Francesco Bagnaia emerged victorious in a thrilling battle with Marc Marquez to claim the Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez. The race took an unexpected turn when Jorge Martin, riding for Pramac, crashed out of the lead. The action kept the crowd on the edge of their seats as Marquez tried to catch the reigning MotoGP champion, but ultimately fell short. Marco Bezzecchi finished a distant third.
Marquez, who started from pole position, was hoping for a comeback after a disappointing Sprint race where he slipped to sixth place. Martin, on the other hand, aimed to extend his championship lead after winning the Saturday Sprint. The front row consisted of Marquez, Martin, and Bezzecchi, with 25 laps ahead of them.
Martin took the lead at the start, with Bagnaia quickly moving up to second. Bagnaia then overtook Martin to take the lead, but Marquez fought back. However, Marquez’s move didn’t succeed, allowing Martin to regain second place. Bagnaia reclaimed second shortly after. Ducatis dominated the top five positions, with Alex Marquez leading the pack.
The race was not as eventful as the Sprint race, but it was not without its share of incidents. Dani Pedrosa, who finished third on Saturday, was the first to crash out on Sunday. Martin and Bagnaia maintained their positions at the front, with Bezzecchi moving up to third. Martin set the fastest lap in the early stages, but Bagnaia and Marquez managed to pull away from the rest of the field.
On lap 11, Martin crashed out, handing the lead to Bagnaia. Bezzecchi made a mistake, allowing Marquez to take second place. Marquez then closed in on Bagnaia, reducing the gap to one second with 11 laps remaining. The battle between the two intensified, with Bagnaia setting the fastest lap on lap 17. Marquez continued to push, but Bagnaia held on to take a well-deserved victory.
Marquez finished in second place, with Bezzecchi securing third. Alex Marquez claimed fourth, followed by Enea Bastianini in fifth. Brad Binder was the highest-placed KTM rider in sixth, and Fabio Di Giannantonio finished seventh. Miguel Oliveira, Maverick Vinales, and Pedro Acosta completed the top ten.
Overall, it was an exhilarating race that showcased Bagnaia’s skill and determination. Marquez put up a fierce fight, but ultimately couldn’t catch the Italian rider. The Spanish Grand Prix provided plenty of excitement for the fans in attendance.