Ducati Corse general manager Gigi Dall’Igna believes a controversial decision by MotoGP stewards ultimately cost Marc Márquez victory in the Sprint race at the season-opening Thai Grand Prix.
Márquez crossed the line first in the Buriram Sprint after a fierce late-race battle with KTM rider Pedro Acosta. However, the Ducati rider was later handed a penalty for an aggressive move during their fight for the lead, forcing him to relinquish the position and drop behind Acosta in the final classification.
The decision meant Acosta secured the Sprint victory while Márquez had to settle for second place. It also allowed the young KTM rider to take an early lead in the 2026 MotoGP world championship standings.
Reflecting on the race, Dall’Igna suggested the ruling played a decisive role in the outcome. The Ducati chief described the situation as unfortunate for Márquez and questioned whether the penalty was fully justified given the circumstances of the on-track battle.
Source: MotoGP
The dramatic Sprint race was only part of a difficult weekend for the reigning champion. Márquez’s problems continued in Sunday’s grand prix when he was forced to retire after suffering a tyre failure late in the race while battling for a podium position.
According to Ducati, the failure was caused by damage to the wheel rim after the bike struck a curb, which led to a puncture and forced the Spaniard out of the race.
Despite the disappointing outcome, the performance across the weekend showed Márquez had the pace to challenge at the front from the start of the 2026 season. However, the combination of a controversial penalty and technical misfortune meant the Ducati rider left Thailand without the results his speed had promised.
For Ducati, the Buriram round highlighted both the competitiveness of their new lineup and the fine margins that can shape the outcome of a MotoGP race weekend.
