The Championship chief cedes floor after flag-to-flag gamble, Marquez holds off Bagnaia and Bastianini maintains his 100% podium file at Misano.
Only one week after returning to the highest step of the rostrum, Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) reigned supreme as soon as once more on the Gran Premio Purple Bull di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini. The #93’s prowess in tough-to-judge circumstances was again with a bang as a flag-to-flag provided likelihood to gamble – with a swap, or with a push in direction of the entrance. Marquez selected the latter and picked his manner via to glory for his first back-to-back wins since 2021.
Reigning Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Group) additionally selected to remain out, and remained locked with Marquez for a lot of the race earlier than settling into second place as an enormous twist provided up an opportunity at key Championship good points: Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) DID take the gamble to pit, and it didn’t repay. He got here again out a lap down after having been compelled to change a second time, taking one level for P15 as his lead is reduce to seven factors.
Lastly, Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Group) took the ultimate spot on the podium, protecting his 100% MotoGP™ rostrum file at Misano in tact and making his personal good points on Martin within the standings.
There was drama earlier than the beginning, with spots of rain and pressure within the air. The white flags waved, permitting riders to swap bikes, and the stage was set for an enthralling San Marino GP. Because the lights went out, Bagnaia secured the holeshot, this time holding off Martin because the #89 acquired begin however this time needed to additionally dispatch teammate and entrance row starter Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing) in third.
The 2 have been locked collectively within the lead and Martin half went for a divebomb transfer at Flip 2, compelled to cede and simply avoiding contact with Bagnaia, however there was some contact additional again within the aftermath as Pedro Acosta (Purple Bull GASGAS Tech3) then tried a transfer on Morbidelli however clashed with the Italian. The #31 misplaced a wing however did ultimately discover his manner via at Flip 8 earlier than ceding it once more as he went broad at Flip 10. Sadly the rookie’s race then took a twist as he crashed out not lengthy after, with the rain beginning to choose up, and Morbidelli was subsequent to slip out. Riders okay.
Because the rain began to have a visual impact on the tempo, there have been selections to be made. And on the entrance, Martin was now proper again on the exhaust of Bagnaia within the lead, with Marc Marquez making severe progress into the group and Jack Miller (Purple Bull KTM Manufacturing facility Racing) too. Heading in direction of pit entry subsequent time spherical, there was one rider who determined to pit from the group: Martin.
As he peeled in, Bagnaia led Marquez on the entrance, however not for lengthy. By the tip of Lap 8, the #93 was into the lead and Miller was sizzling on Bagnaia’s heels too, with Martin down in P15 afer rejoining. However the rain didn’t get any worse, permitting Marquez and Bagnaia to stretch away simply as Martin realised he was going to must pit, once more.
Re-emerging a lap down however proper behind the leaders, the purpose for Bagnaia to make Championship good points was now broad open. Those that gambled – Martin, Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse Racing), Acosta after rejoining, Alex Rins (Monster Power Yamaha MotoGP™ Group) and Aprilia Racing’s Aleix Espargaro and Maverick Viñales all pitted once more, all however out of the struggle for factors.
In the meantime, the rain had stopped however the hole on the entrance was solely getting greater. After holding it regular with Bagnaia on his tail, the #93 started to drag away within the lead. Bastianini was additionally quick coming into podium competition, pipping previous Miller to take over in third, and Brad Binder (Purple Bull KTM Manufacturing facility Racing) was subsequent on the scene as he charged via into fourth as circumstances improved, however as Bagnaia couldn’t make inroads on Marquez, neither might Bastianini nor Binder bridge their respective gaps.
Marquez stored it upright in some model to take first first back-to-back wins in 2021, throwing his title extra firmly again into the Championship hat and on Gresini house turf. Bagnaia’s second place, nonetheless, was a surprising 19-point swing within the Championship as Martin’s gamble backfired – and the reigning Champion was completely happy sufficient with that for a troublesome day’s work beneath stress.
Behind Bastianini and Binder in third and fourth, a duel to the end determined fifth. After a harder begin from the entrance row, Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Group) was storming again via and homing in on Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) because the laps ticked down, glueing the VR46 machine to the rear wheel forward. The transfer got here within the type of a dive up the within at Flip 14, and Bezzecchi made it stick and held off the counter assault to finish the highest 5.
In the meantime, Fabio Quartararo (Monster Power Yamaha MotoGP™ Group) concluded a formidable weekend, with the #20 matching his and Yamaha’s finest outcomes of 2024 as far as they work on transferring again in direction of the entrance. The Frenchman duelled Miller to the flag within the latter phases, slicing via at Flip 8 to take that P7. Fabio di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Group) and Purple Bull KTM Manufacturing facility Racing’s wildcard Pol Espargaro rounded out the highest 10, with Martin taking that single level in P15.
After that unimaginable weekend of Championship twists, it’s as soon as once more tight on the prime on the earth’s most enjoyable sport. Racing will return to the long-lasting Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli in two weeks on the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, and that’s after a one-day check on Monday too because the grid reset and reload for extra!
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