'Smooth' Marc Marquez wins Aragon MotoGP sprint, Bezzecchi on pole

ALCANlZ, Spain: Reigning world champion Marc Marquez glided to a dominant sprint win at MotorLand on Saturday after Italian Marco Bezzecchi snatched a surprise pole position for the Aragon MotoGP with a circuit lap record.

Seven-time MotoGP champion Marc Marquez of Ducati will start Sunday's Grand Prix second on the grid, but will seek to repeat his flying start to the sprint when he blitzed past Bezzecchi's Aprilia on the inside at the first turn.

The 33-year-old held off the challenge of his brother Alex Marquez to come in 1.140 sec ahead, with Bezzecchi rounding out the podium.

Winner Team Ducati Lenovo Team's Marc Marquez (C) celebrates on the podium with second placed Team Gresini Racing MotoGP's Alex Marquez (L) and third placed Team Aprilia Racing's Marco Bezzecchi after the sprint race of the MotoGP Aragon Grand Prix at the Motorland circuit in Alcaniz, northeastern Spain. — AFP

It was his third sprint win at the circuit in northeast Spain.

"Today, I was riding smooth," Marc Marquez told TNT Sports. "It's something that normally happens in a circuit where you feel well, you are faster with less stress.

"Here, I'm riding in a very smooth way and I feel the bike... I feel good so let's see tomorrow that is the most important but the first job is done."

Bezzecchi and the elder Marquez are attempting to close the gap on championship leader Jorge Martin. The Spaniard, riding for Aprilia, could only place fifth in both qualifying and the sprint race.

Martin's lead is down to 29 points over second-placed Bezzecchi, with Marc Marquez a further four adrift.

Team Ducati Lenovo Team's Marc Marquez celebrates winning the sprint race of the MotoGP Aragon Grand Prix at the Motorland circuit in Alcaniz, northeastern Spain. — AFP

Marc Marquez has won three of the past five races to haul himself back into title contention.

Earlier Saturday, Bezzecchi clocked a blistering lap in qualifying after already lowering the circuit record on Friday, finishing 0.089 sec clear of second-placed Marc Marquez.

Alex Marquez, on his Gresini Ducati, was 0.299 sec back and will start in third.

The pole was the 12th of Bezzecchi's MotoGP career. It came at a circuit that has long been a happy hunting ground for defending world champion Marc Marquez, who has also won seven of the 11 premier-class races held at Aragon.

"We start in a good place, but Marc and Alex are both super fast in terms of pace. It's going to be a tough fight," said Bezzecchi.

"Now the real job starts." — AFP