Marquez settles for second in Qatar, eyes early title

Marc Marquez finished second in the Qatar Grand Prix behind Marco Bezzecchi, a result that keeps his 10th world title within reach. He holds a 60-point lead over Jorge Martin and a 74-point cushion over Bezzecchi, meaning he could clinch the championship as early as the Sprint race in Portimao on Saturday.

Marquez said he had planned to leave Qatar with 32 points and that it was important to push hard to stop Aprilia gaining momentum. He admitted that he could not match Bezzecchi's pace, having seen in practice that the Aprilia rider was half a second faster, so he chose not to take extra risks once second place was secured.

Marquez said he was in no rush to win the title and wanted to be smart in the upcoming races, which may bring challenging conditions. For him, the priority is simply to finish.