JEREZ: Alex Marquez turned his 250th Grand Prix start into a late birthday gift by winning the Spanish MotoGP for the second straight year on Sunday while watching his brother and pole sitter Marc crash out in dramatic fashion.

The Gresini Racing rider, who celebrated his 30th birthday on Thursday, started fifth on the grid but quickly moved up to overtake his elder sibling before stretching clear for victory.

Marc’s quest for a milestone 100th Grand Prix win across all classes came to an abrupt end on lap two when he lost control at turn 11, crashing out while chasing down his younger brother and stunning the home crowd.

Championship leader Marco Bezzecchi finished second for Aprilia after failing to reel in the flying Alex over 25 laps, while VR46 Racing’s Fabio di Giannantonio completed the podium to move up to third in the championship standings.

Last season’s champion Marc won that after some quick thinking to change his bike, and started on pole on Sunday, but came to grief on the 11th turn of the second lap, shortly after being overtaken by his brother Alex.

Pedro Acosta, who started the day third overall but dropped to fourth after coming in 10th, took some damage after contact with Raul Fernandez.

Bezzecchi stayed on Ducati-Gresini rider Alex’s tail for a while but the Spaniard was too quick for him and eventually the Italian settled for holding onto second ahead of compatriot Di Giannantonio.

“Since Friday I went out and felt really good. It’s not that we changed a huge amount, yes, a few small things, but not that much,” added Alex Marquez.

“So I’m really happy to have been able to flip the switch, to have been able to ride over the problems and once again get the absolute most out of what we had.”

Published in Dawn, April 27th, 2026