The MotoGP Thailand Sprint Race at the Chang International Circuit in Buriram on Saturday afternoon WIB was truly packed with drama, delivering an unforgettable spectacle for fans.
The race began with immediate intensity, as pole-sitter Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia) found his ambitions cut short. Despite a commanding start, Bezzecchi unfortunately crashed out early in the contest, unable to complete the sprint.
At the time of his fall, Bezzecchi was locked in a fierce leading battle, constantly exchanging positions at the front with the formidable Marc Marquez (Ducati), highlighting the high stakes right from the opening laps.
With Bezzecchi out of contention, the spotlight dramatically shifted to an unexpected yet captivating showdown: a direct confrontation between eight-time world champion Marc Marquez and the young, daring talent Pedro Acosta (KTM).
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This thrilling duel between Marquez and Acosta intensified the Buriram sprint – an event that undeniably stood out as one of the most tense races of the year. Acosta fearlessly matched Marquez’s pace and aggression, engaging in breathtaking side-by-side racing that saw their machines almost make contact on multiple occasions.
The climax of their battle occurred when Marquez ‘touched’ Acosta, causing the KTM rider to run wide from the racing line. This incident swiftly led to a one-position penalty for Marc Marquez, a decision that would significantly impact the race’s outcome.
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As the sprint race neared its conclusion, the penalty forced Marc to concede the leading position to Acosta, solidifying the young rider’s victory. However, the decision to penalize Marquez sparked immediate controversy within the paddock.
Davide Tardozzi, the Ducati MotoGP team boss, voiced strong disapproval, asserting that the penalty against his star rider was unjust. According to Tardozzi, there was no substantial contact that genuinely endangered Acosta.
“I think anyone who truly understands racing has witnessed many overtakes like that,” Tardozzi remarked, defending his rider’s aggressive maneuver. He further elaborated, “Marc did not touch Pedro to the extent that he went off the race track. So, I think it’s unfair.” (crash/jpnn)
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Hasil Sprint MotoGP Thailand 2026
Pos Rider Nat Team Time/Diff
1. Pedro Acosta SPA Red Bull KTM (RC16) 19m 39.155s
2. Marc Marquez SPA Ducati Lenovo (GP26) +0.108s
3. Raul Fernandez SPA Trackhouse Aprilia (RS-GP26) +0.540s
4. Ai Ogura JPN Trackhouse Aprilia (RS-GP26) +2.100s
5. Jorge Martin SPA Aprilia Racing (RS-GP26) +3.851s
6. Brad Binder RSA Red Bull KTM (RC16) +4.612s
7. Joan Mir SPA Honda HRC Castrol (RC213V) +4.924s
8. Fabio Di Giannantonio ITA Pertamina VR46 Ducati (GP26) +5.748s
9. Francesco Bagnaia ITA Ducati Lenovo (GP26) +6.910s
10. Luca Marini ITA Honda HRC Castrol (RC213V) +7.796s
11. Alex Marquez SPA BK8 Gresini Ducati (GP26) +8.504s
12. Johann Zarco FRA Castrol Honda LCR (RC213V) +8.577s
13. Diogo Moreira BRA Pro Honda LCR (RC213V) +11.970s
14. Franco Morbidelli ITA Pertamina VR46 Ducati (GP25) +12.395s
15. Jack Miller AUS Pramac Yamaha (YZR-M1) +13.467s
16. Fabio Quartararo FRA Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) +15.079s
17. Enea Bastianini ITA Red Bull KTM Tech3 (RC16) +15.452s
18. Alex Rins SPA Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) +15.876s
19. Maverick Vinales SPA Red Bull KTM Tech3 (RC16) +21.445s
20. Toprak Razgatlioglu TUR Pramac Yamaha (YZR-M1) +25.860s
21. Michele Pirro ITA BK8 Gresini Ducati (GP25) +27.892s
Marco Bezzecchi ITA Aprilia Racing (RS-GP26) DNF
MotoGP Thailand 2026 Weekend Schedule
Friday (27/2)
10.45-11.30 WIB: Free Practice 1 (Marco Bezzecchi)
15.00-16.00 WIB: Practice (Marco Bezzecchi)
Saturday (28/2)
10.10-10.40 WIB: Free Practice 2 (Marco Bezzecchi)
10.50-11.05 WIB: Qualifying 1 (Raul Fernandez, Franco Morbidelli)
11.15-11.30 WIB: Qualifying 2 (Marco Bezzecchi, Marc Marquez, Raul Fernandez)
15.00 WIB: Sprint 13 Laps (Pedro Acosta, Marc Marquez, Raul Fernandez)
Sunday (1/3)
10.40-10.50 WIB: Warm Up
15.00 WIB: Grand Prix/Race 26 Laps
Summary
The MotoGP Thailand Sprint Race was marked by high drama, beginning with pole-sitter Marco Bezzecchi crashing out early while battling Marc Marquez for the lead. Following Bezzecchi’s exit, an intense duel unfolded between eight-time world champion Marc Marquez and young talent Pedro Acosta. Marquez was subsequently issued a one-position penalty for an incident where he ‘touched’ Acosta, causing the KTM rider to run wide from the racing line.
This penalty ultimately forced Marquez to concede the leading position, thereby securing victory for Pedro Acosta. The decision immediately sparked controversy, with Ducati MotoGP team boss Davide Tardozzi strongly asserting that the penalty against Marquez was unjust. Tardozzi argued that there was no substantial contact that genuinely endangered Acosta and that such overtakes are common in racing.