Marc Márquez and the Ducati Lenovo Team secured second place in the Grand Prix of Qatar, claiming a crucial podium finish in the 2026 Riders’ Championship battle and setting up a new match point at the Grand Prix of Portugal.
Márquez retained second place at the start but was passed by Fernández a few corners later and then by Acosta on lap three. Marc overtook the latter again on lap six before increasing his pace from the halfway point onwards. At the start of the third-to-last lap, he reclaimed second place from Fernández and held on to it until the chequered flag.
Francesco Bagnaia is currently travelling back to Italy to undergo surgery following yesterday’s Sprint crash, which resulted in fractures to the fourth and fifth metatarsals of his right foot. The procedure is expected to take place between tomorrow and Tuesday.
As the twentieth Grand Prix of the season draws to a close, Marc Márquez leads the Riders’ standings with 431 points, holding a 60-point advantage over Martín. Francesco Bagnaia is ninth with 173 points. The Ducati Lenovo Team is second in the teams’ standings with 504 points, while Ducati sits atop the constructors’ championship with 569 points.
The next Grand Prix on the calendar for the Ducati Lenovo Team will take place at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimão from November 20th to 22nd.
Marc Márquez (#93 Ducati Lenovo Team) – 2nd
“It was a crucial weekend because we knew that our rivals were very competitive here at Lusail. When we’re fighting for the title, we’re able to bring out something unexpected. After all, we’re the ones who scored the most points, so we can say we won the battle here in Qatar. At the start of the race, I didn’t attack at either Turn 1 or Turn 2. I had my race plan in mind, and I knew Martín could have bounced back, but I started closing the gap to Raúl (Fernández) as soon as I felt comfortable. There was a moment when I thought that third place would be enough, but then I saw that he was struggling and decided to give it a go. After all, four more points can only do us good.”
