The Lusail International Circuit in Qatar delivered a dramatic finale to the season’s twentieth round. After a tumble in Saturday’s sprint, Marco Bezzecchi (bike No. 72) surged from the front row to claim his sixth victory of the year and the first Grand Prix win for Aprilia Racing at this venue. The race also saw Marc Márquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) recover to finish second, while Raúl Fernández completed an all-Aprilia podium for the SuperFile Trackhouse squad.
Bezzecchi’s flawless drive and Aprilian record-breakers
Starting from pole, Bezzecchi dictated the pace from the opening corner, managing tyre degradation on both front and rear compounds. The Italian rider announced his twelfth top-class win, a milestone that makes him the first rider to claim his first twelve victories at twelve distinct circuits. The triumph lifted his career tally to 30 podiums in the premier class and tied him with Sete Gibernau for 28th on the all-time list. Aprilia’s RS-GP26 machines occupied four of the top ten spots, underscoring the factory’s rapid progress.
Podium composition: Ducati, Aprilia and the championship chase
Marc Márquez, who had taken Saturday’s sprint, slipped to second after being briefly overtaken by Fernández and rookie Acosta. He reclaimed second place on the penultimate lap and held it to the finish line, earning crucial points as he leads the riders’ championship with 431. Raúl Fernández (SuperFile Trackhouse Aprilia) finished third, marking his return from injury and providing the Noale team with a third podium finish in a single weekend. The result pushed Aprilia’s career win count in the FIM World Motorcycle Championship to 311, while the brand logged its ninth victory of the season and its 17th overall in the top class.
Rider reactions and the road ahead
Bezzecchi described the opening laps as a battle to escape the pack, then focused on race management amid mounting tyre wear: “I’m very happy with this win. We’ve done a good job and we’re enjoying it. Now we go home to rest, so we’re ready for Portimão.” Jorge Martín (bike No. 89), who struggled with a lingering fracture, praised his seventh-place finish after starting from the fourth row, noting that a full recovery is expected before the Portuguese round. Márquez reflected on the strategic nature of his ride: “I had my race plan, closed the gap to Raúl early and fought for every point because four more points can only help us.”
KTM’s bright spot and other notable performances
Red Bull KTM Tech3’s Enea Bastianini seized the highest KTM place, finishing fifth after a strong start that saw him climb to seventh on lap one. Despite a lost earplug and vibrations in the left-hand corners, he overtook Pedro Acosta on the final lap to secure the top KTM slot. Maverick Viñales, battling an arm-pump issue, climbed to 13th, while Honda’s Johann Zarco claimed ninth after a disciplined race that balanced pace with tyre conservation. Rookie Jake dixon made his MotoGP debut for Honda HRC Castrol, finishing 14th and collecting his first premier-class points.
With only two Grands Prix remaining – the penultimate round at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimão and the season finale in Valencia – the championship picture tightens. Márquez leads, Martín trails, and Aprilia aims to translate its recent surge into a title challenge. The Lusail showdown has set the stage for a high-stakes finale across Europe.
