Pedro Acosta claimed his first sprint victory of the 2026 season after a controversial duel with Marc Marquez, beating the reigning World Champion by just 0.108s in an epic season-opening battle.
The contest ignited after pre-sprint favorite Marco Bezzecchi crashed out of the lead on lap three.
His third crash of the day, following two in FP2 and qualifying on Saturday morning, leaves him without a point after the first sprint of the season.
BEZZECCHI GOES DOWN 💥
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) February 28, 2026
CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?? 🤯#ThaiGP 🇹🇭 pic.twitter.com/BC20Xp2kBP
Having been handed the lead from whom much of the paddock expects to be his 2026 title rival, Marquez “tried to slow down the race” as he revealed in his post-sprint interview.
Fending off multiple block passes into the last turn from mid-distance onward – his Ducati stretching its legs down the main straight whenever Acosta attacked at the final corner – Marquez himself was forced into a move into said turn on the penultimate lap.
A daring overtake on Marquez at Turn 5 saw Acosta take the lead, with the Ducati rider taking the place back with a hard, slightly over-the-limit move at the final corner.
Forcing his rival off the track, Marquez was quickly served the wraith of justice with a message from the FIM Stewards: “Drop one place for irresponsible riding.”
Marquez gave the position back into the final corner on the last lap, trailing Acosta to the chequered flag by 0.108s.
THE DIVEBOMBS OF ALL DIVEBOMBS 💣@marcmarquez93 sends @37_pedroacosta VERY wide 😱#ThaiGP 🇹🇭 pic.twitter.com/ZeiNaHzPUI
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) February 28, 2026
Behind them, Raul Fernandez completed an all-Spanish podium, 0.540s adrift of the win, with the Trackhouse rider hinting at an interesting stat in his post-race interview: “I’m very happy. Also, this is the first season that I start with points.”
Teammate Ai Ogura charged from eighth on the grid to fourth, slicing past Brad Binder and Joan Mir in the early laps before overpowering Jorge Martin in the closing stages of the sprint.
Jorge Martin secured fifth for Aprilia Racing, who, despite losing their best rider mid-race, placed THREE of their bikes in the top four, a feat that would have been unthinkable just a year ago.
Brad Binder followed in sixth on the second factory KTM, with Joan Mir seventh for Honda.
Fabio di Giannantonio took eighth after early contact involving Alex Marquez on the opening lap. Following a poor qualifying and having to start from 13th on the grid, Francesco Bagnaia climbed up to ninth, with Luca Marini rounding out the top 10.
Further back, rookie Toprak Razgatlioglu crashed out on lap 11, ending his first MotoGP sprint in the gravel.
