Pedro Acosta wins Thailand GP sprint as stewards order Marc Marquez to give up lead

[p]The tense 13-lap battle ‌began in dramatic fashion when polesitter [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bezzecchi-marco/EXzAZEse/"]Marco Bezzecchi[/a] crashed out early, leaving the two Spaniards ‌to vie for the win in a scintillating wheel-to-wheel contest.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/marquez-marc/UPhfij2b/"]Marquez[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/acosta-pedro/KrGeaHq5/"]‌Acosta[/a] traded places repeatedly throughout the sprint until the penultimate lap, when the ‌seven-time MotoGP champion nudged the KTM rider off the racing line in ‌an aggressive move that caught the attention of race officials.[/p][p]The stewards ordered Marquez to give up the position, allowing Acosta to cross the finish line first - although the ‌young rider looked confused after taking the chequered ⁠flag.[/p][p][b]"Super cool to make a sprint ‌like this versus Marc. It's true that maybe I don't really feel like a ​winner because he let me pass,"[/b] Acosta said.[/p][p][b]"It's a good way to start the season but tomorrow (in the race), maybe we ​will try to get this real victory."[/b][/p][embed guid="0669615b-4d25-47ab-8315-c9721e6b918b" url="https://x.com/MotoGP/status/2027677699104207184" social-type="twitter" /][h2] Bezzecchi crashes out of lead[/h2][p]At the start of the sprint, Marquez had the perfect launch and shot off ⁠the line to seize the ​lead from Bezzecchi at turn one.[/p][p][b]The Italian briefly regained top spot before losing his balance under pressure at turn eight, handing the advantage back to Marquez.[/b][/p][p]What followed was a racing dogfight as Acosta stayed glued to Marquez's rear ‌tyre, probing for openings while the Ducati rider repeatedly fended off his advances.[/p][p]The decisive moment came when Acosta executed a daring overtake, only for Marquez to respond with the lunge on the final corner of the penultimate lap that ultimately cost him the victory.[/p][p][b]"In my opinion, race direction decides, so I just follow the rules,"[/b] a stoic Marquez said after embracing Acosta and congratulating him on his maiden win.[/p][p][b]"Every time Pedro overtook me, I overtook straight away on the next corner. Unfortunately, I got that ‌penalty. But nine points (from the) first race after injury - not bad, I'm ​happy."[/b][/p][embed guid="7b4ab16c-7215-4337-9e13-9bd21c444b51" url="https://x.com/MotoGP/status/2027665920189968467" social-type="twitter" /][p]However, Ducati boss Davide Tardozzi was less diplomatic about the ruling, ‌saying: "Marc didn't touch Pedro, he didn't go off track. I think it's unfair. I'm sure Pedro would do the same."[/p][p]Trackhouse rider [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/fernandez-raul/dIyisVJD/"]Raul Fernandez[/a] finished third in the sprint while his teammate [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ogura-ai/A3AtM47b/"]Ai Ogura[/a] finished fourth ahead of Aprilia's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/martin-jorge/zBBka6dR/"]Jorge Martin[/a].[/p][p][b]"It is the first time that I've ⁠started the MotoGP championship with ⁠points in the first race, ‌so I am very happy,"[/b] Fernandez said.[/p]