podium spot. Martin was up to eighth place following Di Giannantonio who was seventh behind Ogura.

On lap six Acosta looked over his shoulder and went behind Marquez, seemingly for tyre pressure issues.

On lap eleven Martin made his way through on Di Giannantonio at turn ten for seventh place.

Marquez set the fastest lap of the race on lap 13 and was closing in on Fernandez and Bezzecchi. Fernandez was 1.5 seconds up the road.

Ogura and Bastianini were dueling for fifth place with the Japanese rider getting the better of the Italian. Diogo Moreira retired from the race meaning all riders who finished would score points, Brad Binder then retired the following lap.

Acosta then let Ogura through with his tyre pressures still not high enough, Acosta then had to go behind Bastianini.

Marquez closed up to the back of Fernandez with four laps remaining as Bezzecchi was 3.5 seconds in the lead.

Marquez zoomed passed Fernandez down the home straight to move into second place.

Bezzecchi won the Qatar Grand Prix ahead of Marquez who took his first podium that wasn’t a win with Fernandez in third. Ogura was fourth with Bastianini in fifth and Acosta six with Martin bringing his Aprilia home in seventh.

The championship roles on to Portimao in two weeks time, Marquez leads on 431 points with Martin 60 points behind and Bezzecchi 74 points behind.

Featured Image: Marco Bezzecchi