MotoGP Australia: Márquez wins sprint, Martin hurt in crash

The sprint of the MotoGP Australian Grand Prix, run on Saturday 24 October 2026 at Phillip Island, has turned the championship upside down. Marc Márquez (Ducati Lenovo) won it, while Jorge Martin (Aprilia), running second at the time, crashed and is out of Sunday's Grand Prix. Márquez now leads the standings by 10 points.

The Phillip Island sprint: Márquez in front

Marc Márquez won ahead of Álex Márquez (Gresini Ducati), 0.323s behind, and Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina VR46 Ducati), third at 0.590s. Marco Bezzecchi finished fourth, 1.074s back, the best Aprilia result in the sprint. Pedro Acosta (KTM) was fifth and Brad Binder (KTM) sixth.

Five riders did not finish: Raul Fernandez, Jorge Martin, Maverick Viñales, Johann Zarco and Francesco Bagnaia. After the race, Ai Ogura lost his sixth place to a tyre-pressure penalty and was classified thirteenth.

Jorge Martin's crash and injury

Starting fourth, Martin took the lead from Márquez on lap 3, then made a mistake and dropped back to second. He later crashed at high speed at Hayshed, sliding into the gravel at 180km/h according to Autosport. He was stretchered to the circuit's medical centre.

Aprilia's diagnosis:

• a fractured radius;
• a suspected fracture of the ulna, at the wrist end;
• a CT scan in Melbourne to confirm the state of the ulna.

If the radius fracture is non-displaced, Martin may try to race at Sepang. If it is displaced, or the ulna is also broken, he will travel to Spain for surgery.

A championship turned around

Before the sprint, Martin led by 2 points. He now trails by 10, a 12-point swing in one race. The standings after the sprint:

1. Marc Márquez (Ducati Lenovo): 365 points;
2. Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing): 355 points;
3. Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing): 315 points;
4. Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM): 263 points;
5. Ai Ogura (Trackhouse Aprilia): 259 points.

Marc Márquez starts Sunday's Grand Prix from pole position, while Martin had been due to start fourth before his withdrawal.

Key takeaways

• Marc Márquez wins the Phillip Island sprint and leads the championship by 10 points.
• Jorge Martin has a wrist injury and will not start the Australian Grand Prix.
• Whether he races at Sepang depends on the assessment of his fracture.