MotoGP: Jorge Martin steals Championship lead after Sprint

Jorge Martin wins the MotoGP Sprint and takes the title lead.

Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) qualified on pole position just weeks after breaking his collarbone. He was joined on the front row by Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) and Maverick Vinales (Aprilia Racing). The track looked tricky to overtake with Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) qualifying down in 13^th.

The track temperature was almost 60 degrees with a Championship on the line in the middle of the flyaway stage of the season. Vinales led the race in the early stages of the race with his teammate dropping at the start.

Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) was the first crasher of the race, crashing out at the fast turn 11. Aleix Espargaro tried to overtake Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) at turn 16, losing the front with both riders crashing out.

Vinales slowly extended the gap to almost a second with Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Ducati) behind. Martin also took the Championship lead with Bagnaia fighting his teammate for seventh.

As the laps ticked by Martin closed the gap with Martin and Marini able to catch on lap nine of the Sprint. Marini found a way through one lap later with a two-way battle at the front for the win.

Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) had a great ride inside the top five in the Sprint. The Frenchman was ahead of Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP) who was in sixth, in the same week when it was announced that he would be replaced by Marc Marquez next season.

Bagnaia continued to struggle to pass Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) in eighth position.

The chequered flag flew, and Jorge Martin came across the line to win another MotoGP Sprint. This result was enough for Ducati to wrap up the 2023 MotoGP Constructors title five races early.

Luca Marini came home in second just weeks after breaking his collar at the Grand Prix of India. Marco Bezzecchi finished in third after only arriving at the track on Friday after breaking his collarbone last week.

Maverick Vinales dropped down to fourth position at the line, unable to claim his first win in 2023. Quartararo and Di Giannantonio were behind in fifth and sixth position, showing great pace.

Bastianini was ahead of Bagnaia who lost the Championship lead and is seven points behind Martin. Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was the final rider to score points in the Sprint.

Riders now prepare themselves for the Grand Prix of Indonesia where riders will have to endure a 27-lap race. The race will kick off at 08:00 am GMT and will be live on TNT Sport 2.

For more MotoGP content:

Image credit: motogp.com