Alex Marquez held off his elder brother Marc to win the Catalunya MotoGP on Sunday, ending Marc’s streak of seven consecutive victories.
Racing on his home circuit, the 29-year-old secured a composed triumph that prevented standings leader Marc from sealing a seventh world title at Misano next weekend.
Marc, riding a Ducati, remains top of the championship with 487 points, while Alex trails him by 182.
Alex had crashed out of the sprint race on Saturday after starting from pole, handing Marc victory. In the main race, Marc surged into the lead at the first corner from third on the grid, but Alex regained control on lap four and resisted every challenge thereafter.
The younger Marquez gradually extended his advantage to 0.6 seconds, ensuring Marc could not reel him back in.
Aside from Pedro Acosta, who opted for a medium/soft tyre combination, every rider ran medium/medium. Acosta faded in the closing stages, finishing 2.6 seconds adrift of third-placed Enea Bastianini.
The Marquez brothers dominated the race, with Marc more than four seconds clear of Bastianini by the final lap. Both celebrated together after the chequered flag, thrilling the packed crowd at Circuit de Barcelona in Montmeló.