Jorge Martin, cleared to race despite a broken wrist, finished third in Saturday’s MotoGP sprint race at the Qatar Grand Prix in Losail, keeping his title hopes alive. According to Motorcycle Sports, Martin must win Sunday’s main event to stay in contention after Marc Marquez’s sprint victory put the championship in his control.
LOSAIL, Qatar — The championship scenario is now straightforward: Marquez holds a lead in the standings and controls his own destiny, while , according to series records.
Martin must win Sunday’s 22-lap feature race to force a season finale showdown
Martin’s third-place result Saturday came after he was declared fit to ride by MotoGP medical staff, who cleared the factory Ducati rider despite a fractured wrist sustained in a practice crash earlier in the weekend, according to Motorcycle Sports. The Spaniard’s podium finish was achieved “despite physical adversity,” the outlet reported, and keeps him mathematically alive in the title fight heading into the final round of the season.
The sprint race itself was decided by a collision between Marquez and Marco Bezzecchi, who were battling for the lead. Contact between the pair on the opening lap sent Bezzecchi into the gravel and out of the race, ending the Italian’s mathematical title chances, according to Motorcycle Sports. The incident was described as “decisive and controversial” by the outlet, which reported that Marquez continued unchallenged to take the checkered flag under pressure from Martin behind him.
Marquez’s victory extended his championship lead over Martin, though the exact points gap was not immediately available in race reports. The result means Martin must win Sunday’s main event at the 5.4-kilometer Losail International Circuit to keep the title race alive, according to Motorcycle Sports. A Marquez finish ahead of Martin in any position would clinch the championship for the Gresini rider.
The sprint race featured “high tension and aggressive tactics” throughout its 11 laps, according to Motorcycle Sports, with the leading pack trading positions before the decisive incident involving Bezzecchi.
Martin’s participation in Sunday’s race remains subject to his fitness, though his sprint performance suggests he can manage the pain, officials said. The factory Ducati rider was seen favoring his left wrist in the paddock after Saturday’s race, but he completed the sprint without further incident.
Bezzecchi, who rides for the VR46 team, was evaluated by medical staff after his crash and was reported to be unhurt, though his championship campaign is over, according to Motorcycle Sports.
Sunday’s race is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. local time (1 p.m. ET) at the floodlit Losail circuit. Weather forecasts call for clear skies and temperatures around 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit), conditions consistent with the desert venue’s night-race format.
The Qatar Grand Prix marks the 20th round of the 2025 MotoGP season. Marquez, a six-time premier-class world champion, is seeking his first title since 2019. Martin, who won the 2024 championship, is defending his crown.
Should Martin win Sunday and Marquez finish second, the championship would be decided by a tiebreaker, according to series regulations. If Marquez finishes third or lower and Martin wins, Martin would retain the title.
