Portugal Colonial - Marc Marquez battles back to win German MotoGP sprint

The runaway championship leader started on pole but the Ducati factory rider went wide at the first corner to drop back to fifth, with Marco Bezzecchi inheriting the lead.

On lap three Franco Morbidelli suffered a bone-crunching crash at turn eight, the Ducati VR46 rider somersaulting through through the air before landing on the gravel safety run-off area.

With 10 laps to go Marquez had crept up into third as Bezzecchi (Aprilia) led by over one second from Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha's former champion who had set off from the third row of the grid.

He then went in pursuit of Bezzecchi, hitting the front on the final lap to pull clear and leave the Italian in his wake, Quartararo hanging on for third.

"I made a mistake on the exit of turn one, then I lost some positions, but step by step I got some rhythm, I'm happy," said Marquez who is seeking a seventh elite world title to draw level with the legendary Valentino Rossi and move one behind record-holder Giacomo Agostini.

Bezzecchi was far from downhearted at coming off second best to the man of the moment.

"It's always difficult to lose the battle in the end but I have to say (it was) a very positive day for me," he said. "Hopefully tomorrow will be dry."

This was Marquez's 10th Saturday dash win out of 11, and it consolidated his hold on the 2025 world title.

The Spaniard increased his lead over younger brother Alex (eighth on Saturday) by 10 points to 78.

Marquez senior will be hot favourite for Sunday's main race as he targets a seventh perfect weekend of victories in the sprint and race this year.

The grid will be missing Maverick Vinales, the KTM-Tech 3 rider forced to pull out after suffering a fracture to his left shoulder from a heavy fall in qualifying.

C.Cassis--PC