Thailand GP: Acosta Tops Sprint After Late Drama

Acosta wins Thailand GP sprint after Marquez penalty

Pedro Acosta wins Thailand GP sprint after Marc Marquez is ordered to give up lead. Acosta's first sprint win sparks debate.

Marc Marquez penalized after aggressive move on Pedro Acosta in Thailand GP sprint. Acosta claims maiden win...

KTM's Pedro Acosta took the top spot in the Thailand GP sprint, but it wasn't without controversy. Stewards intervened, ordering Marc Marquez to give up the lead, handing Acosta his first sprint win.

The battle was intense, with polesitter Marco Bezzecchi crashing out early, setting the stage for a thrilling showdown between Acosta and Marquez. The two Spaniards traded places repeatedly, showcasing their exceptional skills.

Acosta's win marks a strong start to the season, but he's humble about it, saying he doesn't “really feel like a winner” since Marquez let him pass. Marquez, on the other hand, is philosophical, acknowledging the stewards' decision and focusing on his nine points from the first race after injury.

Marc Marquez and Pedro Acosta engaged in an intense battle for the lead, trading positions multiple times throughout the sprint. However, on the penultimate lap, Marquez made an aggressive move that pushed Acosta off the racing line, catching the attention of race officials. The stewards ultimately ordered Marquez to give up the position, handing Acosta his first sprint win.

Acosta seemed unsure about his win, looking confused as he crossed the finish line. Meanwhile, Marquez accepted the penalty, stating that he would follow the rules. Ducati team boss Davide Tardozzi disagreed with the decision, calling it “unfair” since there was no contact between the riders.

These are the riders who have grabbed points today 👀#ThaiGP 🇹🇭 pic.twitter.com/amFG4P9tRa

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) February 28, 2026

“Super cool to make a sprint ‌like this versus Marc. It's true that maybe I don't really feel like a winner because he let me pass,” Acosta said.

“It's a good way to start the season but tomorrow (in the race), maybe we will try to get this real victory.”

Early Chaos: Bezzecchi Crashes Out

Marc Marquez jumped the gun, seizing the lead from Marco Bezzecchi at turn one. Bezzecchi fought back briefly, but lost his balance at turn eight, and soon crashed out, ending his sprint.

The Italian, Marco Bezzecchi, briefly took the lead but lost his balance under pressure at turn eight, handing the advantage back to Marc Marquez. This set the stage for an intense battle as Pedro Acosta stayed glued to Marquez's rear tyre, probing for openings while the Ducati rider repeatedly fended off his advances.

The racing dogfight between Acosta and Marquez was a thrilling spectacle, with both riders trading places repeatedly throughout the sprint. Acosta's determination and Marquez's experience made for a captivating show, ending with a controversial penalty that handed Acosta the win.

The decisive moment came when Pedro Acosta executed a daring overtake, only for Marc Marquez to respond with a lunge on the final corner of the penultimate lap that ultimately cost him the victory. Marquez's aggressive move forced Acosta off the racing line, prompting stewards to intervene and order Marquez to give up the position.

“In my opinion, race direction decides, so I just follow the rules,” Marquez said after embracing Acosta and congratulating him on his maiden win. This stoic response reflects Marquez's acceptance of the penalty, despite feeling his move was justified.

“Every time Pedro overtook me, I overtook straight away on the next corner. Unfortunately, I got that ‌penalty. But nine points (from the) first race after injury - not bad, I'm happy.”

Ducati boss Davide Tardozzi wasn't happy with the penalty given to Marc Marquez, saying “Marc didn't touch Pedro, he didn't go off track. I think it's unfair. I'm sure Pedro would do the same.”

That means that @37_pedroacosta leads the #MotoGP standings for the very first time 🙌#ThaiGP 🇹🇭 pic.twitter.com/WY5wZg6QOx

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) February 28, 2026

Raul Fernandez took third place in the sprint for Trackhouse, while his teammate Ai Ogura finished fourth, beating Aprilia's Jorge Martin.

“It is the first time that I've ⁠started the MotoGP championship with ⁠points in the first race, ‌so I am very happy,” Fernandez said.