Motorcycling-Marquez takes championship lead with Indonesian GP sprint win

MANDALIKA, Indonesia, Oct 10 (Reuters) Ducati s Marc Marquez seized the lead in the championship standings for the first time in 2026 on Saturday by winning a dramatic Indonesian MotoGP sprint, after title rival Jorge ​Martin s race unravelled amid tyre issues. Marquez s eighth sprint victory of the ‌campaign moved him to 343 points, four ahead of Martin, completing a remarkable comeback for the defending champion, who trailed then-series leader Marco Bezzecchi by 102 points after the Italian Grand Prix in May. It was a very tough race, especially from the beginning, and then when ‌I ​saw that Martin was leading, I pushed with ⁠all I have, said Marquez, ⁠who was left exhausted by the hot and humid conditions. In a chaotic start to the sprint, polesitter Raul Fernandez and Bezzecchi found themselves lying in the gravel after the first turn, while Aprilia s Martin surged into the ​lead from the second row, with Marquez hot on his heels. Martin quickly stretched his advantage and appe