Marc Marquez Triumphs Over Brother Alex in Thrilling MotoGP Sprint in France
But the Yamaha rider struggled for pace to cross the line in fourth.
Home favourite Fabio Quartararo had set off from pole after lowering the lap record in qualifying.
"I was riding well, let's see if we can finish the job tomorrow (in Sunday's main race) - 'merci beaucoup'," beamed Marquez, after taking the chequered flag waved by Tour de France cycling legend Mark Cavendish.
The Ducati factory rider replaced his younger sibling at the top of the world championship standings after extending his sprint race haul in 2025 to six from six.
Marc Marquez maintained his perfect sprint race record this season at the French MotoGP in Le Mans on Saturday, with brother Alex once again filling the runner-up spot.
Thrilling MotoGP Battle: Quartararo Holds Off Marquez Brothers as Bagnaia Crashes
"Fabio was super fast at the start, I was pushing a lot and said to myself 'I can't follow him'," said sprint king Marquez.
"Then he dropped a bit in pace and I began to feel better and better," he added.
"I did my best, I had fun and I reckon fourth was the best result I could have got today," said Quartararo.
Quartararo held off the Marquez brothers at the start, triggering a delighted roar from the expectant home fans.
Francesco Bagnaia then crashed his factory Ducati early on lap two as Marc Marquez tried to keep tabs on Quartararo.
On lap four of 13 the six-time former world champion was all over the Yamaha leader's rear tyre.
Approaching midway Marc hit the front, with Quartararo briefly stuck in the middle of a Marquez sandwich as Alex raced in third.
The younger Marquez brother riding a Ducati satellite Gresini bike, nipped past the Frenchman on lap eight to finish second as he has done in every Saturday dash since the start of the season.
"Really happy to be second, another P2!" said Alex.
Rookie Fermin Aldeguer, Alex Marquez's Gresini teammate, claimed his first sprint podium in third.
The 20-year-old's celebrations took an unexpected turn when he ran into the rear wheel of the race winner on the cool down lap.
There was no harm done and Marc Marquez made a point of congratulating the youngster with a hug.
"I feel incredible, it's a dream for me to be here with these top riders. We have the speed, we just need more experience," said the young Spaniard.
Marquez goes into Sunday's main race on 151 points in the riders' standings, with Alex on 149.
AFP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
12 hours ago
- The Citizen
OPINION: Pieter Coetze breaks through as SA's newest global swimming star
Last week, Coetze became the first South African in 20 years to earn three medals at a single edition of the World Aquatics Championships. After emerging as a real prospect a few years ago, Pieter Coetze experienced a couple of relatively stagnant seasons and it seemed unclear whether he would go on to achieve his apparently immense potential. However, following his performances at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore last week, the 21-year-old swimmer has proved he remains on track to become one of SA's all-time greats in the pool. In 2022, at the age of 18, Coetze claimed three medals at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and bagged five medals at the World Junior Championships in Lima, which earned the teenager the Sportsman of the Year accolade at the SA Sports Awards. And while he went on to secure bronze in the 200m backstroke at the World Championships in Doha last year, he missed out on a spot on the podium at the Olympic Games in Paris, achieving a best result of fifth place in the 100m backstroke final. But any concerns about his ability to beat the world's best were put to bed last week when Coetze delivered in spectacular fashion at the global championships. Pieter Coetze (centre) after winning gold in the 100m backstroke at the World Championships in Singapore. Picture: François-Xavier Marit/AFP Historic medal haul He earned gold in the 100m backstroke, as well as silver in the 50m and 200m backstroke events, becoming the first South African to earn three medals at an edition of the World Championships since Roland Schoeman achieved the feat in Montreal in 2005. In addition, Coetze broke new ground by shattering the African records over all three backstroke distances. In the 100m final he was particularly impressive. Aside from securing the world title, he touched the wall in 51.85, clocking the third fastest time in history over two lengths. He was just 0.25 outside the world record of 51.60 held by Thomas Ceccon of Hungary, who settled for second place in the final in Singapore in 51.90. With Tatjana Smith having retired and Chad le Clos having struggled to find his best form in the latter stages of his career, South Africa will need other swimmers to deliver in the hunt for medals at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. And Coetze looks set to lead the charge.
