Marc Marquez wins Brno Sprint amidst tyre pressure concerns

The first-ever Tissot Sprint at Brno and a first pole start of 2025 for Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) so right from lights out, the battle was real.

After a tyre pressure battle led to both Pecco and teammate Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) slowing up, the #93 soon pushed his way to the front to make it another Sprint success – although his tyre pressure was under investigation come the end of the race – ahead of Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech 3), with the KTMs coming good in Czechia.

Snatching the holeshot, Pecco lead the way until Turn 3 when teammate Marquez attacked and took over at the front. Elsewhere, a poor start from Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) left him down in 19th on Lap 1 whilst at Turn 3 on Lap 2, Augusto Fernandez (Yamaha Factory Racing Team) slid off and collected Takaaki Nakagami (IDEMITSU Honda LCR), ending both their Sprints. Into P3 on the second lap, Acosta got himself ahead of Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP whilst the Frenchman was rubbing fairing with Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) at Turn 10.

Meanwhile, Bez's returning teammate, World Champion Jorge Martin, was up into P7 in the early stages.

At the end of Lap 4, Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) was capitalising on his strong weekend so far and into fourth and ahead of Quartararo but the drama was further up the road. On the exit of Turn 4, Pecco slowed down and was passed by Acosta, Bastianini and Quartararo.

A lap later and it could have been a replay – this time for Marc Marquez; the #93 likewise slowing down and letting Acosta through, the #37 now leading in his first outing at Brno.

Both the Ducatis slowing down but getting straight back into the pace suggests that tyre pressures need controlling but whatever it was, the last three laps with Acosta, Marc Marquez, Bastianini and Quartararo all in victory contention. Behind, Bezzecchi clambered ahead of Pecco at Turn 11, now into the top five, with Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) next up.

On the penultimate lap, Bezzecchi worked his way into fourth ahead of Quartararo as his late pace trademark came to the fore.

Up at the front and on the direction change from Turn 8 into Turn 9, Marc Marquez pounced in what would prove to be a Sprint-winning pass on ‘El Tiburon’.

Another success in the Sprint for the Championship leader who extended his Championship advantage, with a first Sprint podium for Acosta since Aragon 2024.

Two KTMs on a Sprint podium underlining their previous happy memories at Brno and a first rostrum of the year for Bastianini.

There was a small caveat on top of the podium with Marc Marquez’s tyre pressure under investigation but that was soon over, the win standing for Marc Marquez.

Bezzecchi claimed P4 with Quartararo behind him. On the final lap, Fernandez pushed his way into sixth place ahead of polesitter Pecco, whilst Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) and super-sub Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) completed the points-paying positions. On his comeback ride, Martin (Aprilia Racing) finished in 11th, just behind Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing).