Marc Marquez dominated the sprint race at the season-opening Thai MotoGP on Saturday, making a spectacular debut for the factory Ducati team. The six-time world champion won the 13-lap race at a scorching Buriram by starting from pole position and never giving up his advantage.

Marquez was reported by MotoGP as saying, “It was a perfect Saturday.” “The bike has a fantastic sensation. I’m glad to begin my new adventure with Ducati in this manner. We will strive for victory if we can, but let’s see if we can at least make it to the podium tomorrow.

Alex, Marquez’s younger brother, finished in second position, completing the brothers’ incredible 1-2 finish. Francesco Bagnaia, Marquez’s factory Ducati teammate and two-time world champion, came in third. In his MotoGP debut, Japanese rookie Ai Ogura made an impression by finishing in fourth place.

Marquez’s dominant victory reaffirms his excellent form throughout the whole week. Before losing by a slim margin to his younger brother in the afternoon session, he was the quickest in Friday’s first practice. Expectations were already high after his preseason with Ducati, and he is predicted to be a serious candidate for the world title, which he hasn’t won since 2019.

Although Marquez and Bagnaia together have been called an ideal team, several analysts have warned that their competition may get tense. The fierce rivalry between the two might result in exciting fights all season long.

In the meanwhile, the absence of current world champion Jorge Martin has clouded the beginning of the 2019 MotoGP season. After suffering fractures to his left foot and right hand in a preseason testing accident in Malaysia, the Spaniard’s problems became worse when he had another training accident that necessitated further surgery. Martin will thus miss the Thai Grand Prix as well as the follow-up race in Argentina in mid-March, Aprilia stated.