MotoGP: Bagnaia triumphs in Barcelona. And now he chases Martin in the rankings
Two Italian drivers in the top five. In a week we will race in Italy, at Mugello
ROME – Right there, at turn 5 of the Barcelona circuit, where the day before he had crashed while leading the Tissot Sprint and made a mess, Francesco Bagnaia ( Ducati Lenovo Team) made the overtaking move that earned him the victory in the Monster Energy Grand Prix of Catalonia. It happened – says the official MotoGP website – on the 19th of the 25 laps scheduled at Montmelò, where the protagonists of the premier class started with a big question mark associated with the life of the tires, which must be managed properly so as not to risk sinking at the end, given the high degradation.
We deserved the chance to celebrate together.
— Pecco Bagnaia (@PeccoBagnaia) May 26, 2024
Today you gave me a beautiful first time, I was waiting for you ❤️🔥 #Go1Free pic.twitter.com/y72pt4Pqb3
In the first laps and after the initial adjustments, while Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) let off steam, followed like a shadow by Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) , the reigning world champion had slipped more than a second behind the leader in third. At that point, after about ten rounds, the victory seemed like a deal between the two Spaniards. But the rookie made a mistake at turn 10, where he lost the front, handing second place to the Italian.
TENTH UPON TENTH
From then on, Bagnaia’s recovery from Martin was slow but inexorable: the Borgo Panigale official caught up with the world championship leader on lap 19, when he overtook him. At that point the Iberian had no more ammunition to fire: he progressively lost ground, finishing over a second and a half behind the winner, in a race in which the podium was decided by 52 thousandths.
MARC MARQUEZ AGAINST ESPARGARO
The poleman Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) and Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP) are fighting it out, making an comeback after starting from 14th on the grid using a soft compound at the rear: a risk, given that most of the rivals mounted the medium. The number 93 came out on top, thanks to an overtaking with four laps to go and a final lap in which he closed all the spaces, taking his third Sunday podium in a row after recovering 11 positions compared to the qualifying result. The Ducati rider saw the checkered flag with a gap of over 10 seconds from Bagnaia: Acosta, who got back on the saddle after ending up in the gravel, crossed the finish line 31 seconds behind the winner, in thirteenth place despite the fall.
TWO ITALIAN RIDERS AMONG THE TOP 5
Fifth position went to Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team), who got the better of Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse Racing) in the final corners. Seventh Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP) and eighth Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), who in the very early stages and after convincing qualifying seemed able to keep up with the pace of the first: from the tenth lap he collapsed and finished with a gap of over 18 seconds from Bagnaia.
THE IMPACT OF RESULTS ON THE RANKINGS
In the race for the title, Bagnaia regains second position, overtaking Marc Marquez: Martin has a 39-point advantage over the official from Borgo Panigale. The number 93 is instead two lengths further back.
In a week a new challenge: it will be raced in Italy, on the Mugello circuit.
