Marc Marquez shines under the lights as Bagnaia salvages points and Martin returns in the Grand Prix Qatar Sprint

Don’t worry we have you covered! Sit back and enjoy all of the highlights from an unmissable Sprint before we get set for a blockbuster Sunday in Qatar.

The Qatar GP Sprint delivered fireworks at the legendary Lusail International Circuit, with Marc Marquez clinching a stunning victory under the floodlights. It was a crucial victory for the #93, fending off his brother in the opening laps before getting settled into a rhythm.

This sensational ride has allowed the Spaniard to reclaim the championship lead ahead of Sunday’s Grand Prix. Ending the Sprint in second was his brother Alex Marquez, who crossed the line a further 1.577s behind after an incredible Saturday.

Franco Morbidelli took the final spot on the Sprint podium, crossing the line a mere 0.381s ahead of rookie sensation Fermin Aldeguer. The #54 had a stunning ride, showing strong late race pace to finish ahead of Fabio Quartararo, with the Frenchman securing the final spot inside the top five.

Further back, Francesco Bagnaia battled back to eighth, scoring points after a difficult Saturday. The Italian took a further two points and was ahead of Jorge Martin, who, after a strong start, dropped down to P16 on his return to racing.

Next up: the Qatar GP! Make sure you don’t miss the next chapter of this incredible 2025 MotoGP season. It is lights out for MotoGP at 18:00 on Sunday, so make sure you join us then!

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Now claiming the championship, lead Marc Marquez continues as the rider to beat so far in 2025. The #93 was happy with his performance in the Sprint but now sets sights on where the Ducati squad can improve their package for tomorrow’s Grand Prix.

"At the moment, we have kept the same performance as the first part of the season. Austin was Austin, and we made a mistake. The feeling was good; it has been an unexpected weekend, honestly speaking, because, as you know, here in Qatar, I normally struggle, but I am riding in a good way.

"In the Sprint, I was super consistent, controlling the gap until the last two laps, where I slowed down. I feel very good with the bike; tomorrow, let’s see if we can improve some very small things for the race distance."

The championship battle is heating up, with Marc Marquez now claiming the title lead after scoring a total of 98 points so far this season. However, Alex Marquez remains just two points behind after claiming another second-place finish.

Speaking immediately after the Sprint, Alex Marquez said: "He was better than me. He was braver than me, and in the triple right that he is normally struggling at, he was strong there.

"We need to improve a little bit for tomorrow, I had a small issue in the end, but we could keep the rhythm good until the end, so I am happy with this P2 again."

It was an intense end to the Franco Morbidelli's Sprint, with the Italian crossing the line with a 0.381s advantage over Fermin Aldeguer. Morbidelli who will celebrate his P3 finish for the rest of the evening was a man of few words after the Sprint.

"I didn’t realise it, I wasn’t paying attention to behind me, I was really focused on my pace, so I need to check out what happened."

Marc Marquez continues to be smooth, consistent, fast and unstoppable in Qatar, crossing the line to win the Sprint under the floodlights. It is a victory which will mean a lot for the Spaniard, who has bounced back from his crash at the Americas GP. Behind the #93 was his brother Alex, crossing the line in second, with Franco Morbidelli rounding out the Sprint podium in third.

Fermin Aldeguer was able to claim a late fourth, with Fabio Quartararo making a small mistake to drop to fifth at the flag. Further back, Francesco Bagnaia will score points, finishing eighth and leaving the Italian 21 points behind in the standings.

It has been a strong two laps for Bagnaia, first overtaking Marco Bezzecchi and the dropping Maverick Vinales to enter eighth position and crucially enter a position to claim two points from Saturday in Qatar.

The laps are ticking down, with Marc Marquez’s lead now at over one second for the first time in the Sprint. It is another day to celebrate in Marc’s side of the pits, with his teammate Francesco Bagnaia in search of a point-scoring finish in P10. Bagnaia has found his groove, running a better pace as the laps tick by.

Meanwhile, Jorge Martin could be feeling his injuries, with the #1 now dropping down to P17 as the Sprint has progressed. It looks like it is going to be a tough Grand Prix on Sunday for the reigning champ.

Marc Marquez continues to lead the way, looking comfortable once again at the front of this Sprint – a sight which is becoming familiar in 2025. However, thanks to a strong ride from Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha) and Maverick Vinales (KTM) we have three different factories inside the top six.

Vinales was running inside the top five until a brave move from rookie sensation Fermin Aldguer pushed the #12 back down to P6. However, Vinales remains the top KTM, with the next rider (Pedro Acosta) in ninth.

