Marc Márquez shines even on the toughest days.

In another circuit where he expected to suffer, and indeed did suffer, Marc Márquez once again emerged victorious on a Saturday. The Spanish Ducati rider showcased his management skills in the sprint of the Dutch GP, claiming his ninth short race win of the year out of 10 competitions. The World Championship leader once again bested his brother Álex in the tenth Saturday double for the family and dealt a moral blow to his teammate Pecco Bagnaia, who finished fifth after starting second and ahead of him.

Still aching from his two falls on Friday, the elder Márquez wanted to take it easier in the qualifying session to avoid another crash. “I took a deep breath; my body can’t handle another fall like yesterday,” said the eight-time world champion, aware of his physical limitations at 32 years old. He is no longer as rubbery and cannot handle everything like in his early years of miraculous recoveries and real feats on and off the track. Even so, he is still capable of making the most of his worst days.

Starting fourth on the grid, with Frenchman Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha) in pole position and Bagnaia and Álex ahead, the 93 took off like a shot and pulled alongside the leader during the first braking. Although he could not overtake the 2021 champion, he made the decisive move in the chicane before the finish line to take the lead and expertly manage the challenges from his younger brother. Despite riding a satellite Ducati from Gresini, Álex once again proved to be the best of the rest and the only one able to match the great dominator of the championship.

“Today was a bit frustrating. I was much faster in the third sector, but it’s a tight and fast-paced corner,” admitted the second-placed rider, who unsuccessfully tried to pass Marc in an endless pursuit from the second lap. Álex dropped to fourth at the start but quickly overtook Bagnaia and also passed Quartararo in just one lap. By the third lap, he was challenging the leader, undeterred even while struggling. “I didn’t expect to win this sprint, but once I was in first place, I tried to defend it without making mistakes or overdoing it on the bike,” said the elder Márquez.

Behind him, Bagnaia, who was having his best weekend of the year at one of his favorite circuits — coming off three consecutive victories at Assen — couldn’t maintain his qualifying sensations in the short race. He fell from second to sixth, and only Quartararo’s fall four laps from the finish allowed him to gain a position under the checkered flag. The three-time Italian champion was overtaken by his compatriots Fabio Di Giannantonio, who rides the same bike as him and Márquez under the VR46 team colors, and Marco Bezzecchi. The Aprilia rider managed to reach the podium alongside the brothers on another significant day for the Noale factory. Jorge Martín had stirred the pot again in the management conflict between the still-injured world champion and the Piaggio group brand.

Although there has been no progress in the negotiations, the number one continues to claim he is released from his contract while the factory firmly denies it. This Monday, Martín will undergo a medical examination, and if all goes well, he should soon be back on the bike.