Alex Marquez seized the MotoGP championship lead from his brother Marc by securing his first-ever race win on the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday, after Marc crashed early and completed a distant twelfth.
After seven second-place finishes in sprints and races this season, Alex claimed a dream race win on dwelling turf in entrance of over 100,000 followers, with the Spaniard imploring them to extend the amount even when he had a couple of corners left on the ultimate lap.
Fabio Quartararo completed second to present Yamaha their first podium because the 2023 Indonesian Grand Prix, whereas Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia got here in third.
Marc squeezed his manner by means of the gang to embrace Alex within the winner’s circle as the 2 Spaniards grew to become the primary brothers to win in MotoGP.
But the day belonged to the Gresini rider who leads his elder sibling by one level within the standings after taking the chequered flag, which was waved by Spanish tennis participant Carlos Alcaraz.
“The best birthday present, amazing. The first one in Jerez is something amazing,” stated Alex, who celebrated his twenty ninth birthday earlier this week.
“I cannot ask for more. It was a race where I was really clever in all the movements.”
An action-packed opening lap had polesitter Quartararo get an ideal begin off the road to take the lead into flip one whereas Saturday’s dash winner Marc fell behind to fourth place.
Alex tried to overhaul three riders in entrance of him early on by threading the needle between bikes however he braked too late and fell behind whereas Marc and Bagnaia collided whereas jostling for place.
Marc crashes
With Marc operating in third and trying to overtake his teammate, the Spaniard then crashed at flip seven and rejoined in twenty second place with a broken bike as hundreds of followers across the circuit collectively groaned.
Bagnaia didn’t have time to chill out, nevertheless, as Alex got here up behind him and elbowed the Italian out of the way in which to maneuver as much as second and put Quartararo in his sights.
The Yamaha rider tried his finest to maintain Alex at bay however on lap 11, the tempo of the Ducati bike proved far too superior as he overtook Quartararo to attract a roar from the Marquez Grandstand.
Once Alex was within the clear, he started to vanish into the space whereas Bagnaia couldn’t catch up as he struggled to overhaul Quartararo, who doggedly held on to second place.
“Incredible, to be on the podium is super special – especially with the gap to Alex and to keep Pecco (Bagnaia) behind in the race was so difficult,” stated Quartararo, the 2021 MotoGP champion.
“It’s been long years but super happy to be back on the podium in Jerez.”
Source: www.dailysabah.com