Category: Grand Prix Spain

Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Ducati) took victory in a dramatic and chaotic Spanish GP Sprint that was affected by a number of crashes.

Martin claimed the lead on the opening lap but lost it to Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP) at the halfway stage of the race. However, the championship leader reinherited the position when Marquez crashed out and stayed error-free himself.

“It was a difficult race, the track conditions were super hard,” Martin admitted. “I made a good start, but then I saw Marquez was coming, even tough I was pushing a lot. Marc [Marquez] overtook me because I made a mistake at Turn 7 and he caught me. Then I tried to follow him, to push him, and he made a mistake.

“But tomorrow for sure in fully dry conditions it will be a different story. Hopefully, we can enjoy today because winning here in Jerez is amazing and I’m really, really happy.”

Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) had an incredible getaway at lights out and stole the holeshot into Turn 1. However, Martin didn’t waste time and made a move on Binder stick on the opening lap to claim the position.

A scrap between Binder, Marc Marquez, and Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP) for second allowed Martin to extend his lead at the front and by the time Marc Marquez had established himself as the first chaser, the gap was up to more than a second already.

Meanwhile, the race was over for defending champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Racing) before it properly began when he was squeezed between Binder and Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) and, making contact with the Italian, went down and out.

Out front, Marc Marquez was taking time out of Martin and caught the Pramac Ducati when Martin went wide at Turn 7. The overtake for the lead followed only moments later and Marquez swiftly pulled a small gap.

Disaster struck on Lap 9 though, starting with tandem crashes in the fight for third. Alex Marquez, Binder, and Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) all went down independently of one another at Turn 5 and their races were over. A few corners later, Marc Maquez too crashed out of the lead.

Martin inherited P1 and remained error-free from there to bring it home and extend his championship advantage.

Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) meanwhile was promoted into second as a result of the crashes ahead of him, earning him the first Sprint podium of his career.

“We know we have the pace, but it was quite tough starting 10th after the crash in qualifying,” the rookie said. “The first lap was nice, doing some overtakes. Also with the mixed conditions at Turns 5 and 8, it was not quite easy because of the wet patches, it was easy to lose the rear there. When I was behind Enea [Bastianini] I touched the wet and went wide.

“We are getting closer also in the Sprint, we are getting closer to our targets and that’s it. The position in the championship doesn’t really matter, but making a podium in front of these fans is completely amazing.”

With Maverick Vinales (Aprilia Racing) also falling casualty to the tricky conditions with two laps to go, Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) suddenly found himself in a podium spot.

The Frenchman was forced to defend hard from Dani Pedrosa (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) on the closing lap, but he held on to the position for his first rostrum finish of the season.

“Starting from P23, it was a great race. The track was really tricky, of course there were many crashes in front of me. But I managed to get the first podium of the year for the Sprint and especially here in Jerez, it’s a very special place for me. Hopefully, tomorrow we can do a great race and enjoy it like today.”

Pedrosa finished fourth on his wildcard outing with Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing) in fifth. Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse Racing) was sixth while Marc Marquez, having rejoined the race after his crash, incredibly still took points in seventh. Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) was eighth while Miguel Oliveira (Trackhouse Racing) secured the final point on offer.

It’s been a more than difficult season so far for Quartararo and Yamaha, so today’s podium will come as a welcome reprieve.

Granted, Quartararo profited from crashes ahead of him, but already before those, the Frenchman had made his way up into the top 10 and was looking strong. Additionally, in a race where it was evidentially easy to make mistakes, Quartararo stayed error-free to bag a well-deserved podium.

After some tough times, today’s result is just what Yamaha needed and testament to their determination.

1/12: BINDER STEALS HOLESHOT – Incredible start from Binder who steals the holeshot with Martin in second. The Gresini Ducatis follow in third and fourth.

1/12: MARTIN TAKES THE LEAD – Not wasting any time, Martin attacks Binder for the lead and makes it stick. M Marquez also looks like he fancies a move.

3/12: BAGNAIA OUT – Bagnaia gets sandwiched between Binder and Bezzecchi and, making contact with the Italian, crashes out.

7/12: MARQUEZ TAKES THE LEAD – And there’s the move as M Marquez makes short shrift of Martin.

9/12: TANDEM CRASH – Three riders crash in quick succession as A Marquez, Binder, and Bastianini go down independently of each other at the same corner.

9/12: MARQUEZ DOWN – M Marquez now crashes out, leaving Martin in the lead.

12/12: MARTIN WINS IN JEREZ – Martin stays error-free to take the chequered flag and win in Jerez. Acosta comes home in second while Quartararo manages to defend from Pedrosa.