Bezzecchi blunder hands Marquez victory and MotoGP series lead at Misano

Marc Marquez took the MotoGP championship lead for the first time this season by winning the San Marino Grand Prix at Misano on Sunday. The Ducati world champion capitalised on a first-lap crash by pole sitter Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia), handing Marquez his fifth Grand Prix win of the year. The result left Marquez level with Aprilia’s Jorge Martin on 274 points, but Marquez leads the title chase because Martin has won only once this season. Marquez beat Alex Marquez by 0.657 seconds over 27 laps, with KTM’s Pedro Acosta third, 2.326 seconds back. In an attritional race, only 14 of 21 riders finished. The next round is September 18-20 at Austria’s Red Bull Ring.