Jorge Martin converts pole into victory in Qatar MotoGP sprint

Jorge Martin has won the first MotoGP sprint racꦏe of 2024, while Marc Marquez was fifth on his first race apꦜpearance for Gresini Ducati.

Jorge Martin, Tissot sprint race, MotoGP, Qatar MotoGP, 9 March
Jorge Martin, Tissot sprint race, MotoGP, Qatar MotoGP, 9 March

Leading the field away from pole, Jorge 🌄Martin made a greatꦇ start as he led into turn one.

But it was the factory KTM duo who made the best starts as Brad Binder moved up from fourth to second, while Jack⭕ Miller came from the fourth row to go seventh, ahead of a battling Marc Marquez and Fabio Di Giannantonio.

Marc Marquezꦐ finally won the battle with Fabio Di Giannantonio and Jack Miller on lap tw🍌o as he closed back in on the factory duo of Francesco Bagnaia and Enea Bastianini.

Tꩵhe fastest rider on circuit, Marquez was looking ominous as Bagnaia moved up to third with a move on Aleix Espargaro at turn🉐 one.

A leading group of൩ six, Martin was still the leader from Binder as they began lap five of 11.

Not in the lead battle, unlike four months ago when he won the Qatar MotoGP, Di Gianᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤🌟⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚnantonio crashed out of seventh on lap four. 

A mistake at the end of lap five saw Bastianini give up🐓 P5 to Marquez, who 💙was still quicker than the riders ahead of him.

While P5 was given to him💛 due to a mistake, Marquez took P4 away from Espargaro one lap later with a stunning move on the brakes at turn one.

In the process Marquez nearly lost the front but the eight-time world champion man💙aged to remain aboard his Gresini machine.

Lining up a move on Bagnaia for third, Marquez made a mistake on𝓰 lap eight which allowed Espargaro to r🎐egain P4. 

Fastest of the lead quartet, Esp🐷argaro then attacked Bagnaia on the penultimate lap but ran wide in the process.

Espargaro was not t🐟o be denied though as he came back through on Bagnaia at the end of the lap.

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