MotoGP Thailand Grand Prix: Dominant Marc Marquez claims Sprint victory on Ducati debut with brother Alex second
Updated 01/03/2025 at 09:40 GMT
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Marc Marquez put in a dominant display to claim the first points of the 2025 MotoGP season by winning the Sprint race in Thailand on his Ducati debut. The Spaniard, after claiming pole in qualifying earlier on Saturday, flew off the line and could not be caught as his brother Alex finished in second and team-mate Pecco Bagnaia came third.
Guintoli hails Ogura as 'pretty special' after rookie earns stunning P4 in 'ride of the day'
Video credit: TNT Sports
MARQUEZ CLAIMS DEBUT DUCATI VICTORY AT BURIRAM
Marc Marquez cruised to victory in a glorious Thai Sprint race, claiming his maiden win for the factory Ducati team on his debut race with the motor giants.
The Marquez duo dominated the race from start to finish, pulling nearly two seconds ahead of the rest of the pack as Alex Marquez earned a second-place finish for Gresini.
It was an all-Ducati podium as Francesco Bagnaia rounded off the top three for the factory team, setting his sights on the full race victory tomorrow.
The star of the show was undoubtedly Ai Ogura, the young Japanese rookie who earned a fourth-place finish on his debut in the premier class.
Ogura brought Aprilia's satellite team Trackhouse Racing to the top five in the midst of a Ducati battle, carving out his mark as the rookie to watch this season.
MARC MARQUEZ: "IT WAS A PERFECT SATURDAY"
Marc Marquez found himself in the perfect spot this weekend, cruising through the Thai Sprint race from start to finish to claim his debut Ducati victory.
Marc Marquez said: "Of course, it was a perfect Saturday. Sunday will be tomorrow, but yeah, the feeling is great with the bike.
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Lights out! Marquez flies off line as MotoGP racing kicks off for 2025 with Thailand Sprint
Video credit: TNT Sports
"I got out and I was consistent, and then I saw that the gap was already there, and then I tried to manage. Happy to start my new journey with Ducati Lenovo.
"In this way, tomorrow will be the most important, but already we achieved the first point of a sprint race victory.
"So let's see if tomorrow, minimum, we can, we need to be in the podium. But if we can, we will try to fight for the victory."
ALEX MARQUEZ: "THIS WAS OUR MAXIMUM TARGET"
After securing a second-place finish in a near perfect Sprint race, Alex Marquez is eager to take the fight to his brother during the race tomorrow.
Alex Marquez said: "I mean, I'm super happy today, this was our maximum target. Everything depends on the start, and especially Marc - he pushed quite hard today.
"He did a really good start, but also with the third lap. So I say, okay, I need to wait here, I need to finish the race.
"Super happy, like I said, it was our target so now we need to study a little bit Marc's lines and all that.
"Tomorrow will be a little bit more ready, but will be difficult to really reach Marc."
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'Rider of the day' - Rookie Ogura earns standing ovation after P4 finish on MotoGP debut
Video credit: TNT Sports
BAGNAIA: SAME FEELING AS LAST YEAR'S SPRINTS
Two-time world champion Francesco Bagnaia starts the 2025 season on a great note, securing a third-place finish in the Thai Sprint race.
Although Bagnaia could not cut the gap down to Alex Marquez, the Ducati Lenovo bikes are looking as quick as ever.
Bagnaia said: "It's great to be on the podium, because considering yesterday and everything during the test, I'm happy.
"We have to work, because I still feel the same feeling as last year during the sprint. So a lot of difficulties on entry, at the entrance to corners, but we will work for it.
"I was pushing, but when I understood it was too risky. I just lift, and that place is always a good result."
GLORY FOR MARQUEZ DUO BUT OGURA IS THE STUNNER
It was a glorious season opener for the Marquez brothers with Marc taking his first victory for the factory Ducati team on his debut outing, while Alex claimed second place in an emphatic race that made his mark.
Ducati Lenovo rider Francesco Bagnaia made it a Ducati 1-2-3, finishing in third place after successfully holding off rookie Ai Ogura who proved his worth in just 13 laps.
The 24-year-old rider has embarked on his MotoGP journey with Aprilia, who have powered a bike capable of challenging the mighty Ducati.
Finishing in fourth place, it was the rookie rider who stunned in the Thai Sprint race. Can he take the fight to the podium tomorrow?
13/13 MARQUEZ EARNS DEBUT DUCATI VICTORY
In his debut race for the factory Ducati team, Marc Marquez has proven exactly why he is a six-time world champion.
Clinching the first points of the season, Marquez led the Thai Sprint race from start to finish in his first all-red race.
