Motorcycling-Marquez wins thrilling Australian MotoGP sprint to retake championship lead

Oct 24 (Reuters) Ducati s Marc Marquez emerged victorious in an electrifying battle with championship rival Jorge Martin before going on to win the Australian Grand Prix sprint from pole position on Saturday and reclaim the MotoGP championship lead. Victory moved seven-times MotoGP champion Marquez up to 365 points in the championship standings, 10 points ​ahead of Martin, who did not finish the sprint after suffering a gruesome crash in the eighth ‌lap. The reigning champion can further extend that lead in Sunday s race, with Martin declared unfit after breaking his wrist in the crash. After a couple of wet qualifying sessions earlier in the day, the sprint began on a dry track at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, with dark clouds looming overhead. Pole-sitter Marquez shot off the line and held on to his lead, though his start was matched by title rival Martin, who barrelled ‌past ​Alex Marquez and Johann Zarco into second place from fourth. Without the rain to ⁠hinder him, Mar