Marc Marquez won the MotoGP Sprint at Jerez on April 25, 2026, after crashing on lap eight, switching bikes in the pits, and charging back to victory as rain transformed the track.
The Ducati Lenovo rider started from pole position, his first since Hungary 2025, and led early before brother Alex Marquez passed him on lap seven. With weather forecasts predicting rain, light drops appeared on camera lenses by lap three, signaling changing conditions.
At the finish of lap eight, Marquez lost the front wheel in Turn 4, the final corner. Instead of retiring, he kept the engine running, waited for the pack to pass, and rode through the grass to pit lane where his second bike, set up for wet weather, was waiting.
Even as Marquez pitted, the downpour hit. Multiple riders crashed or pitted too late for slicks: Alex Marquez fell while leading, Pedro Acosta went off, Brad Binder crashed after his bike change, and both Jorge Martin and Marco Bezzecchi failed to finish.
Marquez rejoined in third place and immediately pushed hard. Three laps from the end, he passed Francesco Bagnaia to retake the lead. He held the position to the finish, winning by three seconds.
Bagnaia finished second, securing a Ducati 1-2. Franco Morbidelli took third, completing a podium sweep for Italian manufacturers.
Marquez called it his first win after a crash. “I fell in the best corner at the best moment,” he said. “I had thought about pitting, but Alex stayed out. I followed him — a mistake that helped me. Someone gave me that extra lap by crashing in the final turn. I waited, knew it was my only chance to switch to wets, and took it.”
For more on this story, see Alex Marquez Leads Jerez Session as Marc Marquez Admits Limited Pace, Bagnaia Crashes Early.
The sprint covered 12 laps. Lap times stabilized around 1:38 before the rain, indicating the track was drying but not fully dry when the race started.
Wildcard entries Lorenzo Savadori (Aprilia) and Augusto Fernandez (Yamaha) joined the grid. Maverick Vinales did not start for Tech3.
How the Marquez brothers’ battle shaped the early race
Alex Marquez used the slipstream to pass Johann Zarco for second place early. By lap three, he was pressuring Marc, with the brothers separated by just 0.3 seconds. Their duel highlighted intra-team tension before the weather intervened.
Why Bezzecchi and Martin missed the finish despite strong starts
Marco Bezzecchi, who started fourth, had a poor getaway and ran 17th after sector one. Jorge Martin, who took second in qualifying, retired after lap one with a brake issue. Both were out before the rain arrived, eliminating title contenders early.
This follows our earlier report, Pedro Acosta Leads Jerez FP2 as Marquez Takes Pole, Razgatlioglu’s Save Draws Praise.
What the wet-weather bike switch reveals about Ducati’s race strategy
Marquez’s instant competitiveness on the second bike showed Ducati’s preparation for variable conditions. The team had a wet-ready machine staged, allowing a seamless transition that turned adversity into victory.
How did Marc Marquez lose the lead?
He lost front-wheel traction in Turn 4 on lap eight while racing his brother Alex, who had just passed him for the lead.
Why did Marc Marquez pit after his crash?
He rode to pit lane to switch to his second bike, which was set up with wet-weather tires, anticipating the incoming rain.
What happened to the riders who stayed on slicks?
Alex Marquez, Pedro Acosta, Brad Binder, Jorge Martin, and Marco Bezzecchi all crashed or failed to finish after the rain started, either from losing grip or pitting too late.
How did Marquez regain the lead after rejoining?
He passed Francesco Bagnaia three laps from the end and pulled away to win by three seconds, despite rejoining in third place.
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