Martin stages incredible recovery to win Austrian sprint & retake championship lead

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/martin-jorge/zBBka6dR/"]Martin[/a], who had stormed to the ‌MotoGP pole position ahead of reigning champion [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/marquez-marc/UPhfij2b/"]Marquez[/a]'s Ducati earlier on Saturday, ‌finished ahead of Marquez to ⁠claim his ‌20th sprint victory, after KTM's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/acosta-pedro/KrGeaHq5/"]Pedro Acosta[/a] ​crashed out while leading late in the race.[/p][p][b]The 28-year-old Martin, ​the 2024 MotoGP champion, now has 286 points in the standings, three ⁠ahead of ​Spanish compatriot Marquez going into Sunday's Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg.[/b][/p][embed guid="567e548b-6388-461e-b6c6-606e25f87fd5" url="https://x.com/MotoGP/status/2101325725810716796" social-type="twitter" /][p]Martin's race appeared ‌to unravel in the opening corners when he was forced on to the defensive by seven-time MotoGP champion Marquez, running wide and dropping to eighth on the first lap.[/p][p]Acosta seized the opportunity to take command and opened up a lead ‌of nearly three seconds, only to ​crash out with about three ‌laps remaining.[/p][p]Martin, meanwhile, carved his way back through the pack to secure a remarkable victory.[/p][p][b]"I enjoyed the race for sure,"[/b] Martin said. [b]"I was a bit lucky with Pedro because we thought that I would ⁠be second. We started well ​but then we were on the limit on the first lap, so I thought my chances were over.[/b][/p][p][b]"But then, lap by lap, I didn't give up during the race. I was pushing till my maximum, trying to be ‌super concentrated to come from the back and then win. The end was so good.[/b][/p][p][b]"I am really happy for my team because they really deserve it. We are ready for tomorrow. I hope that we can continue at this pace."[/b][/p][p]Aprilia's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bezzecchi-marco/EXzAZEse/"]Marco Bezzecchi[/a], third in the championship standings, ⁠completed the ⁠podium.[/p][p]Trackhouse Aprilia's Ai Ogura ‌finished fourth with Alex Marquez fifth.[/p]