Marc Marquez battles back to win German MotoGP sprint
The runaway championship leader started on pole but the Ducati factory rider went wide at the first corner to drop back to fifth, with Marco Bezzecchi inheriting the lead.
Ducati Lenovo Team's Spanish MotoGP rider Marc Marquez (R) overtakes Aprilia Racing team's Italian MotoGP rider Marco Bezzecchi on the last race lap during the sprint race of the MotoGP German motorcycle Grand Prix at the Sachsenring racing circuit, in Hohenstein-Ernstthal near Chemnitz, eastern Germany on 12 July 2025. Picture: Ronny Hartmann/AFP
SACHSENRING - Marc Marquez overcame a first turn mistake to land the German MotoGP sprint race on the final lap at a slippery Sachsenring on Saturday.
The runaway championship leader started on pole but the Ducati factory rider went wide at the first corner to drop back to fifth, with Marco Bezzecchi inheriting the lead.
On lap three, Franco Morbidelli suffered a bone-crunching crash at turn eight, the Ducati VR46 rider somersaulting through the air before landing on the gravel safety run-off area.
With 10 laps to go Marquez had crept up into third as Bezzecchi (Aprilia) led by over one second from Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha's former champion who had set off from the third row of the grid.
He then went in pursuit of Bezzecchi, hitting the front on the final lap to pull clear and leave the Italian in his wake, Quartararo hanging on for third.
"I made a mistake on the exit of turn one, then I lost some positions, but step by step I got some rhythm, I'm happy," said Marquez who is seeking a seventh elite world title to draw level with the legendary Valentino Rossi and move one behind record-holder Giacomo Agostini.
Bezzecchi was far from downhearted at coming off second best to the man of the moment.
"It's always difficult to lose the battle in the end but I have to say (it was) a very positive day for me," he said. "Hopefully tomorrow will be dry."
This was Marquez's 10th Saturday dash win out of 11, and it consolidated his hold on the 2025 world title.
The Spaniard increased his lead over younger brother Alex (eighth on Saturday) by 10 points to 78.
Marquez senior will be hot favourite for Sunday's main race as he targets a seventh perfect weekend of victories in the sprint and race this year.