MotoGP 2026: Gresini Ducati’s Alex Marquez wins thrilling Catalunya GP Sprint

Gresini Ducati Team’s Alex Marquez clinched a sensational Sprint race victory at the Catalunya MotoGP round after beating Pedro Acosta by a mere 0.041 seconds in one of the closest finishes in MotoGP Sprint history.

The start

Acosta made a strong launch from pole position and grabbed the holeshot into Turn One, while Alex Marquez slotted into second after getting past Fabio Di Giannantonio in the opening corners. Pecco Bagnaia on the factory Ducati also made early progress and briefly looked like a podium contender as the field settled into rhythm during the first few laps.

At the front, Acosta immediately tried to break away aboard the KTM, using the bike’s acceleration advantage on Barcelona’s long straights. However, Marquez remained glued to the KTM’s rear wheel and consistently matched his pace through the flowing final sector.

Marquez vs Acosta

The middle phase of the race saw Marquez begin to apply pressure on Acosta. The Gresini Ducati rider looked particularly strong under braking into Turn One and turn ten. Acosta responded calmly and defended aggressively without losing momentum, setting up a tense duel at the front.

The pair gradually pulled away from the rest of the field as their battle intensified. Meanwhile, Di Giannantonio maintained a lonely but impressive ride in third place, comfortably clear of Raul Fernandez. With two laps remaining, Marquez finally made a bold move into Turn One and briefly took the lead.

Acosta immediately retaliated and the two exchanged positions over the next few corners, bringing the crowd to its feet. On the final lap, Acosta attempted one last attack and got alongside Marquez on the run to the line, but the Ducati rider managed to seal victory by just 0.041 seconds. The main race on Sunday is expected to be action-packed and will begin at 5:30pm IST.