Marquez the best in Brno

Brno is back in MotoGP, and so is Marc Marquez as he took his domination to further heights with a fifth straight double.

The first Czech Motorcycle Grand Prix in five years, as Brno made a popular return, was another Marquez domination.

It was not so simple as Marco Bezzecchi gave him a scare, but again the #93 won out.

This pushes Marquez into new territory at Ducati, being the first rider at the famous Italian team to win five premier class Grands Prix in a row, breaking a record previously set by Francesco Bagnaia.

There was also plenty of intrigue surrounding Jorge Martin, who finally resumed his title defence.

In his second start in the #1 Aprilia and first in eight races due to injury issues, Martin showed promise and to secure a solid seventh.

Despite Marquez doing another double, the weekend initially looked like it would mark the return to form of Bagnaia.

Having struggled in recent races, Bagnaia would have been boosted by taking pole position by a commanding two-tenths over his teammate.

Despite encountering tyre pressure problems, Marquez took another commanding Sprint win.

Bagania led the field from pole, but he only enjoyed the view for two corners as the #93 made its move at Turn 3.

Marquez then took control, but suddenly lost his handy advantage in the close stages.

By now Pedo Acosta was his nearest rival after Bagnaia again dropped off the podium and the KTM youngster hit the lead.

But once again Marquez was playing games, relinquishing the lead to ensure he was not below the minimum tyre pressure, only to regain it with a lap and a half to go.

Despite falling short, Acosta was elated with his first Sprint podium of a tough sophomore season, while Enea Bastianini edged 0.085s clear of Bezzecchi for a podium as Bagnaia slumped to seventh.

When lights went out on Sunday, it appeared things were going to be an instant replay of Saturday’s events.

Bagnaia again led the field and Marquez lined up a move for the lead at Turn 3.

But this time Bagnaia cut back to run a tighter line and this sent the #93 wide and down to third with Bezzecchi splitting the Ducatis.

However, by the end of the lap Bagnaia also made a costly mistake, running wide at the penultimate corner, which allowed Bezzecchi to hit the lead at the start of the second lap.

Marquez then lined up a second move at Turn 3 on Bagnaia and on this occasion it paid off.

Bagnaia struggled to keep up with the leading pair and drifting away and lost track position to Acosta and had to settle for fourth.

Bezzecchi was able to keep Marquez at bay for the first seven laps before the pressure became too much.

Once again Turn 3 was Marquez’s target of choice and he took the lead with a decisive move.

Although Bezzecchi stayed within 2s for the remainder of the race, the #93 was never under serious threat and claimed another soul-destroying double for the field.

“I mean, the plan was to try to lead the race from the beginning and manage the race as I wanted,” Marquez said.

“But when Marco overtook me, he was braking super late and with a good corner speed.

“So, I decided to wait behind him and when I felt the first drop of the tyres is when I attacked because it’s where I started to play with the bike and – as always – in the second part of the race I felt better and better.

“Then I managed the distance and it was enough to take the 25 points.”

Acosta completed a much needed positive weekend with another podium, having held off Bagnaia by half a second.

The leading quartet were 7s clear of the rest with Raul Fernandez putting Trackhouse into the top five.

Australia’s Jack Miller showed improved pace on the Pramac Yamaha to secure a top 10, but felt more was possible after experiencing a “long and tough race” having bemoaned clutch issues.

There were a number of fallers in a dramatic return to the Czech Republic.

Bastianini looked on course for a top four result before falling into the Turn 3 gravel.

Whilst there was ecstasy for Marc, there was agony for brother Alex.

Alex Marquez was fighting Joan Mir for sixth place in the early stages, but a move down the inside at Turn 12 went wrong and contact sent the pair crashing out.

This helped Marc grow his commanding championship lead to 120 points.

MotoGP enters the summer break before returning at Austria on August 15-17.

Image: Gold and Goose

2025 Czech Motorcycle Grand Prix results

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