MotoGP Title Race Headed to Portimao: Marquez 60 Points Clear, Martin & Bezzecchi Still Alive

The Qatar MotoGP at Lusail produced a race that changed little about the championship and everything about the mood in it. Marco Bezzecchi won from pole by 3.083 seconds, Marc Marquez took second and stayed 60 points clear, and Jorge Martin scraped into seventh to keep the title fight alive into Portimao. Two rounds remain. In the meantime, Pecco Bagnaia is heading home to Italy for surgery. What Marquez actually did Marquez arrived at Lusail needing a win, plus for Martin to score nothing, to seal an eighth world title. He got neither. He also made a decision before the race lights went out that explains most of how it unfolded: he was not going to push the front tyre early chasing Bezzecchi. Instead, he gave away time. Fernandez seized second from him at Turn 2 on the opening lap, and Marquez dropped to third behind Pedro Acosta’s KTM by lap three.

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