Marc Marquez outduels brother Alex for ‘dream’ Thai MotoGP win

AFP | Buriram

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Six-time world champion Marc Marquez used all his experience to fight back from a mid-race wobble to outduel his brother Alex Marquez for a “dream” win in yesterday’s season-opening Thai MotoGP.

It completed a dominant debut for his new factory Ducati team, with pole-sitter Marquez having romped to victory in Saturday’s sprint at the Buriram Circuit for a maximum 37 championship points.

The Spanish great took his 63rd MotoGP victory by 1.732sec from younger sibling Alex, who is still seeking a first chequered flag, with Italian two-time world champion Francesco Bagnaia third.

Marc Marquez had opened a 1.5 second gap at the front in searing heat, when on lap seven he suddenly slowed on turn three with a tyre pressure problem to relinquish the lead to his brother.

Marc tucked into second spot, lurking ominously on Alex’s back wheel for another 15 laps as he managed his tyres expertly and kept the pressure issue under control.

His strategy paid off as he made a decisive move with less than laps of the 26 to dive under Alex on turn 12 before stretching away to complete a second family one-two, after Saturday’s sprint.

“Yesterday I was happy, today I am super happy,” said Marc Marquez. “I mean it’s a dream. I cannot ask for more.