 MARQUEZ INTO A RHYTHM

A strong couple of laps from our front runners, with Marc Marquez beginning to edge a small gap over his brother. The #93 looks like his tyre is up to temperature and now has stretched the gap to nearly half a second.

Morbidelli is a further eight-tenths behind, trying to match the relentless pace at the front and fend off the hungry Fabio Quartararo. Currently, Quartararo remains in P4, a position which the Yamaha rider would be happy to finish in.

It is becoming a worrying sight for Francesco Bagnaia, with the #63 beginning to lose position and drop back. Currently, the Italian is unable to match the pace of Di Giannantonio and Ai Ogura and is now locked in a battle with his old title rival Jorge Martin!

It is a strong ride so far for Martin, clawing his way through the field, with the reigning champion on the edge of entering the top 10 in Qatar.

It looks like we have a race on our hands, Alex Marquez looked for a move on the entry to turn one but was unable to make the move stick. Franco Morbidelli is right behind the Marquez brothers, setting his sights on a podium finish in the Sprint. Morbidelli also claims the fastest lap of the Sprint so far!

It was a perfect launch off the line from Marc Marquez, with the #93 claiming the holeshot on the run to turn 1. Plenty of moves are being made behind, with Alex Marquez and Fabio Quartararo in chase of Marc Marquez on the opening lap.

Although no change inside the top three riders, Quartararo looks ready for a battle. Meanwhile, there is plenty of action behind as Franco Morbidelli, Fermin Aldeguer and Maverick Vinales lock horns on the opening lap – it is elbows-out action in Qatar.

Bagnaia watch: Francesco Bagnaia is up inside the top 10 by the end of lap 1, a strong start from the Italian.

WARM UP LAP

The Sprint is moments away; it’s the final opportunity for riders to get their mind, tyres and brakes up to speed before we go lights out in Qatar. The MotoGP bikes are glistening under the floodlights, but the temperature remains warm - 29° C air temperature.

Can Marc Marquez grab another Sprint victory?

It’s nearly time to go racing in the Sprint; the tension is palpable on the grid, so make sure you keep your eyes locked to your screens so you don’t miss any of the action. Marc Marquez looks ready to duel, with brother Alex Marquez and Fabio Quartararo alongside on the front row.

It was a tough qualifying session for Francesco Bagnaia, crashing in the latter stages of Q2 while the Italian was on his second run. Bagnaia was unable to remount dropping from P9 to P11 on the grid as the chequered flag flew.

Now looking ahead at the Sprint, TNT Sports’ expert Michael Laverty does not believe his weekend is over yet: "Pecco was fast in the cool conditions in the afternoon; he could still have something, but from the fourth row, it’s tough.

"I do think that maybe the wind, combined with temperature and the dirtier track conditions, just caught him out; you can see the little snap from the rear normally that’s where he is really good in the braking zone when it [the rear tyre] comes back into line.

"It nodded, it went once, and then it went again, and just that load into the front, it locked the front tyre, and he was down. He was prepared to put it on the line, taking a risk, it just wasn’t to be today. But yeah, he could still turn it around from there [P11]."

Joan Mir will not take part in the Sprint, withdrawing from the rest of Saturday’s action due to an illness. Mir was due to start in 21st position after a difficult qualifying.

It has been a long journey for Jorge Martin to arrive in Qatar; all the training, recovery and surgeries have led to this moment. The reigning MotoGP world champion arrived at the circuit on Thursday and was passed fit to ride for the first time this season.

Martin then took to track for Friday’s action, exiting the pitlane on a MotoGP bike for the first time since the Sepang Test. The #1 finished FP1 and the crucial 60-minute Practice session in P20, setting himself up for a tough start to Saturday as he continued to build his confidence.

Martin was forced to battle in Q1, unable to make the Q2 cut, forcing the reigning champion to start from P14 on the grid.

Now, we await to see what the Sprint race has in store for Martin…

After a stunning qualifying, Marc Marquez will start from P1 on the grid after snatching a late pole position. The #93 set an incredible 1:50.499s to claim a 0.101s advantage over his brother Alex Marquez, with Fabio Quartararo rounding out the front row as he took Yamaha’s first front row start since 2022.

The starting grid:
1. Marc Marquez

2. Alex Marquez

3. Fabio Quartararo

4. Franco Morbidelli

5. Fabio Di Giannantonio

6. Maverick Vinales

7. Johann Zarco

8. Fermin Aldeguer

9. Alex Rins

10. Ai Ogura

11. Francesco Bagnaia

12. Pedro Acosta