Bezzecchi Wins as Marquez Crashes

Marco Bezzecchi's victory was a significant rebound after he crashed out of the lead in Saturday's sprint race. The win marked his third consecutive Grand Prix victory, carrying over momentum from the final two races of the 2025 season, a career-first for the Italian and a first for Aprilia. The Italian rider's dominance in Thailand was comprehensive; he led the race from pole position to the checkered flag. Throughout the weekend, Bezzecchi was the fastest in all three practice sessions and also secured a new track record during qualifying. Marc Marquez's race ended abruptly with just five laps to go while he was in fourth place and fighting for a podium spot. The crash was caused by a sudden rear tire delamination that severely damaged his wheel, forcing his retirement. The result broke a long-standing streak for Ducati, as it was the first time since the 2021 Aragon Grand Prix that the manufacturer did not have a single rider on the Grand Prix podium. Pedro Acosta's second-place finish gave him the lead in the world championship, a remarkable feat in his debut season. His successful weekend also included a victory in the sprint race after Marquez received a last-lap penalty. Aprilia demonstrated its strength as a manufacturer with four of its bikes finishing in the top five positions. Alongside Bezzecchi's win, Trackhouse Racing's Raul Fernandez finished third, with Jorge Martin and Ai Ogura securing fourth and fifth respectively. Bezzecchi's successful start to the season comes shortly after he signed a new multi-year contract with Aprilia in February. The deal secures his position with the Noale factory into the new era of MotoGP regulations beginning in 2027.