MotoGP: 2026 starts with fireworks as Bezzecchi falls from the lead before a no-holds-barred duel for the win ends in a final corner showdown and a penalty.
How’s that for a start? Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) created an instant classic straight out the blocks for 2026, with the two titans going head-to-head over the course of 13 explosive laps. It all boiled over with contact on the penultimate lap, resulting in a penalty for the #93 to be served on the last – and he did so at the very final corner. With that, Acosta takes his first ever Sprint win and becomes the first KTM rider to lead the MotoGP World Championship, with Marc Marquez forced to settle for second and Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) completing the rostrum on Saturday. Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) led the way early on before crashing out from ahead of the incoming #37 vs #93 fireworks.
An epic opening lap in 2026 first saw Bezzecchi and Marc Marquez locked in combat. The #93 got the initial holeshot over the Italian but it was at Turn 8 when ‘Bez’ struck straight back to take the lead. It rocked on until the end of the lap, Marquez levering the Aprilia rider aside at the final corner, only for the favour to be repaid at Turn 3, Bezzecchi assuming the Sprint lead. However, at Turn 8 on the second lap, it was disaster for the polesitter who tucked the front, paving the way for Marquez and Acosta to come through. Bezzecchi’s Buriram Sprint hopes lay in the gravel after his speed had been unmatched on Friday and in qualifying.
The reigning World Champion may have inherited the lead but it wasn’t all easy. Acosta fired his KTM up the inside at the final corner but it was the #93’s Ducati which got the power down and fended off ‘The Shark’. Behind, Raul Fernandez led a trio of Aprilias as Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing) sat in fourth until Fernandez’s teammate Ai Ogura managed to squeeze past.
Lap 7 and just over halfway into the Sprint and Acosta wasn’t settling for opening his account with a podium. He pulled off the same move he did at the end of Lap 2, passing Marquez and this time held on for a few metres more. Still though, the GP26 managed to outgun the RC16 down the straight, Marquez remaining ahead… for now.
Third time round, this time on Lap 10, Acosta pulled the same move but he just couldn’t keep it down to the apex. Another attempt a lap later, Acosta with his best attempt yet to get the job done and this time forcing Marquez to go around the outside at the first corner, which he did.
On the penultimate lap, the gloves were off in the biggest way possible. Each pass getting closer, more aggressive, more intense. A mistake at Turn 5, Marquez ran ride and whilst tight, Acosta shouldered his way through to take the lead again. At Turn 12, the roles were reversed as it was the #93 attacking Acosta, which he did but then, the most controversial and talked about move of the day. Marquez went for his lunge, made contact, and Acosta was pushed wide as the #93 ran towards the edge of the track. “Under Investigation” came up immediately – and the decision was quick. Before the final lap was half done, the penalty dash message was sent – Marc Marquez to drop one position.
He left it late, slowing into the final corner to let Acosta through and then hitting the gas immediately to try and both fend off Fernandez and attack back. Acosta had enough in hand to cross the line for his first ever Sprint win, Marc Marquez did enough to hold onto second, and Fernandez was just left a few metres short of being able to take advantage. A thriller, and already a huge debate as the paddock exploded with their opinion on THAT move.
It was actually a Trackhouse Racing 3-4 as Ai Ogura picked his way through to fourth, with Martin completing the top five on his return to competition, having fought for the podium earlier in the Sprint too. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) and Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) were next up, with Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) taking that final point. Early race drama for Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) makes him one name not to score, although he did finish P11 behind Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol) after the #73 tangled with Diggia early on in a chain reaction incident that caused it’s own heatd debrief on the cooldown lap…
A duel to remember between two riders where we’ve been waiting to see the gloves come off. A penalty to debate. And an awesome start to the season. Come back for more MotoGP tomorrow as we get even more laps of stunning action – and Bezzecchi’s pace right back in that mix.
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