MotoGP - Grand Prix of Qatar - Lusail International Circuit, Lusail, Qatar - March 9, 2024 Prima Pramac Racing's Jorge Martin celebrates on the podium with a medal after winning the sprint race REUTERS/Ibraheem Al Omari
(Reuters) - Pramac Racing's Jorge Martin led from start to finish to win the MotoGP season-opening sprint at the Qatar Grand Prix on Saturday as last season's championship runner-up began the 2024 campaign with a bang.
Martin had broken the lap record in qualifying to clinch pole position and the Spaniard was under constant pressure from Red Bull KTM's Brad Binder, who stayed on his rear wheel for the entire 11 laps but could not find a way past.
Aprilia's Aleix Espargaro had qualified second on the grid but after falling down the pack, he methodically carved his way through the field, keeping Marc Marquez at bay before stealing the final podium spot from Ducati's defending champion Francesco Bagnaia.
(Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru, editing by Ed Osmond)
