Category: Motorcycling

Defending world champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) came out on top of a battle with Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP) to win the Spanish Grand Prix in Jerez.

Bagnaia and championship leader Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Ducati) broke away from the field early on, but the Italian was left in a lonely lead when Martin’s front end folded at Turn 6 and he went down and out just under halfway through the race.

Marquez reeled Bagnaia back in and attacked twice in a dramatic finish to proceedings, but Bagnaia defended ferociously to take his second win of the season.

“The most important thing has been the first lap, the overtake around the outside was important,” he said in parc ferme. “And then I just tried to push the guys at the front and Jorge [Martin] made a mistake going too strong on the brakes at Turn 6.

“But I enjoyed it a lot; when fighting with Marc [Marquez] you know you have to be aggressive and, finally, it was very good.”

Pole sitter Marquez held on to the lead at lights out but was under instant attack from Bagnaia and Martin who prevailed in the early battle. While the front duo managed to escape, Marquez fell behind Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) with the two satellite Ducatis forming a chasing group.

Martin was leading Bagnaia, but drama ensued on Lap 11 when Martin’s front end folded under braking at Turn 6 and the championship leader went down and out.

Bagnaia was left in a lonely lead, more than a second ahead of Bezzecchi, but it was then that Marquez smelled blood. He reeled in Bezzechi and made a move down the inside stick on Lap 14 to claim P2. From there, he gradually brought the gap to the front down.

By Lap 21, Marquez was firmly within striking distance and dared an attack for the lead, diving down the inside at Aspar corner. Bagnaia defended courageously and the duo went side by side through the following turns, the Italian coming out top.

Marquez tried again a lap later but this time couldn’t make it stick and immediately ran wide, allowing Bagnaia to retaliate on the cut-back.

Bagnaia responded to the challenge and set some excellent sector times to put space between himself and Marquez. He managed to hold his opponent at bay to take the chequered flag in P1 and move up into second in the championship standings.

Marquez had to settle for runner-up, nevertheless securing his first Grand Prix podium with Ducati. “It was a super important race,” he said. “In the beginning I was a little bit stiff – you know, I crashed in Austin, I crashed yesterday and in the beginning with the full tank and everything I was a bit stiff and lost positions.

“But the speed was there to come back, the speed was there to fight with Bagnaia. It was a tight fight, like old times – it was good racing! I tried to close the door, he was inside and that’s what happens in racing. The last lap, he was super good, and I tried to follow him, but he had a bit more.

“But I’m super happy about this podium. It doesn’t matter what happened in the past, I just want to fight until the end.”

Bezzecchi came home in third, also taking his first rostrum finish of the season. “I’m very happy because the beginning of this year and also the end of last year for me was tough,” he admitted.

“To bounce back here in Jerez where last year I also struggled a lot is very nice. I’m very happy, I’m very grateful to my team, they never stopped believing in me and always give me the right support.”

Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP) had a quiet but solid race to fourth, breaking away from a battle between Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) and Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) in which the Italian came out top.

Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) was seventh from Miguel Oliveira (Trackhouse Racing) and Maverick Vinales (Aprilia Racing). Rookie Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) rounded out the top 10.

It has not been the easiest title defence campaign for Bagnaia so far this season, but the world champion was back in full force today.

Already at lights out the world champion was in top form with a spectacular double overtake around the outside to move up the order. From there, he stayed error-free himself and was nothing short of excellent in battle with Marquez to bring P1 home.

After non-finishes and struggles, Bagnaia delivered one of the best races of his career and made up good ground in the championship standings.

1/25: MARQUEZ TAKES HOLESHOT FROM POLE – Marquez nails the start from pole with Martin fighting to hold on to second.

1/25: BAGNAIA TAKES THE LEAD – It’s Bagnaia on a mission and he dives down Marquez’ inside to take the lead.

2/25: MARTIN HITS THE FRONT – Error from Bagnaia and Martin claims the lead. Marquez too tries to overtake, but Bagnaia catches him going onto start/finish.

11/25: MARTIN DOWN – Martin’s front folds at Turn 6 and down the Spaniard goes. Bagnaia is left in a lonely lead.

14/25: MARQUEZ INTO SECOND – Marquez dives down the inside and makes it stick to take second off Bezzecchi. He immediately puts some space between them.

21/25: MARQUEZ ATTACKS – Marquez dives down the inside at Aspar corner, but Bagnaia fights back and defends P1.

22/25: ANOTHER ATTACK AT ASPAR CORNER – Marquez tries again at Turn 9, but this time he can’t make it stick, goes wide and Bagnaia retaliates on the cut-back immediately.

24/25: BAGNAIA SEEKS ESCAPE – Some excellent sector times from Bagnaia who is putting breathing space between himself and Marquez.

25/25: BAGNAIA WINS IN JEREZ – Bagnaia holds Marquez at bay and takes the chequered flag to win in Jerez. Bezzecchi completes the podium.