The 2026 Thai MotoGP at Buriram was a thrilling race, with Marco Bezzecchi making a strong comeback after his Sprint mistake. Bezzecchi, the Aprilia star, dominated from start to finish, showcasing his skill and determination. However, the race was not without its drama. Reigning champion Marc Marquez suffered a high-speed tyre failure in the closing stages, while in contention for the podium. Excessive tyre wear also forced Honda's Joan Mir to pit from fifth, and Raul Fernandez lost pace due to wheel spin, allowing Sprint winner Pedro Acosta to pass him for second place. All riders moved from the soft to medium rear tyre for the 26-lap grand prix, but even Bezzecchi struggled with tyre wear in the final laps. Alex Marquez crashed out moments after brother Marc's exit. Acosta and KTM kept the world championship lead heading into the second round in Brazil. The warm-up session saw Raul Fernandez, third in the Buriram Sprint, lead the way, despite some discomfort with his left arm or shoulder. Fabio di Giannantonio, Marc Marquez, Alex Marquez, Ai Ogura, and pole position qualifier Marco Bezzecchi completed the top six. Sprint winner Pedro Acosta apologised after a close pass on KTM team-mate Brad Binder into the final corner, a move reminiscent of the one that Marc Marquez was punished for in the Sprint. After using soft tyres for the Sprint, all riders used the medium rear tyre for the warm-up. Pramac team-mates Jack Miller and Toprak Razgatlioglu helped a powerless Diogo Moreira back to the pits at the end of the ten-minute session. The official Buriram MotoGP records include Marco Bezzecchi's best lap of 1m 28.526s (2026) and Marc Marquez's fastest race lap of 1m 30.637s (2025). Peter, a veteran in the paddock for 20 years, has witnessed the rise and fall of Valentino Rossi and is at the forefront of the Suzuki exit story and Marc Marquez's injury issues.
