MotoGP: Bezzecchi wins Qatar Grand Prix as Marquez awaits eighth title
Aprilia rider Marco Bezzecchi secured victory at the Qatar Grand Prix in Lusail, converting pole position into his sixth win of the season. The Italian bounced back from crashing out of Saturday’s sprint race to dominate Sunday’s Grand Prix. Although the triumph reduced his gap to championship leader Marc Marquez to 74 points, Bezzecchi is mathematically eliminated from title contention because exactly 74 points remain available across the final two rounds.
Marquez finished second on his Ducati, delaying his bid for an eighth premier-class world title, which would see him surpass Valentino Rossi's tally. Having won Saturday’s sprint, Marquez needed Jorge Martin to fail to score on Sunday to wrap up the crown. Martin, competing for Aprilia with a fractured right wrist, finished seventh to keep the title race alive, sitting 60 points behind Marquez.
Raul Fernandez completed the podium in third. The event marked the return of major motorsport to Qatar following disruptions caused by the United States-Israel war on Iran. Marquez now heads to the Portimao sprint in two weeks needing only to finish two points ahead of Martin to officially seal the championship.
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