Jorge Martin and Pedro Acosta (Photo Gold & Goose/Red Bull)
Pedro Acosta started the season with a confident performance at the Thai GP on Sunday as he finished second behind winner Marco Bezzecchi, while 2024 MotoGP World Champion Jorge Martín resumed his comeback from injury with an encouraging fourth place.
Spaniard Acosta won a dramatic Sprint race on Saturday after Bezzecchi crashed out, leaving him in a duel with 2026 MotoGP World Champion Marc Márquez who was forced to drop out of the lead following an aggressive move on the Red Bull KTM Factory rider that saw FIM stewards dock him one place.
Sunday’s race saw Bezzecchi speed clear from pole to ease away for a comfortable victory over the 26 laps with Acosta, Martín and Márquez battling it out behind to see who could grab a podium place.
Acosta held his own alongside Márquez and Martín with Martín falling off the pace, Acosta reeling in Trackhouse Aprilia’s Raúl Fernández on lap 23 after Márquez punctured two laps earlier.
The 1-2-3 of Bezzecchi, Acosta and Fernández saw Ducati’s 88-race podium streak finally end as Martín held on to fourth with Acosta leading the overall standings by seven from Bezzecchi heading into the Brazilian GP on March 22.
Acosta, 21, said: “Super nice to start the season in that way. We have found something. Still a way to go. We have to keep calm.”
South African Brad Binder came in seventh on his Red Bull KTM Factory bike and Frenchman Johann Zarco 11th for LCR Honda, leaving Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 duo Enea Bastianini and Maverick Viñales in 12th and 16th respectively as 2025 MotoGP overall runner-up Álex Márquez suffered a late crash.
Thai GP result
1. Marco Bezzecchi ITA Aprilia Racing 39m 36.27s
2. Pedro Acosta SPA Red Bull KTM +5.543s
3. Raúl Fernández SPA Trackhouse Aprilia +9.259s
4. Jorge Martín SPA Aprilia Racing +12.182s
5. Ai Ogura JPN Trackhouse Aprilia +12.411s
2026 MotoGP championship standings
1. Pedro Acosta SPA Red Bull KTM 32 points
2. Marco Bezzecchi ITA Aprilia Racing 25
3. Raúl Fernández SPA Trackhouse Aprilia 23
4. Jorge Martín SPA Aprilia Racing 18
5. Ai Ogura JPN Trackhouse Aprilia 17
