• Marc Marquez secured victory at the San Marino Grand Prix, moving closer to his seventh MotoGP title.
• Marco Bezzecchi won Saturday's sprint after Marquez crashed, setting up a tense Sunday face-off.
• Marquez's triumph brings him to a record 512 points in a single season, ahead of the upcoming race in Japan.

Marc Marquez, riding for Ducati, emerged victorious at the San Marino Grand Prix, successfully overcoming Aprilia's Marco Bezzecchi. This win not only allows Marquez to inch closer to his seventh MotoGP world title but also serves as a comeback after his earlier crash in Saturday's sprint race, where Bezzecchi had claimed victory in Marquez’s absence due to the crash.

During the race, after starting from the second row, Marquez executed a flawless overtaking maneuver on lap 12, taking the lead from polesitter Bezzecchi, which he maintained until the end. This marks Marquez's 11th victory of the season, increasing his monumental total to 512 points, a record for a single MotoGP season. Following the race, Marquez celebrated by lifting his red suit on the podium, likening himself to a matador.

In the backdrop, Bezzecchi expressed satisfaction with his performance despite the pressure from Marquez, declaring, “Besides [missing out on] the victory, this is maybe the best race of my life,” highlighting his competitive edge throughout the weekend. Following Bezzecchi was Alex Marquez of Gresini Racing, who finished third and is now 182 points behind his brother, Marc, in the championship standings.

The next race in Japan presents Marquez with the opportunity to clinch the championship if he outpoints Alex by three points, further raising the stakes as the season approaches its conclusion. Meanwhile, the competition among other riders remains intense, as seen with incidents involving Fabio Quartararo and Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia, who continue to grapple with their standings.