Reigning champion Marc Marquez triumphed in a chaotic and rain-lashed Spanish MotoGP flag-to-flag sprint on Saturday in Jerez. The Spanish Ducati rider, bidding for a record-equalling eighth world title, started on pole and recovered from a crash to finish ahead of teammate Francesco Bagnaia and Franco Morbidelli for his 17th sprint victory. Overall leader Marco Bezzecchi started poorly and later crashed out, failing to score any points, with Jorge Martin and Pedro Acosta, second and third overall, also not adding to their tallies. 

"The truth is that we had a lot of luck," admitted Marc Marquez, who was able to take advantage of his crash to switch to a wet bike. The race started under grey clouds and rain began to fall three laps in, after Martin had already pulled out because of a technical problem with his Aprilia. Marc's brother Alex, who won the Spanish MotoGP last year, had impressed on the dry on Friday and carried his good form in Jerez into the race by taking the lead on the seventh lap. The rain increased in intensity and riders began to fall, with Toprak Razgatlioglu and Lorenzo Savadori colliding. Marc Marquez was next to tumble, but had the presence of mind to cut across the grass back to the pit lane and change bikes, while the other race leaders ploughed on. However, they too soon had to change bikes under the downpour.