Martin Wins MotoGP Silverstone Sprint, Marquez in Trouble

Jorge Martin took a dominant lights-to-flag victory in MotoGP's Silverstone sprint, leading an all-Aprilia podium as Ducati struggled.

The factory rider crossed the line 1.5s clear of Trackhouse's Ai Ogura, equalling Marc Marquez's sprint win record and extending his championship lead to 17 points.

Marco Bezzecchi was third on his return from injury, marking a brilliant day for the Noale factory.

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Alex Marquez was fourth as the best Ducati after passing Fabio Di Giannantonio late on - the pair unable to mount a challenge against the Aprilias.

Second-place starter Raul Fernandez immediately fell back off the line to fifth, promoting his rivals as Bezzecchi moved into fourth with a bold start.

Marc Marquez made a close move on Bezzecchi at Brooklands, while ahead Di Giannantonio attempted the same on Ogura, though was unsuccessful.

Martin quickly escaped up front, leaving Ogura and Di Giannantonio to battle, while further behind them Marc Marquez, Bezzecchi and Alex Marquez fought for fourth.

Fernandez crashed soon after, and though he rejoined, he later entered the pits to retire.

Bezzecchi eventually made it back through on Marquez at Maggotts into fourth, with a good run out of Copse propelling him past the fading Ducati.

From there, the elder Marquez was a sitting duck, as his pace dropped fast.

The reigning world champion was passed first by his younger brother before KTM's Pedro Acosta, Joan Mir and finally Franco Morbidelli all overtook him. He crossed the line ninth, just barely keeping the final point from the clutches of LCR rookie Diogo Moreira.

Bezzecchi passed Di Giannantonio with three laps remaining at Copse to take third, where he went on to finish, with Ogura 1.5s up the road.

Alex Marquez made it past Di Giannantonio on the penultimate lap to finish fourth.

Cal Crutchlow crashed his LCR Honda on the first lap at Turn 4, while Iker Lecuona was also a first-lap crasher in an incident involving Franco Morbidelli - which was investigated by the stewards but yielded no further action.