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Marc Márquez returned to victory in style at the Qatar MotoGP on Sunday, claiming his first win at Lusail since 2014. Despite a crash with his brother Alex Márquez in the very first corner, Marc powered through the race with a damaged bike to secure a historic win. The result puts him at the top of the 2024 MotoGP championship standings.

First-Lap Chaos Doesn’t Stop Márquez

The race began with high drama. Marc Márquez, starting from pole position, made contact with Alex Márquez at Turn 1. The collision damaged Marc’s rear wing and sent Alex into trouble early. Franco Morbidelli took advantage and briefly moved into the lead.

Alex Márquez’s race got worse when he collided with Fabio Di Giannantonio. That incident earned Alex a long-lap penalty. He dropped to 12th place and lost his recent run of podium finishes.

Even with a missing rear fin, Marc stayed in the lead group. His bike was visibly unstable, but he fought hard. Soon, he was locked in a tight battle with Francesco Bagnaia. The two swapped places often, while Maverick Viñales moved up into third.

Viñales Takes the Lead—Then Falls Back

Maverick Viñales, riding for Red Bull KTM, passed Morbidelli with 12 laps remaining to grab the lead. Marc Márquez and Bagnaia followed closely behind, pushing Morbidelli down to fourth.

Viñales held the front briefly. But with seven laps to go, he made a mistake and ran wide. That was all Marc needed. He regained the lead and never looked back.

From that point on, Marc set several fastest laps. He created a gap and crossed the line comfortably to take the win.

Top Four Finishers at Lusail

🥇 Marc Márquez (Ducati)
🥈 Maverick Viñales (KTM) (awaiting investigation for low tyre pressure)
🥉 Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati)
4️⃣ Franco Morbidelli (VR46 Racing)

Title Shake-Up in the Standings

With this victory, Marc Márquez now leads the MotoGP World Championship with 123 points. He is 17 points ahead of his brother Alex Márquez, who sits in second place. Bagnaia is third with 97 points.

Defending champion Jorge Martín, who returned from injury this weekend, crashed out of the race at Turn 11. He did not finish and lost valuable points in the title race.

Márquez: “This Win Means Everything”

After the race, Marc Márquez spoke about the emotional win:

“I needed to manage the front tyres, so I was calm early on. When Maverick overtook me, I was surprised—but I had something saved for the end.”

His comeback victory was not just about speed. It showed smart strategy, mental strength, and a deep understanding of tyre wear and race timing.

A Turning Point in the 2024 MotoGP Season?

This win could mark a major shift in the 2024 MotoGP championship. After years of injuries and setbacks, Marc Márquez looks confident and consistent again. With more races to come and the standings tight, fans can expect even more drama on the track.

As MotoGP heads into the next round, all eyes will be on Marc Márquez—now the rider to beat in the race for the world title.