Beating out his brother Alex Marquez on the Gresini, Marc picks up his first win of the season while his teammate Francesco Bagnaia settles for third place.
11/13 - RED GLORY FOR MARQUEZ IN REACH?
It looks like it's in the bag for Marc Marquez, but anything can happen in the closing stages of the Thai Sprint race.
Alex Marquez is running 1.1s behind his brother on Lap 9, who is set to indulge in a glorious maiden victory with Ducati Lenovo on their very first race together.
Ai Ogura stuns in his debut MotoGP race, running in fourth place behind the two-time world champion Francesco Bagnaia, who struggles to catch the Gresini rider Alex Marquez.
In the midfield, Pedro Acosta sets his target on Franco Morbidelli who rides in fifth place.
Brad Binder has made an excellent recovery drive, climbing up to eighth place after overtaking Joan Mir for the position.
Meanwhile, at the front of the pack, Marc Marquez has created a 1.5s gap to the best of the rest by Lap 11.
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Miller crashes out as smoke engulfs bike in Thailand Sprint race - 'Strange place to crash'
Video credit: TNT Sports
8/13 - MILLER OUT AS MARQUEZ LEADS
The Marquez duo keep each other on their toes as they fight through each corner for the lead.
Marc Marquez retains the lead and finally manages to break free from Alex on Lap 6 as he pulls 1.006s away from the Gresini.
This puts Alex Marquez under pressure from Marc's teammate Francesco Bagnaia who looks to redeem his championship loss from last season. However, Bagnaia is running 1.3s behind the Gresini and is slowly cutting down the gap.
Jack Miller goes down in Sector 3 as he aggressively takes a corner and flees into the gravel traps. He gifts his sixth position to Fabio Quartararo, who is trying to hold off the two KTMs.
They swap positions heading into Lap 8 with Acosta jumping Quartararo after a slight slip-up lost the Yamaha sixth place.
4/13 - MARQUEZ BROTHERS PULL AWAY
Marc Marquez begins to pull away from his brother riding the Gresini, creating a gap of 0.8s. The Marquez brothers, however, are starting to create a gap to the rest of the field as Alex uses the slipstream to follow Marc closely into Lap 3.
The Gresini rider has created a gap of 1.2s to Francesco Bagnaia who falls under pressure from rookie Ai Ogura.
Running all over the back of the Ducati, Ogura has put serious pressure on the two-time world champion as he continues to cut the gap down to just 0.2s.
Meanwhile, the battle between the two KTMs is fierce as Pedro Acosta snatches eighth place from teammate Brad Binder. Acosta now sets his sights on Fabio Quartararo.
1/13 - MARC MARQUEZ HOLDS LEAD
The Ducati Lenovo duo get off to a mighty start, with Francesco Bagnaia storming up the starting straight. Marc Marquez holds onto his lead into the first turn but his brother gets awfully close to an overtake by Turn 3.
Bagnaia tails closely behind Alex Marquez in second place, but Jack Miller loses out on his fourth-place position to rookie sensation Ai Ogura.
The Japanese rider jumped the Prima Pramac rider for the position in the middle sector as he set out to prove he is the rookie to watch this season.
Brad Binder climbed six places in the opening lap, riding in eighth place as he engages in a fierce battle with teammate Pedro Acosta.
Acosta finished last season as the rookie of the year, and now partners with Binder in his sophomore year.
WARM UP LAP
Here we go on the warm-up lap ahead of the 13-lap sprint race. The track temperature is a roasting 57°C for the season opener in Thailand.
RIDERS LINE UP ON THE GRID
The riders take their spots on the starting grid for the first race of the 2025 season. The two Marquez brothers hold a family reunion on the front row, followed by Marc Marquez's Ducati Lenovo teammate Francesco Bagnaia sits in third.
An eager Jack Miller lines up in fourth, hoping to cause an upset to the mighty Ducati riders.
Can Marc Marquez score his first win for factory Ducati on his debut with his new team?
MARQUEZ "NERVOUS" FOR FACTORY DUCATI DEBUT
Ahead of the season opener in Buriram, six-time world champion Marc Marquez admitted that he is "nervous" to make his debut with the factory Ducati team.
Marquez said: "I'm always a little more nervous than I should be for the first race of the season, it's always a special GP.
"I’m happy to race in Thailand, we arrive here after a good pre-season and with a good base, we worked really hard and well with the team.
"The races, it's true, are a different thing, you have to take care about all the details, but I really want to start and do well, this will certainly help for the season."
