Qatar Grand Prix surprised fans and the riders. As we headed into the weekend, many people had their eyes on Bagnaia, who was the favorite, because of his strong win in Austin and his 2024 victory at this track. And also because Marquez hadn't won in Qatar since 2014.

But Marquez had other plans, as he took his third win of the season. However, it wasn’t an easy win, as the real shock came in the middle of the race — not from Bagnaia, but from Maverick Viñales. Viñales took the lead for a brief moment and kept the pressure on Marquez, finishing the race in second. But after the race, he received a 16-second penalty for breaking tyre pressure rules, which dropped him to 14th place.

“I honestly thought it was Pedro Acosta who passed me,” Marquez laughed in a post-race interview for MotoGP.com. “The KTM bikes look so similar, and Acosta is usually the quickest KTM out there. But then I realized it was Maverick — and wow, he was flying!”

Marquez also shared that he had a game plan. He took it easy in the early laps to protect his front tyre, especially as Franco Morbidelli led the opening 10 laps. But when Bagnaia overtook Marquez on lap 5, that’s when things really kicked off.

“That’s when I said, ‘Okay, now the real race begins,’” Marquez explained in an interview with Sky Sport MotoGP. “I had saved some pace for the end, just a few tenths per lap. I knew it would count.”

By lap 7, Marquez was back in front of Bagnaia. And from there, he stayed consistent and fast, while Bagnaia started to slow down.

Viñales, overall, was the only rider able to match Marquez’s late pace in the 1:52 range. But in the end, a penalty ruined what could have been a stunning result for him. Even when it looks easy on paper for Marquez, the race was full of drama and unexpected moments.