ThaiGP: Acosta won Sprint first-time after high-stakes with Marc

If this is how 2026 starts, strap yourselves in! The opening Sprint of the PT Grand Prix of Thailand delivered an instant all-time classic as Pedro Acosta and Marc Marquez went bar-to-bar in a high-stakes heavyweight brawl.

When the dust settled at the Chang International Circuit, it was “The Shark” standing tall. Acosta claimed his first-ever Sprint victory and made history as the first KTM rider to lead the MotoGP World Championship, but only after a penultimate-lap collision that has the entire paddock talking.

The drama started before the first tire even cooled. Polesitter Marco Bezzecchi looked untouchable until Lap 2, when disaster struck at Turn 8. The Aprilia man tucked the front and slid into the gravel, handing the lead to a predatory Marc Marquez with Acosta glued to his exhaust.

What followed was a tactical masterclass turned street fight. Acosta shadowed the #93 Ducati, probing for a gap at the final corner lap after lap.

Lap 7: Acosta dives inside, but the GP26’s raw power sees Marquez blast back ahead on the straight.

Lap 11: Acosta forces Marquez wide at Turn 1, but the veteran Spaniard holds his nerve.

The Penultimate Lap: The gloves officially came off. At Turn 5, Marquez ran wide, and Acosta shouldered his way through. But the counter-attack at Turn 12 changed everything. Marquez lunged, made contact, and shoved Acosta wide, and Race Direction was lightning-fast. “Under Investigation” flashed on the screens, followed quickly by the hammer blow: Marc Marquez to drop one position.

In a display of tactical “malicious compliance,” Marquez waited until the very last corner of the final lap to serve his penalty. He slowed to let Acosta past, then pinned the throttle to successfully fend off a charging Raul Fernandez to keep P2.

It was a dream Saturday for Trackhouse Racing, securing a massive 3-4 finish as rookie Ai Ogura sliced through the field to finish just behind teammate Fernandez. Jorge Martin made a solid return to competition in P5, while defending champion Pecco Bagnaia struggled, scraping home in P9 to take the final solitary point.

SPRINT RESULTS: TOP 5

Credit Photo : MotoGP