eNCA
13 hours ago
- eNCA
Three things we learned from the Hungarian Grand Prix
Ferrari may have endured another afternoon to forget in Hungary on Sunday with polesitter Charles Leclerc finishing fourth and Lewis Hamilton a disappointing 12th, but their underlying performance showed they could be challengers for victories this season. Post-race analysis and reaction to Hamilton's emotional outbursts revealed a very different evaluation of a race dominated by runaway leaders McLaren. AFP Sport looks at three things we learned from Sunday's thriller at the Hungaroring: Ferrari turmoil masks upward momentum Two unhappy drivers and the speculation over Hamilton's form and future suggested Ferrari continued a downward spiral, but rivals and seasoned viewers said that simple conclusion is inaccurate. Leclerc grumbled the team wrecked the "one opportunity" to win this season, but he changed his view once he learned the cause of his car's mid-race loss of pace while leading. He had thought a front wing set-up change, during a pit-stop, was his undoing, but Ferrari said it was something else which cost him around two seconds a lap. AFP | ATTILA KISBENEDEK Boss Fred Vasseur did not reveal the problem, but stressed that Leclerc's recent form, including pole in Hungary and a podium in Belgium, confirmed their upgraded car was competitive -- a view shared by rival team chief Andrea Stella of McLaren. He said he thought Ferrari will be a "contender for victories for the remainder of the season" while both Vasseur and Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said Hamilton would shine again, after the 40-year-old declared he was "useless" and should be replaced. "He's demanding," said Vasseur. "But I think it's also why he's seven-times world champion... I understand him and he will be back." Wolff, who guided Hamilton to six drivers' titles, said: "That is Lewis, wearing his heart on his sleeve. It's what he felt very much when asked straight after that session and it was very raw. "But he is still the GOAT (greatest of all time) and he still has it (the talent to win an eighth title)." Norris honesty reflects new age Once a bastion of gladiatorial sporting combat with a testosterone-fuelled culture, Formula One has in recent years developed a more compassionate culture. This was in evidence as Carlos Sainz defended his friend and former McLaren team-mate Lando Norris' honesty. AFP | Attila KISBENEDEK "He opens up to the media and to people more than any other driver on the grid -- and people use that against him," said the Spaniard. "What you see on TV is what he is as a human being. He's very good at showing himself. I find it ironic and frustrating -- he's the only guy being 100 percent genuine... and then people go back at him." After three wins in four races, Norris' triumph on Sunday cut McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri's championship lead to nine points to quieten those critics who had accused him of being mentally weaker than the cool, more introverted Australian. "It's tough already and going to be tougher," said Norris. "It's pretty small margins between us... Even if the results look great, I'm not making life easy for myself so I need to work on a few things to be in a better place." Alonso offers inspiration for Hamilton If Hamilton needed inspiration on Sunday, it was found at Aston Martin where Fernando Alonso, a two-time champion who failed to land a title at Ferrari, shrugged off a back injury to land his best result of the year as he finished fifth. Once bitter team-mates at McLaren, the pair are now respectful colleagues and F1's elder statesmen. "Big points for the team before the summer break, it feels good," Alonso said after he showed he's still got it at 44. Alonso began his career in 2001, claimed his maiden win in Hungary two years later, and has taken part in 417 Grands Prix (Hamilton has started 370), but perhaps significantly took two years off in 2019 and 2020 to recover from exhaustion.
IOL News
14 hours ago
- IOL News
Norris shines as McLaren tighten grip on both titles ahead of summer break
Lando Norris celebrates McLaren's 200th Grand Prix victory with a composed drive in Budapest, edging team-mate Oscar Piastri to tighten an all-orange title race ahead of the summer break. Photo: AFP Image: AFP Lando Norris danced his way to a fifth win of the season in Budapest — a victory born not of dominance from the start, but of grit and quiet persistence. From a slow launch off the line to a forceful final flourish, the Briton pieced together another masterpiece under the Hungarian grey clouds, taming the twists of the Hungaroring when it mattered most to hand his team their 200th Grand Prix victory. With 14 races done and dusted and the paddock slipping into its summer pause, McLaren stand tall at the top — not just chasing, but commanding both championships. Their run through the first half of 2025 has been a blend of precision, patience and pure performance. The Surrey-based outfit has held control since the opening round, delivering more podium finishes than any other team and stretching out a remarkable 299-point lead in the Constructors' Championship. The fat lady isn't just warming up — she's already singing. For McLaren, the only real battle from here may be the one happening internally. Just nine points separate Norris and Oscar Piastri heading into the break. With the title fight shaping up as a two-horse race in papaya orange, here are some key talking points from the weekend: McLaren's careful management amid a brewing driver duel Since Lewis Hamilton's 2008 triumph, McLaren have longed for another drivers' title. This season, they've done little wrong. Team orders have been minimal and the atmosphere largely positive — for now. Given how close the title fight is, it would be natural to expect tensions to flare between the two young stars with everything on the line. Yet, despite being given the freedom to race, both Norris and Piastri have kept things respectful. But as the pressure ramps up later in the season, the cracks may begin to show. The one with cooler nerves will likely prevail. Piastri has looked the steadier of the two at times, but it's been just as impressive how Norris, even when things haven't gone his way, has kept himself just nine points adrift — further testament to how well the team has managed a potentially volatile situation. Verstappen's tough outing continues Max Verstappen, meanwhile, finds himself in the midst of one of the most difficult stretches of his career. A ninth-place finish in Hungary marked his fourth consecutive race without a podium — an unthinkable statistic for a driver who has defined F1's recent era. The biggest talking point surrounding the Dutchman wasn't his lacklustre result, but rather a near-miss with long-time rival Hamilton as he attempted to claw back positions. In a daring move while overtaking a Ferrari struggling on worn tyres, Verstappen forced Hamilton wide — a moment that sparked post-race debate over potential penalties. However, the stewards deemed no further action necessary. Red Bull's struggles have been glaring. With Yuki Tsunoda often absent from the points, they've effectively operated with one car — and even that hasn't been enough. The break offers a crucial window to regroup, but there's no mistaking the task at hand: closing the gap between their two drivers and salvaging some pride. Hamilton's dream move off to a slow start For Hamilton, Hungary brought an unwanted milestone: his worst finish at the venue in 15 years. A frustrating weekend, which saw him finish 12th, capped what has been a disappointing first half of the season with Ferrari — a move once billed as a fairytale now increasingly looks like a misstep. Adding to the pain, team-mate Charles Leclerc continues to pull clear. The Monegasque has steadily delivered solid results, opening up a 42-point gap over the seven-time world champion. With one eye already on 2026's regulation changes, Hamilton would have hoped for far more from his debut campaign in red. The upcoming break may be short, but it offers a moment for reflection — and renewed hope for a stronger finish to a fading season.
