Acosta Claims Victory Amidst Controversy in Thailand Sprint
Pedro Acosta of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing secured a thrilling victory in the Thailand Grand Prix sprint race on Saturday, February 28, 2026, after a late-race clash with Ducati Lenovo Team’s Marc Marquez sparked debate and a penalty for the veteran rider. The race, held in Buriram, saw Acosta take his first win in MotoGP, while Marquez finished second.
The defining moment of the sprint came on the penultimate lap at Turn 12, when Marquez attempted an aggressive overtake on Acosta. The stewards quickly reviewed the incident and assessed a penalty against Marquez, requiring him to drop a position on the final lap, effectively handing the win to Acosta.
“After our contact on the final lap, I wasn’t really believing,” Acosta said after the race. “I was trying due to the fact that I was quite fast in T3 and T4 and I was making back what I was losing in T1 and T2. Marc was braking super late at the last corner and Turn 1 and it was quite difficult to make the move, but anyway, we have to be happy. Even without his penalty, we have to be happy with the job we’ve done and for the battle we were able to have.”
The penalty was issued for “causing contact with another rider when overtaking and gaining unfair advantage through it, resulting in a position change,” according to the FIM MotoGP Stewards’ report. Both riders acknowledged there was contact during the maneuver.
Marquez expressed his frustration with the timing of the penalty, stating it left him with little opportunity to regain the lost position. Despite the controversy, he maintained a positive outlook, saying, “No ha sido una derrota sino más bien una victoria,” as reported by Diario AS.
Several other MotoGP riders weighed in on the incident, offering differing perspectives. Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo described it as a “block pass” but acknowledged Marquez was “borderline” in terms of track limits. Raul Fernandez of Trackhouse Racing had a clear view of the clash, running directly behind the two leading riders.
The victory marks a significant milestone for Acosta, his first in the MotoGP class, and adds another layer of excitement to the championship battle. The incident between Marquez and Acosta is sure to be a talking point as the season progresses. More details on the incident and rider reactions are available on MotoGP.com. Motorsport.com also provides further analysis of the controversial clash.
The race also saw Raúl Fernández achieve a stunning podium finish, adding to the excitement of the Thailand Sprint. Motorcyclesports.net has more on Fernández’s impressive performance.
Footage of the incident between Marquez and Acosta is available on DAZN, along with analysis of the intense debate between Marquez and Gigi Dall’Igna.
