Marc Marquez Photo: Photosport
Six-times MotoGP champion Marc Marquez continued his perfect start with factory Ducati as he completed a weekend double at the season-opening Thailand Grand Prix, finishing ahead of his younger brother Alex.
Pole-sitter and sprint winner Marc Marquez made an electric start in hot and humid conditions at the Buriram International Circuit but Alex, who had qualified second on the grid, took the lead on the seventh of the 26 laps.
Marc snatched back the lead with three laps remaining, however, to win the opening race of the MotoGP season for the first time since 2014.
Twice MotoGP champion Francesco Bagnaia, Marquez's new teammate, came in third to complete an all-Ducati podium.
"Yesterday, I was happy. Today, I'm super happy," Marquez told reporters.
"I mean, this is a dream! It's a dream start my new journey with Ducati like this in Thailand where I won my last four championships, to be here with my brother G�� incredible."
Marquez had looked dominant all weekend and it seemed only a matter of time that he would overtake Alex, who is four years his junior, as he finished 1.732 seconds ahead.
The 32-year-old Spaniard extended his lead at the top of the MotoGP world championship with 37 points, eight more than second-placed Alex and 14 ahead of Italian Bagnaia.
Marquez now has 112 MotoGP podiums, equalling compatriot Dani Pedrosa.
Buchanan debuts in Moto3
New Zealand motorcycle racer Cormac Buchanan earned his first point on debut in the Moto3 world championship in Thailand, finishing 15th.
New Zealand motorcycle racer Cormac Buchanan. Photo: supplied / Manu Tormo
Racing for the Denssi Boe Motorsports team, 18-year-old Buchanan started 22nd on the grid and made quick progress through the field on the opening lap before coming unstuck on the final turn.
"I'm really happy with how the race started, especially overtaking a lot of riders and feeling really comfortable with the pace," he said.
"I didn't expect the rider in front to brake so early and I had to switch my line so I didn't run into the back of him. This forced me offline into the corner and, with three bikes on my left, I just had nowhere to go and tucked the front.
"It feels really good to tick off my debut and I'm proud to score New Zealand's first ever Moto3 point in the process. Now the hard work continues so we can add plenty more to the tally."
- Reuters/RNZ
