Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) took a decisive victory in the Tissot Sprint at the Motul Solidarity Grand Prix of Barcelona, cutting Jorge Martin’s (Prima Pramac Racing) championship lead to just 19 points.
The reigning World Champion dominated Saturday’s action, crossing the line first after a thrilling battle, while teammate Enea Bastianini delivered a stunning second-place finish, denying Martin critical points in the title race.
The lights went out with high stakes, as Bastianini launched into the holeshot at Turn 1. However, Bagnaia wasted no time, overtaking his teammate at Turn 3 to seize the lead. The intense opening laps also saw Jorge Martin battling to maintain pace, as the championship contender locked horns with Bastianini and Bagnaia in a dramatic three-way clash.
While Bagnaia built a lead, Martin made his move on Bastianini by Lap 3, briefly taking second place before Bastianini retaliated. This back-and-forth exchange thrilled fans, but Bagnaia capitalized on the chaos behind to extend his advantage.
The Sprint saw heartbreak for MotoGP™ rookie Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3), who retired on the opening lap following contact with Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™). Meanwhile, battles for fourth through sixth positions were equally fierce, with Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) defending his position against Alex Marquez and Franco Morbidelli.
Martin briefly found breathing room by Lap 7, but a resurgent Bastianini reclaimed second place with a bold move on the final lap at Turn 5, relegating Martin to third.
Aleix Espargaro, preparing for his final race as a full-time MotoGP™ rider, finished fourth in an emotional penultimate outing. His performance was a fitting tribute to a storied career, as he held off Alex Marquez, who rounded out the top five.
Bagnaia’s Sprint win narrows Martin’s championship lead to just 19 points, setting the stage for an epic showdown in Sunday’s finale. With 25 points on offer, the title is still up for grabs, and #TheRematch will reach its climax under immense pressure for both riders.
Top 10 Finishers:
- Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team): –
- Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team): +0.942
- Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing): +1.270
- Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing): +1.857
- Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™): +1.942
- Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing): +5.263
- Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™): +5.303
- Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team): +5.507
- Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing): +5.573
- Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™): +5.937
Credit Photo : MotoGP
