Bagnaia wins Catalunya MotoGP

Defending world champion Francesco Bagnaia triumphed at the Catalunya MotoGP on Sunday, edging closer to championship leader Jorge Martin.

Bagnaia, riding for Ducati, overtook Martin on lap 20 at turn five—the same spot where he crashed out of Saturday’s sprint race. This victory marks Bagnaia’s third win of the season, bringing him within 39 points of Martin in the championship standings.

The race saw Bagnaia’s flawless performance and strategic prowess. He expressed his satisfaction post-race, highlighting his frustration from the previous day’s crash but also his confidence in his potential to win. “Honestly I was very angry about yesterday, but I knew the potential I had and was able to win the race,” said Bagnaia. He praised his team’s efforts, adding, “The bike was amazing, the team did an amazing job setting up the bike and now I’m looking forward to the next race.”

Jorge Martin, who started seventh on his Pramac Ducati, took an early lead after overtaking Pedro Acosta and Bagnaia. However, he couldn’t maintain his lead against Bagnaia’s relentless push and finished nearly two seconds behind. Despite the loss, Martin remained positive, stating, “I am super happy, super proud… Towards the end I tried to keep the pace but had nothing left in my pocket.”

Home favorite Marc Marquez, riding for Ducati-Gresini, secured a podium finish in third place after starting 14th on the grid. This marks Marquez’s third consecutive podium finish as he continues his quest for a first MotoGP win since 2021. “I had a bad start, however, step by step I made up ground—I was patient as I knew the race was long,” said Marquez. He expressed some regret for Aleix Espargaro, who finished fourth, noting it was Espargaro’s final race in Catalunya before retiring.

Espargaro, who had won the sprint race on Saturday and started from pole position, hoped to repeat his double victory from last year. Despite a strong performance, he was unable to fend off Marquez’s late surge.

As the MotoGP season progresses, Bagnaia’s victory in Catalunya adds significant excitement to the championship race. With the next race set for next weekend’s Italian MotoGP, all eyes will be on Bagnaia and Martin as the battle for the title intensifies.

(Source: AFP)