It was a dreadful end to the weekend for Bagnaia, who set two track records and won Saturday's sprint, but it was a great finish for the Ducati who finished last.
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Jorge Martin maintained his championship lead after taking advantage of Francesco Bagnaia's crash in the Emilia-Romagna MotoGP, although he was overtaken by Enea Bastianini in the final lap of Sunday's race.
Martin was initially angered by Bastianini's bold overtake which decided the race but he remains 24 points ahead of his main rival Bagnaia, who crashed out of his 100th MotoGP with seven laps remaining at Misano Adriatico.
Martin, the Pramac rider seeking a maiden world title, was forced off the track by Bastianini's move to “knock” Marco Simoncelli off the track, giving Ducati their 100th MotoGP win, and he gestured angrily as he raced to second place.
But the fall of pole-sitter Bagnaia gives him a bigger buffer than expected ahead of next week's Indonesia MotoGP, although he was denied a first grand prix win since the Frenchman in June.
“I saw Enea was coming so I just tried to close the gap. Maybe it was a bit too much because he pushed me off the track so I couldn't get back and yes, maybe later I made some gestures because I was a bit hot,” said Martin.
“I think I was the best and deserved to win, but no matter what, I will try for the next match.”
It was Bastianini's second GP win of the season and the seventh of his career, allowing Bagnaia's Ducati teammate to move 59 points behind Martin with six GP weekends remaining.
“Today's race was unbelievable. I tried with three laps remaining but he slid off the line at turn six,” said the Italian, born in Misano, Rimini.
“When I found a bit of space at turn four I went in and locked down the line. To win today at Misano in front of my friends and the whole team is incredible.”
Marquez's podium present
Marc Marquez took advantage of Bagnaia's crash to take a podium finish, but his bid for a seventh MotoGP title remains on the wane.
Gresini rider Marquez, who will ride alongside Bagnaia in Ducati's factory team next season, is 60 points behind fellow Spanish rider Martin and has fallen behind Bastianini in the overall standings.
“Today I was talking to the team and we said fourth place would have been good for us,” said Marquez, who started seventh on the grid.
“This podium today was a gift for me, because three people were clearly faster than us, but I'm happy.”
Starting from second on the grid, Martin was fastest off the line but was quickly overtaken by Bagnaia at the first set of corners before the Variante del Parco turn.
But Martin was behind Bagnaia from that moment on and took control of the race with a superb overtake on the fourth lap, starting a battle with the two Italians on the Ducati.
Meanwhile, Bagnaia, who had clearly been struggling early in the race and was second to Bastianini, suddenly picked up speed and set two fastest laps in quick succession.
But the crash allowed Martin to continue a thrilling battle with Bastianini, who took the lead with seconds remaining in the race, prompting cheers from the crowd.
It was a dreadful end to the weekend for Bagnaia, who set two track records and won Saturday's sprint, but it was a great finish for Ducati, who claimed the Constructors' Championship, finishing 261 points ahead of KTM.
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First Publication Date: Sep 23, 2024, 07:53 AM IST
