Martin recovers from early setback to win Austrian sprint and retake championship lead

Aprilia's ‌Jorge Martin made an extraordinary recovery from a chaotic opening-lap ​battle with championship rival Marc Marquez to win the Austrian ⁠Grand Prix sprint from pole position on Saturday (September 19, 2026) and reclaim the MotoGP championship lead.

Martin, who had stormed to pole position ahead of reigning MotoGP champion Marquez earlier on Saturday (September 18), ‌beat the Ducati rider to claim his 20th sprint victory after KTM's Pedro Acosta crashed out while leading in the closing stages.

The ‌28-year-old Martin, the 2024 MotoGP champion, now has 286 points in the ‌standings, ⁠three ahead of Spanish compatriot Marquez, heading into Sunday's Grand ⁠Prix at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg.

Martin's race appeared to unravel in the opening corners when he was forced on to the defensive by seven-time MotoGP champion Marquez, ran wide and ​dropped to eighth.