Marco Bezzecchi won the MotoGP season-opening grand prix in Thailand from pole position on Sunday as defending world champion Marc Marquez retired late with a buckled wheel. Aprilia's Bezzecchi led from start to finish to top the podium in Buriram, with KTM's Pedro Acosta second and Trackhouse's Raul Fernandez third. Ducati's Marquez is chasing a record-equalling eighth world title this season but he exited the race in dramatic fashion while in fourth place with five laps to go. The Spaniard, who started from second on the grid, took a corner wide and the jolt to his bike dislodged the rear tyre and badly damaged his wheel. Bezzecchi returned to winning form after crashing out of Saturday's sprint race on the second lap. 

"Yesterday was a small mistake with a big consequence so it was important today to try to bounce back," said the Italian. "My pace was good with the medium, we worked it super-well all weekend, so I knew that I could be fast if I was in front. "I tried my all to make a good start and the bike was perfect," he added. Bezzecchi was fastest in all three practice sessions in Thailand and set a new track record in qualifying. It was also his third straight grand prix win stretching back to last season. "It's just the first race so we must stay calm, we must stay focused, keep our head down and try to work always in the best way possible," said Bezzecchi. "Because we know that we will struggle at some point."