Marc Marquez delivered a thrilling performance to win the German Grand Prix sprint at the Sachsenring in wet and unpredictable conditions. Despite a disastrous start that saw him drop to fourth place, Marquez clawed his way back to secure his 10th sprint victory of the MotoGP season — a new record — and extend his lead in the championship to 78 points.
The race began with high drama as Marquez, starting from pole for the seventh time this season, went wide on the first corner, surrendering the lead and falling to fourth. Aprilia’s Marco Bezzecchi quickly capitalized, seizing the front spot and setting a strong pace. Meanwhile, Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo launched an impressive charge from seventh on the grid to challenge for the podium early on.
Marquez found himself locked in an intense battle with VR46 Racing’s Fabio Di Giannantonio, who overtook him twice in a fierce contest for fourth place. Just ahead, Di Giannantonio’s teammate Franco Morbidelli had surged into second before crashing out on the fourth lap. He was violently thrown off his bike, tumbling across the gravel, and later diagnosed with a significant bruise to his left collarbone before being taken to hospital for further evaluation.
As the rain continued to play havoc with grip levels, Marquez gradually found his rhythm. With each passing lap, he closed the gap on the riders ahead, showcasing both his resilience and mastery in wet conditions. By lap nine, he overtook Quartararo, though not without drama — a near loss of control on the rear tyre almost ended his charge prematurely.
Bezzecchi remained in the lead by more than a second, but Marquez wasn’t done yet. He ramped up the pressure, eating into the Italian’s advantage with each sector. Then, like a seasoned predator waiting for the perfect opening, he made his move. On the final lap, using the slipstream on the start-finish straight, Marquez blasted past Bezzecchi and held firm through the final corners to cross the finish line in first place.
Quartararo held on for third, completing the podium, while Di Giannantonio and Pramac Racing’s Jack Miller rounded out the top five. Marquez’s brother Alex, who is second in the championship standings, finished eighth.
Reflecting on the race, Marquez admitted to early mistakes but was pleased with his recovery. He acknowledged the challenges posed by the wet surface and emphasized the importance of calculated overtakes in such tricky conditions. Bezzecchi, though disappointed to lose the lead on the last lap, remained optimistic, describing the day as a strong performance and a valuable step forward.
The victory not only reinforced Marquez’s dominance this season but also highlighted his relentless drive, even when the odds seemed stacked against him. If the main race on Sunday is as wet and dramatic as the sprint, fans can expect another spectacular showdown.
