Marc Marquez: Jorge was faster than me and deserved the win, but...

Pulse Sports Team 06:11 - 24 October 2026

Marc Marquez claimed victory in the Phillip Island sprint, but admitted after the race that he wasn't the fastest rider on the Australian circuit.

According to the Ducati rider, title rival Jorge Martin possessed superior pace, forcing Marquez to ride more defensively. The approach ultimately paid off, sealing the win for Marquez while Martin suffered a DNF after a high-speed crash just past the halfway mark.

"It was a hard-fought battle. Of course, I gave it everything and was aggressive. He was faster than me, but I just defended as best as I could, and we had some great overtakes. Both of us were riding right on the limit and both deserved the win because we were pushing so hard, but that's racing. Today things went my way, but the battle is long. We stay calm and keep moving forward," said the world champion.