The key facts

  • Marc Marquez won the sprint from pole and leads Martin by 10 points ahead of Sunday's race
  • Martin crashed on the eighth lap while fighting for the lead
  • Next year the Australian round moves from Phillip Island to a street circuit in Adelaide

Marquez takes the championship lead

Marc Marquez, who dominated qualifying, won the MotoGP sprint race in Australia on Saturday, starting from pole and finishing first on his Ducati, AFP reports. The seven-time world champion finished ahead of his brother Alex, who started second and completed an all-Ducati podium together with Fabio Di Giannantonio.

Martin crashes while fighting for the lead

Jorge Martin, who started fourth, took the lead on the third lap in a tight battle with Marquez. On the fifth lap he made a mistake, running off the track, after which the lead changed hands several times. On the eighth lap, Martin lost control while attacking for the lead again, and his race ended with a crash. According to Marquez, the battle was intense: 'Of course, I was giving it my maximum. I was aggressive, and he (Martin) was faster than me. But I was just trying to defend as best I could. We are both riding at the limit. We both deserve to win, because we put in so much. But, you know, racing is racing.'

Championship standings and the last races at Phillip Island

The victory moved Marquez 10 points ahead of his compatriot Martin in the overall standings ahead of Sunday's main race — the final MotoGP round at the coastal Phillip Island circuit. Marco Bezzecchi of Aprilia, who won the previous round in Indonesia, finished fourth and remains third in the standings, 50 points behind Marquez. Fifth place went to Pedro Acosta (KTM), and sixth to Ai Ogura (Aprilia). Phillip Island has been on the calendar since 1997, but next year the Australian round will move to a street circuit in Adelaide.

Why it matters

Martin's crash in the sprint sharply changed the title race: Marquez now leads by 10 points, with Bezzecchi 50 behind, meaning Sunday's race at Phillip Island could effectively decide the fate of the title between the two Spaniards. For fans, the event also has historical significance: it is the final MotoGP round at a circuit that has been on the calendar since 1997 — from next season the race will be held in Adelaide.