Marc Marquez revealed he was prepared to settle for second place before capitalising on a late mistake from Fabio Di Giannantonio to snatch a dramatic victory in the Brazilian GP Sprint Race.
In a race delayed due to track issues at the Autódromo Internacional de Goiânia – Ayrton Senna, the reigning champion showcased his trademark racecraft — patience, precision, and ruthless timing.
Starting from third, Marquez initially played the long game on a circuit he admitted doesn’t fully suit his riding style.
After dispatching Fabio Quartararo early on, the Ducati star steadily reeled in race leader Di Giannantonio, who had controlled proceedings from pole.
Despite closing the gap, Marquez appeared resigned to finishing second — until the decisive moment arrived.
“Honestly speaking, second place was enough,” Marquez admitted.
“But when I saw his mistake, I attacked.”
With just over two laps remaining, Di Giannantonio ran wide after nearly losing the front, opening the door for Marquez to strike — and he didn’t hesitate.
While celebrating his first Sprint win of the 2026 season, Marquez remained grounded, shifting focus immediately to Sunday’s Grand Prix.
“Tomorrow is the main race — the most important one,” he said.
“I still think Fabio will be the rider to beat. He’s riding in a very good way.”
The victory adds momentum for Marquez, who is chasing championship leader Pedro Acosta — now trailing by 12 points after Acosta could only manage ninth in the Sprint.
The race itself was delayed by over an hour following the discovery of a sinkhole on the main straight — raising serious safety concerns.
Emergency repairs ensured the Sprint could proceed, but Marquez warned the situation remains fragile.
“We were lucky it wasn’t on the racing line,” he said. “If it moves there, it will be impossible to race.”
Fellow rider Joan Mir echoed those concerns, highlighting the risks should further track damage emerge ahead of Sunday’s race.
Credit Photo : MotoGP
