Story byMotorsport photoRichard AsherSat, February 28, 2026 at 8:40 AM UTC·2 min readPedro Acosta can finally call himself a MotoGP winner after taking victory in the sprint at Buriram on Saturday. The KTM rider went toe-to-toe with world champion Marc Marquez but emerged on top after a pulsating race that had everything. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementPole position man and favourite Marco Bezzecchi had to witness it all from the Aprilia box after falling while in the lead on lap two of the race. With Bezzecchi out of the running, a likely battle between the Italian and Marquez turned into a scrap between Acosta and Marquez. The Spanish youngster would not leave the elder statesman - and likely 2027 colleague at the factory Ducati squad - in peace. The race looked set to be decided at the final corner as Acosta rehearsed a block pass there multiple times - twice succeeding in crossing the finish line first before Marquez re-took the lead. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBut the race was ultimately decided in very different fashion. On the penultimate lap, Acosta pounced on a slight error from Marquez in the twisty middle part of the lap, claiming the lead.