"Marco Bezzecchi triumphs in Australian MotoGP sprint after seagull collision"

Marco Bezzecchi Triumphs in Tense Australian MotoGP Sprint Despite Bird Strike

Marco Bezzecchi overcame an early collision with a seagull to secure victory in a gripping Australian MotoGP sprint race on Saturday, while Alex Márquez edged closer to securing second place in the world championship with a sixth-place finish.

France’s Fabio Quartararo set the pace in qualifying, breaking Bezzecchi’s Phillip Island lap record from the previous day to claim his fifth pole of the season. However, Bezzecchi, starting from second, showcased his dominance on the Aprilia, securing his third sprint win in the last four races—despite hitting a bird at the start, leaving feathers scattered across his bike.

Gresini rider Alex Márquez surged from sixth to first at the opening corner, but by the end of the first lap, Raul Fernández led the pack with Bezzecchi close behind, while Quartararo dropped to sixth. Fernández appeared to take control when Bezzecchi lost time on lap seven, but the Italian regrouped and overtook the Spaniard on lap 10, finishing 3.149 seconds ahead.

“It was quite difficult because I hit a big bird early on—unfortunate for it and also frightening for me,” Bezzecchi said. “Luckily, the bike wasn’t damaged. Once the race settled, I really enjoyed it.”

Fernández took second, Pedro Acosta claimed third, and Jack Miller and Fabio Di Giannantonio completed the top five in cool conditions. Quartararo crossed the line in seventh.

“I felt calm on the bike, but Marco’s pace was strong,” Fernández said. “I pushed as much as I could, but once I realized I couldn’t match him, I focused on finishing.”

Bezzecchi’s victory came in the absence of newly crowned champion Marc Márquez, who required shoulder surgery after their collision in Indonesia two weeks ago. Bezzecchi will serve a double long-lap penalty—adding five to six seconds—in Sunday’s main race for causing the incident, complicating his chances of another win.

Meanwhile, Alex Márquez, Marc’s younger brother, extended his lead over two-time champion Francesco Bagnaia to 92 points in the battle for second place. He needs a 111-point advantage by the weekend’s end to secure the position.

Miller Ends Front-Row Drought

Earlier in qualifying for Sunday’s grand prix, Australia’s Jack Miller earned his first front-row start in over two years, securing third place. Quartararo broke the lap record to take pole, with Bezzecchi alongside him in second, but Miller impressed by advancing from Q1 to snatch third.

This marks Miller’s first front-row appearance in 749 days, giving him a shot at a home victory. “I was genuinely surprised,” the 30-year-old said. “Just getting through Q1 was a great start, and I was thrilled with how the bike felt.”