Motorcycle Racing

Marquez ends win drought, Bagnaia in scary crash

Marc Marquez, Gresini Racing, Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing crash

Six-time MotoGP champion Marc Marquez put in a dominant performance to win the Aragon Grand Prix on Sunday, ending a 1043-day victory drought.

The Gresini Ducati rider led from start to finish once more, having already taken pole position and won the sprint at Motorland Aragon in one of the most one-sided performances seen from any rider during 2024.

The Catalan was unchallenged in his flight to a 60th victory in the premier class and his first since standing on top of the rostrum as a Honda rider at the 2021 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.

It was an emotional win for the Spanish rider who danced in front of the packed grandstands in celebration after such an incredible weekend, marking an astonishing comeback.

Marquez has battled back from double-vision, four arm operations and a number of crashes – including a highside in Indonesia in 2022.

He said: “What was amazing race to win in front of these amazing, amazing fans.

“Today was a super difficult race, especially because when you have the pace, then with the gap, it was difficult to focus on the on the riding, especially the last laps, but I was able to manage the gap.

“I had something more there on the pocket, just in case, as we saw in the middle of the race. But yeah, happy.”

Jorge Martin was a distant second for the second time this weekend. The Spaniard was almost five seconds behind his countryman but was clearly ‘best of the rest’.

Martin now has a 23-point cushion after world champion Francesco Bagnaia collided with the other Gresini of Alex Marquez while trying to seize third place with six laps remaining.

Marc Marquez, Gresini Racing, Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing crash

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

At the start, Bagnaia suffered wheelspin again on the grid and the dirtier side of the MotorLand asphalt. The surface had been cleaned on Saturday evening but more thunderstorms and rain created wet and slick conditions on Sunday morning.

Thankfully, sunshine and high temperatures ensured the race was dry, but the asphalt was still greasy off line. After dropping places at the start to drop to seventh, he moved up to fourth and closed a two second gap to the back of Alex Marquez, who misjudged his braking into Turn 12 and Bagnaia swooped for the gap.

The factory Ducati rider was ahead as they flicked into Turn 13 and made contact, sending both riders into the gravel.

Bagnaia required a check in the medical centre but was later given the all-clear….

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