WATCH: Marc Marquez's crash derails his podium hopes in 2024 MotoGP Austrian Grand Prix Sprint

Marc Marquez, the Gresini rider and six-time MotoGP world champion, faced yet another setback in his tumultuous 2024 season. During the Austrian Grand Prix sprint race at Spielberg, Marquez was on the brink of securing a podium finish when a late crash ended his hopes, leaving him empty-handed as Francesco Bagnaia cruised to victory.

The race began with high intensity as Bagnaia, riding for the factory Ducati team, took the lead into Turn 1, only to be challenged immediately by Jorge Martin at Turn 3. Martin, who is one of the title contenders, briefly snatched the lead before making a critical error on the second lap. He entered Turn 2 too quickly and was forced to run off the track, handing the lead back to Bagnaia.

Despite rejoining the race, Jorge Martin was penalized for not complying with the rule requiring him to drop a second behind the leader after his off-track excursion. The stewards handed him a long-lap penalty, which he served on the eighth lap, dropping him to third place behind Marquez.

How did Marc Marquez crash out?

Marquez, who had been running solidly in second place, found himself unable to close the gap to Bagnaia. As the race progressed, it became clear that Bagnaia was in a class of his own, and Marc Marquez’s focus shifted to maintaining his podium position.  However, disaster struck on lap 10 when Marquez lost control at Turn 3, crashing out of the race and relinquishing his position to Martin.

Here is the video:

😱 💥 @marcmarquez93 HAS GONE DOWN!



The Spaniard has dropped from 2nd to the back of the field 📉#AustrianGP 🇦🇹 pic.twitter.com/vmWa9slwgp

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) August 17, 2024

The crash not only cost Marquez a likely podium but also highlighted the challenges he has faced throughout the season. His form has been inconsistent, and this incident at Spielberg adds to a growing list of crashes and near-misses that have plagued his campaign.

Bagnaia, meanwhile, capitalized on the situation, securing a dominant 4.67-second victory—his third sprint race win of the 2024 season. The win also propelled him to the top of the MotoGP standings, tying with Martin at 250 points.