Marc Marquez Wins Dramatic San Marino GP, Takes MotoGP Lead

Marc Marquez seized the moment when Marco Bezzecchi crashed at Turn 13 on the opening lap. The Ducati Lenovo Team rider went on to win the San Marino and Rimini Riviera GP on Sunday (13/9), taking over the MotoGP 2026 championship lead.

The race at Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli was dramatic from the start. Bezzecchi, starting from pole, led early but lost control at Turn 13. He was forced to watch his rivals pull away. Jorge Martin then took the lead on Lap 7, before being overtaken by Marc Marquez on Lap 12. From then on, Marquez was unstoppable.

This win was special for Marquez as he had to fend off his own brother, Alex Marquez, who finished second. Alex, riding for BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP, closed the gap in the final three laps, but the reigning world champion held firm. “I just focused on my own rhythm. Alex was very fast, but I knew where I could push,” said Marc after the race.

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Pedro Acosta completed the podium in third for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing. It was Acosta's first podium of the season and moved him up to fifth in the standings, displacing Ai Ogura. Meanwhile, Fermin Aldeguer finished fourth, placing two Gresini bikes in the top four. Jorge Martin had to settle for fifth after leading the race.

The race also saw other incidents. Francesco Bagnaia, the home rider from Ducati Lenovo Team, crashed at Turn 2 on Lap 6. Besides Bezzecchi and Bagnaia, five other riders failed to finish. Raul Fernandez finished sixth, followed by the Italian trio Fabio Di Giannantonio, Enea Bastianini, and Luca Marini. Fabio Quartararo completed the top ten.

With this result, Marc Marquez and Jorge Martin are tied on 274 points, but Marquez leads on Grand Prix wins. Bezzecchi drops to third, 33 points adrift. Alex Marquez moves up to eighth, while Bagnaia falls to ninth. The season is still long, and the pressure mounts ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix next weekend.