Six-time MotoGP champion Marc Marquez rode to his third victory in four races this season, pushing his Ducati Lenovo machine to a dominant victory in the Qatar Grand Prix.
Marquez survived a first-lap tangle with his brother Alex and held off a late charge from Red Bull KTM rider Maverick Vinales to claim the victory and extend his point lead.
The Spanish rider also set a new fastest race lap on lap 19, with a time of 1’52.561, and broke the race duration record with a total time of 41’29.186 — more than 14 seconds faster than the previous benchmark.
The Marquez brothers made contact heading into turn two and that allowed Franco Morbidelli to snatch the lead.
Mobidelli gave up the lead to Vinales on lap 10, but Marquez made his way past Vinales on lap 16 and set sail the remainder of the distance.
Vinales was assessed a tire-pressure penalty following the race and Francesco Bagnaia, Marquez’s teammate, was elevated to second spot, with Morbidelli rounding out the podium.
Johann Zarco and Fermin Aldeguer completed the top five.
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