Marquez wins inaugural Thai MotoGP thriller

Marc Marquez won a thrilling inaugural Thailand MotoGP yesterday to extend his lead in the championship to 77 points as he goes in pursuit of a fifth premier class title. Spain’s Marquez edged out Italy’s Andrea Dovizioso at the end of a breathtaking last-lap duel after the pair had swapped the lead several times over the closing stages of a pulsating battle.

Honda rider Marquez finished the race in 39min 55.722 sec, just 0.115sec ahead of Dovizioso’s Ducati with Maverick Vinales on a Yamaha third as just 0.270sec separated the top three. The 25-year-old reigning champion started from pole but lost the lead early on to both Valentino Rossi and then Dovizioso.

But the Spaniard fought back towards the end of the 26-lap race as he and Dovizioso went wheel-to-wheel up front in a battle that had the fans on their feet and screaming. Marquez took the chequered flag after overtaking Dovizioso on the final bend to secure victory by the slimmest of margins. “I tried to give everything, I forget the championship, I forget all these things,” Marquez said afterwards. “The last five laps were very very nice for the Thai fans.” Dovizioso was pleased with he result but said it was “bad to lose the victory on the last turn for sure”.

Marquez now has 271 points, 77 ahead of Dovizioso with a maximum of 100 available in the final four races of season, making him a strong favourite to retain his title. Marquez also made history over the weekend as he became the first rider to climb out of Q1 to claim pole position, the 50th of his stunning career.