Marc Marquez moved to the brink of an eighth MotoGP world title after the Qatar Grand Prix on Sunday. The Ducati Lenovo rider extended his lead over injured rival Jorge Martin to 14 points with two rounds remaining.
Marquez can secure the championship Sunday if he extends his advantage over Martin by 30 points and over Marco Bezzecchi by eight points across Saturday’s sprint and Sunday’s Grand Prix, according to race organizers. A maximum of 37 points is available to a rider who wins both the sprint and the Grand Prix. With 74 points still available over the final two rounds after Lusail, the Qatar round presents Marquez’s first opportunity to clinch the title, according to series officials.
Marquez can secure the championship Sunday if he extends his advantage over Martin by 30 points and over Marco Bezzecchi by eight points across Saturday’s sprint and Sunday’s Grand Prix, according to race organizers.
Martin, the 2024 world champion, arrives in Qatar after missing both the sprint and Grand Prix in Malaysia due to a broken wrist sustained at the Australian Grand Prix. His participation at Lusail remains subject to a medical assessment, according to team officials. Martin has vowed to fight until the end, saying he would continue not only for himself but also for his team, according to statements from the Aprilia Racing garage.
The rider lineup for the weekend includes several changes. Alex Marquez is set to miss the Qatar round after undergoing surgery on his right shoulder, with Iker Lecuona stepping in for Gresini Racing, according to team representatives. Fermin Aldeguer is due to return after recovering from a fractured right hand sustained in Indonesia. Joan Mir remains in doubt after withdrawing in Malaysia, while Raul Fernandez is also arriving after pulling out of the Sepang event, according to medical reports.
Track action begins Saturday with second practice at 14:00 local time, qualifying from 14:40 and the sprint at 19:00, according to the official event schedule. Sunday’s 22-lap Grand Prix is scheduled to start at 19:00, following the MotoGP warm-up at 14:40 and the Moto3 and Moto2 races. The weekend programme began Friday with media activities and the press conference.
The floodlights of Lusail International Circuit have illuminated MotoGP moments from Valentino Rossi’s battles to Marquez’s last-lap duels with Andrea Dovizioso, according to circuit records. The circuit staged its first premier-class race in 2004; Rossi and Marco Melandri went head-to-head in 2005, while Marquez and Rossi produced a memorable fight in 2014. The Marquez-Dovizioso rivalry added two more Lusail classics in 2018 and 2019. The event’s night-race setting is part of its identity, with the premier class again scheduled to race under the floodlights Sunday.
The Qatar Grand Prix is scheduled to go ahead amid uncertainty over regional tensions, according to event organizers. The focus turns to the track, where the championship battle could take a decisive turn under the lights. The sprint race will add another important dimension to the weekend, with points available before Sunday’s Grand Prix.
Marquez, a double winner in Qatar in 2014 and 2025, holds a 44-point lead over Martin with two rounds remaining after Qatar, according to series standings. A strong points haul for Martin, if cleared to ride, would be necessary to put pressure on the championship leader, while Bezzecchi could also emerge as a challenger to Marquez’s title ambitions, according to team analysts.
