Marc Marquez’s relentless run of form shows no sign of stopping. The Ducati Lenovo Team star finally broke his Red Bull Ring curse by storming to victory at the BWIN Grand Prix of Austria, clinching a sixth consecutive double-header weekend and etching his name into the record books by winning MotoGP’s 1000th race.
It was far from a straightforward triumph for the runaway championship leader, with Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) dictating much of the early tempo and rookie sensation Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing) nearly pulling off a late upset. But Marquez, the #93, dug deep in the decisive moments to secure a maximum 25-point haul and edge closer to a seventh world title.
From pole, Bezzecchi launched perfectly to fend off a fast-starting Francesco “Pecco” Bagnaia, with Marquez quickly muscling his way into second. For much of the opening half of the race, the Italian dictated proceedings, even stretching his lead to nearly a second as Marquez appeared content to bide his time.
By lap 18, Marquez had closed to within striking distance, and a thrilling exchange of overtakes followed. Bezzecchi briefly reclaimed the lead, but Marquez’s decisive move at Turn 1 on lap 20 proved the race-defining moment.
If Bezzecchi was the early headline, Aldeguer stole the spotlight late on. The 19-year-old rookie was electric in the closing stages, carving through the field with blistering pace. After dispatching Bagnaia and Acosta, the Spaniard hunted down Bezzecchi before setting his sights on Marquez.
Lap after lap, Aldeguer chipped away at the leader’s advantage, cutting the gap to just 0.7s with three laps to go. But Marquez, ever the master in pressure situations, held firm. With two laps remaining, he steadied the pace and denied the rookie a fairytale finish.
Marquez crossed the line with a comfortable buffer, sealing his sixth straight weekend of sprint and Sunday victories. Aldeguer’s stunning ride earned him a career-best second, while Bezzecchi celebrated back-to-back podiums for the first time since 2023.
Behind them, Pedro Acosta led KTM’s home charge with fourth, ahead of Enea Bastianini in fifth. Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) delivered a battling sixth, while Brad Binder came home seventh. Bagnaia faded late to eighth, a disappointing result that further dents his already slim title hopes.
For Marquez, Austria was more than just a win – it was a statement. With his Red Bull Ring demons banished, the Spaniard heads to Hungary boasting a commanding 142-point lead in the standings.
MotoGP’s milestone 1000th race will be remembered not just for Marquez’s history-making triumph, but also for Aldeguer’s fearless arrival at the sport’s top table and Bezzecchi’s resurgence as a consistent podium threat.
Next stop: the Hungaroring, where Marquez will look to extend his dominance and edge ever closer to a record-equalling seventh premier-class crown.
Credit Photo : Michelin
