Marquez eyes tenth title at Qatar GP after Bezzecchi clash

Marc Marquez could clinch his tenth world title at the Qatar Grand Prix at Lusail, where the race starts at 5:00 p.m. Italian time. He heads into the race with a 49-point lead over Jorge Martin after winning the Sprint ahead of Fabio Di Giannantonio and Martin. To seal the title today, Marquez needs to win the Grand Prix and hope Martin fails to score, which would extend his lead to 74 points and mathematically secure the championship.

The weekend's main controversy involves Marquez and Marco Bezzecchi, whose contact at the first corner of the Sprint caused the Aprilia rider to crash. The stewards treated it as a racing incident with no penalty, a decision that was poorly received in the Aprilia pit. Bezzecchi starts from pole position after setting a new track record and will be looking to turn that pace into a race win.

Francesco Bagnaia will not start the Grand Prix after a crash caused by Fermin Aldeguer in the Sprint. He suffered fractures to the fourth and fifth metatarsals in his right foot.