Motorcycling-Marquez seizes championship lead with San Marino win after Bezzecchi crash

MotoGP - San Marino Grand Prix - Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, Misano, Italy - September 13, 2026 Ducati Lenovo Team's Marc Marquez celebrates after winning the MotoGP race with second placed BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP's Alex Marquez and third placed Red Bull KTM Factory Racing's Pedro Acosta REUTERS/Jennifer Lorenzini

MISANO, Sept ⁠13 (Reuters) - Ducati's Marc Marquez won ⁠the San Marino Grand Prix on ‌Sunday to top the MotoGP championship standings after Aprilia's polesitter Marco Bezzecchi crashed out ​of the lead at ⁠his home circuit ⁠in Misano.

Bezzecchi had finished second in ⁠Saturday's ‌sprint but the Italian rider crashed on lap one, ⁠much to the shock and disappointment ​of ‌the home fans.

The victory was Marquez's ⁠fifth ​of the season as the seven-times MotoGP champion took the chequered flag ⁠to lead the championship ​for the first time this season. His brother Alex of Gresini Racing ⁠was second while KTM's Pedro Acosta was third.

Marquez's victory moved him level with Jorge Martin on 274 ​points after the Aprilia ⁠rider finished fifth, but Ducati's reigning ​champion moved top ‌having won more races ​this season.

(Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru;Editing by Christian Radnedge)