Marquez confirms Aragon GP dominance to cut Martin's lead

Marc Márquez of Ducati secured his third consecutive victory at the Aragon Grand Prix on Sunday, further asserting his dominance on anti-clockwise circuits while dramatically closing the points gap on championship leader Jorge Martín.

The 31-year-old Spanish rider claimed the top spot at MotorLand Aragón after a fiercely contested race against Aprilia’s Marco Bezzecchi, who started from pole position. Márquez overtook Bezzecchi on lap six in a thrilling side-by-side maneuver at speeds exceeding 300 kph (186.41 mph). KTM’s Pedro Acosta finished second, marking his 14th podium finish in MotoGP without yet securing a race win, while Bezzecchi rounded out the podium in third. Alex Márquez completed the top four for the second consecutive race.

Márquez’s triumph followed his sprint race victory on Saturday, allowing him to collect maximum points over the weekend. His score of 237 points now places him just 19 points behind Martín, who leads the championship with 256 points after finishing fifth in the Grand Prix. Bezzecchi, now second in the standings with 232 points, remains a strong contender despite the setback.

Speaking after the race, Márquez admitted to a critical error in managing his bike’s rear ride-height device during the opening turns. “The key point was the first corner. I tried the same move again, but I made a huge mistake today because I forgot the rear device,” he explained. “When I went from turn one to turn two, the device activated and slowed me down on the fast turns. Two riders overtook me, and it was more difficult, but I just built the pace from there.”

Bezzecchi, who set a lap record to claim pole, described the race as a challenging duel with Márquez. “I heard his bike on turn 15, so I tried to cross the line, but when we were close, the slipstream was pushing both of us very much,” he said. “Marc, with his experience and speed, was simply unbeatable today.”

Acosta, the 2023 Moto2 champion making his third season in MotoGP, capitalized on the battle between Márquez and Bezzecchi to secure his best result of the season. The 21-year-old finished second, briefly challenging Márquez before the Ducati rider pulled away with consistent fastest laps. The margin grew to over a second by the finish, with Bezzecchi nearly three seconds behind in third.

The victory marked Márquez’s eighth win at MotorLand Aragón and reinforced his reputation as a specialist on anti-clockwise circuits. As he completed his victory lap, he rode to the Marc Márquez Stand, kneeling in gratitude as Ducati-clad fans erupted in celebration.

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