Bagnaia claims victory at Japan MotoGP, surpassing leader Martin

Posted : 06 October 2024

Francesco Bagnaia clinched victory at the Japan MotoGP on Sunday, significantly narrowing the championship gap with front-runner Jorge Martin. This win brought Bagnaia within just 10 points of Martin in the overall standings, with only four races left in the season. The defending world champion showcased his skills by overtaking pole-sitter Pedro Acosta right from the start and maintaining his lead throughout the race, finishing 1.189 seconds ahead of Martin, who secured second place. Marc Marquez completed the podium in third.

In addition to his victory in the main race, Bagnaia also triumphed in Saturday's sprint race, leaving Japan with an impressive total of 11 points gained on Martin since the weekend began. This win marked Bagnaia's eighth Grand Prix victory of the season, setting a new personal record for the Italian rider. Furthermore, this was his first triumph at the Japan MotoGP, adding a significant milestone to his career.

Martin, aiming for his inaugural world title, faced a challenging start, qualifying in 11th position after crashing during qualifying sessions. Despite this setback, he managed to fight his way up the standings during the race. Meanwhile, Acosta, the young Spanish rookie, started on pole for the first time in his MotoGP career but unfortunately slid out of contention with 21 laps remaining while chasing Bagnaia.

Enea Bastianini from Italy secured fourth place, maintaining his position in third place in the overall standings, just two points ahead of Marquez, a six-time world champion. The race unfolded under overcast skies, but the rain held off, allowing for competitive racing. Acosta initially held his ground against Bagnaia at the first turn, but it didn’t take long for the Italian to take control of the race.

As the race progressed, Martin made impressive moves, advancing from 11th to fourth by the end of the first lap. He overtook Brad Binder from South Africa and, following Acosta's crash two laps later, moved up to second place. Although Martin managed to reduce the gap to Bagnaia to under a second with just a few laps to go, Bagnaia maintained a sufficient pace to secure the win.

The battle for third place between Marquez and Bastianini was intense, with Marquez ultimately holding onto his position. Italian rider Franco Morbidelli finished in fifth place, while Binder crossed the line in sixth. Additionally, Spain's Maverick Vinales, who started the race in third, experienced a crash that impacted his performance.

This race not only showcased Bagnaia's skills but also highlighted the fierce competition in the MotoGP championship. With the remaining races set to be critical, the tension among the top riders is palpable as they vie for the coveted title.

Bagnaia claims victory at Japan MotoGP, surpassing leader Martin

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