Sunday's Aragon Grand Prix looks set to be a thrilling race at MotorLand Aragon, with a number of riders holding genuine hopes of being first cross the line to take the chequered flag.
Aprilia's Marco Bezzecchi was clearly the leading candidate after setting a new lap record in qualifying by becoming the first rider to break the 1:45-mark in Aragon, doing so twice to fend off the challenge of seven-time MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez.
However, Ducati ace Marquez made up for narrowly missing out on pole position by charging to victory in the sprint race, with his brother Alex finishing second and Bezzecchi just holding off the challenge of KTM's Pedro Acosta to take third.
MotoGP Aragon Grand Prix Tips Summary
Best Bet - Without Marc Marquez - Marco Bezzecchi to win @ 2/1
Alternative Bet - Marc Marquez to win @ 1/3
Alternative Bet - Pedro Acosta podium finish 6/4
MotoGP Aragon Grand Prix Prediction
Best Bet - Without Marc Marquez - Marco Bezzecchi to win @ 2/1
Bezzecchi was extraordinary and faultless in qualifying as he got the better of Marc Marquez by 0.089 of a second and become the first rider to dip under the 1:45 mark for a lap of MotorLand Aragon.
He followed up with third place in the sprint race, but could not keep up with the pace of either of the Marquez brothers and may struggle to do so again on Sunday, although the incentive to close the gap on standings leader and team-mate Jorge Martin is great.
The 27-year-old Italian started the season with three consecutive victories and two second places, before seeing his campaign unravel a little, although he did add another win in his home Grand Prix.
Third place in Great Britain certainly steadied the ship and his qualifying speed was truly magnificent, but he may just need a slip or mechanical problems for Marc Marquez to win in Aragon, although he can certainly be best of the rest and gain valuable world championship points.
Alternative Bet - Marc Marquez to win @ 1/3
There's certainly not too much value in backing Marc Marquez for what would be a record-extending ninth victory in Aragon, but it is impossible to look beyond the rider who has won six of the last nine stagings of this race.
On home soil and with both Bezzecchi and Martin in his sights in the overall standings, the elder Marquez brother will not be lacking for motivation and he has a perfect launch pad from the front row of the grid to take early control of the race and not let go.
The major caveat is that Marquez has mixed three victories with three seventh place finishes in the last six races, so he is not as totally reliable and consistent as he once was.
Marquez finished over six seconds adrift of Bezzecchi as the Italian came home third at Silvertone earlier this month and was nearly 10 seconds back from race winner Raul Fernandez, but he looks perfectly placed to strike back at MotorLand Aragon.
Alternative Bet - Pedro Acosta podium finish 6/4
Alex Marquez lined himself up as a major contender for a podium finish with second place in the sprint race, having qualified in third place for Sunday's Grand Prix.
However, preference goes to Acosta, who was flying by the end of the sprint race in coming home less than half a second behind third -placed Bezzecchi.
The 22-year-old Spaniard finished fourth in Aragon last season and was confident that there was more pace to come on Sunday after his sprint race charge, so a podium spot is definitely in his sights.
Key Race Stats
Marc Marquez has won six of the last nine stagings of this race
Marc Marquez won the sprint race on Saturday, third time in a row he has done so
Marco Bezzecchi set a new lap record and broke the 1:45 barrier in qualifying
Bezzecchi trails standings leader Jorge Martin by 29 points heading into Sunday's race
Marc Marquez is a further four points back, 33 back from Martin, who is on 245 points
Read more MotoGP betting tips and predictions on site.
This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
