BEZZECCHI STRIKES BACK WITH DOMINANT THAI GRAND PRIX VICTORY
The 2026 MotoGP season started with drama, speed, and redemption at Buriram. And at the center of it all was Marco Bezzecchi.
After a chaotic Saturday with three crashes, including one while leading the Sprint, Bezzecchi came back on Sunday with a clear message. He won the PT Grand Prix of Thailand in dominant fashion, taking his third straight victory after finishing 2025 with two wins. His Aprilia machine was strong too, with four RS-GP bikes finishing inside the top five.
Bezzecchi took the lead immediately and pulled away within the first few corners. By the end of the second lap, the same lap where he crashed in the Sprint the day before, he was already far ahead. After 26 laps, he crossed the line more than five seconds in front. With 25 points added to his total, he leaves Thailand second in the championship standings.
Pedro Acosta finished second after a fierce battle in the early part of the race. Starting seventh, he quickly moved forward. He passed Alex Marquez on lap two, Fabio Di Giannantonio on lap three, and Marc Marquez on lap four. His move on Marc came at the final corner, the same place where the Sprint was decided the day before after a penalty.
Acosta then chased Jorge Martin, and the two exchanged several overtakes in an intense fight. Their battle allowed Marc Marquez to close in. On lap ten, he made a bold double overtake and moved into third place. But Acosta responded soon after and continued his charge toward Raul Fernandez, who had been running second for most of the race.
With four laps to go, Acosta caught Fernandez. Around the same time, Marc Marquez had a frightening moment. On lap 21, while pushing for a podium, he suffered a problem with his rear tire at turn four while traveling at over 170 km/h. He managed to stay on the bike, but the rear wheel was visibly damaged and he had to retire. One lap later, Alex Marquez crashed at the same corner.
Raul Fernandez eventually secured third place, earning a podium finish ahead of Jorge Martin in fourth. Ai Ogura, Fernandez’s teammate, delivered an impressive comeback. After a poor start dropped him outside the top ten, he fought back strongly in the second half of the race, climbing from 11th to finish fifth.
Fabio Di Giannantonio finished sixth, followed by Brad Binder in seventh. Franco Morbidelli grabbed eighth place from Francesco Bagnaia at the final meters. It was a difficult race for Bagnaia, who never looked competitive at the front. Luca Marini completed the top ten, while his teammate Joan Mir retired due to a technical issue while running seventh.
The result in Buriram brings smiles to Aprilia and raises questions for Ducati. KTM also showed strength with Acosta’s second place, while Ducati’s best rider finished only sixth.
The second round of the 2026 season will take place in Brazil from March 20 to 22. The championship fight is already heating up.
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