Alex Marquez, who had been one of the fastest riders throughout the weekend, delivered a commanding performance to win the Spanish GP at Jerez, finishing 1.9 seconds ahead of championship leader Marco Bezzecchi. The victory also brings an end to the dominant run of main race wins that Bezzecchi and Aprilia have enjoyed since the start of the 2026 season.
- Alex Marquez wins second straight Spanish GP on home soil
- Marc Marquez crashes out from P2 on Lap 2
- Bezzecchi retains championship lead
Alex Marquez controls from the front
Gresini rider leads the race from the opening lap
Following a dramatic Saturday Sprint that saw pole-sitter Marc Marquez crash in wet conditions, drop down the order, switch bikes mid-race, and still recover to win, the reigning world champion looked poised for another strong showing on Sunday.
Marc Marquez made a clean start from pole to take the holeshot, with Bezzecchi jumping up to second. Alex Marquez slotted into third before quickly dispatching Bezzecchi within the opening corners. Showing superior pace early on, the younger Marquez overtook his brother and pulled out a half-second lead by the end of Lap 1.
From that point onward, the Gresini Racing rider was in complete control, leading every lap to secure a largely uncontested victory – his second consecutive win at Jerez.
Marc Marquez suffers early exit
Reigning champion crashes at Turn 11 on Lap 2
Marc Marquez’s race, however, unravelled early. On Lap 2, while running second, he lost the front at Turn 11 and crashed out. The incident marked his second consecutive DNF at Jerez and dealt another blow to his championship campaign, especially as he continues to manage a right arm injury and admits he is not at the level he was at last year. The crash handed Alex Marquez a clear lead.
Podium battle behind the leader
Di Giannantonio passes Martin for third
Behind the race leader, Bezzecchi settled into second and focused on managing the gap. Di Giannantonio moved past Jorge Martin to secure third place and remained within striking distance, but Bezzecchi maintained control to seal P2, with Di Giannantonio completing the podium – his second of the season.
It was a difficult race for the Ducati Lenovo Team. Francesco Bagnaia retired midway through the race with an apparent mechanical issue, resulting in a double DNF for the factory squad – a sharp contrast to their 1-2 finish in Saturday’s Sprint.
Further down the order, Ai Ogura impressed with a strong ride, battling past Raul Fernandez and Johann Zarco before overtaking Fernandez on the final lap to secure fifth place. Fernandez finished sixth, Zarco seventh, while Enea Bastianini was the top KTM rider in eighth. Fermin Aldeguer finished ninth, with Pedro Acosta rounding out the top ten.
2026 MotoGP standings
Bezzecchi continues to lead the championship with 101 points, extending his advantage to 11 points over teammate Jorge Martin. Aprilia remains the team to beat this season, although it is still early days. Di Giannantonio sits third in the standings with 71 points, ahead of Acosta with 66, while Marc Marquez is fifth with 57 points. The MotoGP paddock now heads to the Bugatti Circuit for the French GP on May 10.
Unnatee Gidithuri
