Marco Bezzecchi
Marc Marquez opened his account during the 2026 MotoGP season with victory in the Brazilian Grand Prix Sprint race, but was left furious after officials delayed the start of the race due to a sinkhole appearing on the main pit straight.
After Ducati’s dwindling dominance was exposed by Aprilia at the season-opener in Thailand, Marc Marquez once again proved that he can make a difference by snatching his first win of 2026 during the Brazilian GP Sprint.
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The Spaniard narrowly missed out on pole position to Fabio Di Giannantonio by less than a tenth of a second, but expertly dispatched of his stablemate in the Sprint following a lengthy duel for supremacy.
The proceedings on Saturday came after a 75-minute delay to the Sprint due to a sinkhole that had opened up at the Autodromo Internacional Ayrton Senna. Several sessions were affected by it, as well as the preparations of each rider.
- READ MORE: MotoGP fans react as sinkhole forces delay to Sprint Race at first Brazilian Grand Prix since 1992
Marc Marquez reveals his fury with MotoGP’s sinkhole delay in Brazil
Following his victory in the shorter format race yesterday afternoon, Marquez detailed his joy, while also noting how frustrating it was for the Sprint to be delayed due to the pothole that had appeared on the main pit straight.
Asked if he managed to handle the delay well by journalists via Moto.it, the reigning world champion replied, “Yes, there was even a moment when I got angry, because it’s super difficult for a driver to connect, disconnect, connect, disconnect.
“We have our rituals before… at least I’m speaking personally, I don’t know about the others, but before the race you have your exercises, your warm-up, so everyone understands, and I think they did, but just in case I’ll explain.
A SINKHOLE has been discovered at the Brazilian GP
Is this the wildest thing you've seen during a MotoGP weekend?
“It’s hard when you’re already in the race to stop and then come back in again, but it was the same for everyone. The important thing is that tomorrow we hope it doesn’t happen again.
“Today they solved it in the best way possible, and we hope that the hole stays in that area and doesn’t affect the track.”
- READ MORE: Mat Oxley claims Marc Marquez’s Sprint win was ‘ominous’ after what he said at Brazilian Grand Prix
Marc Marquez also noted that he is physically feeling much better after a long recovery from injury
Marquez was also asked about his current condition, following a lengthy battle with a broken collarbone he sustained during the latter stages of the 2025 term.
Neil Hodgson picked up on Marquez’s different riding style during qualifying, and the Spaniard himself also noted the change.
He said, “Today I woke up feeling fresh as a daisy: that’s the number one point. No pain, no discomfort, and I was able to ride quite well. But it’s true that these two weeks at home have helped us make a small step forward.
“Even now, my body position on the bike feels a bit stiff, a bit strange in those left-hand turns that I usually do well and can take quickly, without loosening up. That’s where we need to continue improving.
“It’s clear that there are two completely different riding styles: Fabio rides the Ducati one way, and I ride another, but in the end, he was effective in his sectors, one and four, and I was effective in two and three.”
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