A DUCATI DREAM
It looks like Ducati will be off to a great start this season, already securing the top three fastest times in Buriram qualifying. Adopting the six-time world champion to partner their two-time world champion has its benefits, as the most awarded line-up on the grid brings a wealth of experience to the team.
With Jorge Martin out of the first two, possibly three rounds, it could be a Ducati sweep if their competitors can’t catch up. Last year was a historic season in MotoGP, crowning the first independent champion in Martin.
However, the season opener has hinted at the mighty strength of Ducati. In every session so far this weekend, a Ducati has scored one of the top three fastest times.
Prima Pramac rider Jack Miller starts in fourth place for the sprint today. Can he cause an upset for Ducati?
ROOKIE GALORE
Three rookies are waiting patiently to make their MotoGP race debuts in Buriram today.
Japanese rider Ai Ogura will make his MotoGP debut with Trackhouse Racing, partnering fellow young rider Raul Fernandez.
The 24-year-old is the reigning Moto2 champion and has stacked up six wins and 13 podiums in the feeder series. He put in an impressive first qualifying performance to take fifth place on the starting grid from Pedro Acosta.
Gresini Racing welcomed newcomer Fermin Aldeguer to the Ducati family after a show-stopping 2023 put him on the radar. Aldeguer had a great run in Moto2, with a best season of 2023 securing him five wins.
His 2024 season was much harder, but he still claimed three wins and two podiums before making the jump to the premier class. Aldeguer has qualified in 15th place for the Thai GP.
Somkiat Chantra made history as the first Thai rider to compete in MotoGP. Chantra has shown serious pace in Moto2 but falls slightly short of the other two rookies with just two wins and four podiums last year.
The LCR Honda newcomer is set to make his MotoGP debut on home soil, but a disappointing qualifying session puts him at the back of the grid for his first race.
REIGNING CHAMP TO MISS SEASON OPENER
Reigning champion Jorge Martin will miss the opening two rounds of the 2025 season due to a training accident that resulted in a broken hand. Martin suffered fractures to his right hand as well as his left foot in a high-speed crash during testing.
The accident took place during pre-season testing in Malaysia, on his very first day on track with Aprilia. Martin had surgery on his right hand in Barcelona, and has been ruled out of the first two rounds of the season.
He is predicted to make a full recovery over time, but he may also miss the US Grand Prix if he fails to pass the fitness requirements. Martin was set to make his debut with his new team Aprilia this weekend, looking to win back-to-back titles after a strong season last year.
THE CHANG INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT
The grid is back at the Chang International Circuit in Buriram, a motorsport-adoring town in East Thailand. Although it may not be an old circuit full of history, the Chang International Circuit has always promised great racing.
Designed by Hermann Tilke, the circuit was opened in 2014 to welcome the Japanese Super GT series. Several other GT racing series have driven around this exciting circuit, but a year passed before bikes hit the track.
It boasts 12 turns in a clockwise direction mixed with several long straights. The circuit is 4.55km with many overtaking opportunities, but the main challenge is balancing accuracy with tyre management in intense conditions. The heat and humidity can be fatal for even the most experienced riders.
WHICH MOTOGP RACES ARE ON TNT SPORTS?
TNT Sports and discovery+ will show every practice session, every qualifying session and every Sprint Race and main Race of the MotoGP season.
The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination.
As part of TNT Sports’ comprehensive coverage of MotoGP, it will continue to offer best-in-class analysis and reporting via its digital platform TNTSports.co.uk and content via its social platforms right throughout the season.
Starting from the 2025 season, there will be a new show on Friday evenings called The Inside Line which will be a half-hour round-up of all the news, action and analysis from the first day of the MotoGP weekend.
THE PECKING ORDER
Fans were treated to a dramatic first qualifying session of the year with a fierce battle between the factory Ducati duo who fought down to the wire for pole position.
In the end, the veteran Marc Marquez came out on top with a 01:28.782s to earn his first pole for his new team.
The qualifying results are:
1. Marc Marquez
2. Alex Marquez
3. Francesco Bagnaia
4. Jack Miller
5. Ai Ogura
6. Pedro Acosta
7. Raul Fernandez
8. Marco Bezzecchi
9. Franco Morbidelli
10. Fabio Quartararo
GOOD MORNING
Good morning and welcome to our live text coverage of MotoGP’s season opener in Thailand. This season we see a big shuffle in team line-ups as practically half of the grid has swapped teams.
Marc Marquez has opened the season with a bang, securing his first pole position for his new team factory Ducati.
The six-time world champion bested his teammate Francesco Bagnaia on his Ducati debut, but the competition is extremely fierce.
What will unfold during the race?
Watch every race of the 2025 MotoGP season live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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