AGI – After the disappointing weekend in Texas and fresh from yesterday’s crash in the Sprint Race, Francesco Bagnaia achieved a triumph as a true world champion in the Jerez Grand Prix. The Italian wins after a super start and after having defended himself brilliantly from the last desperate attacks of an excellent Marc Marquez in the final laps, also taking advantage of Jorge Martin’s fall near the halfway point of the race (Pecco is again second in the standings at -17 from the summit). Closing the podium was the other Italian Marco Bezzecchi. Bagnaia’s start was splendid: starting from seventh place, he immediately gained three positions, then made a double overtaking that brought applause on Bezzecchi and Martin and subsequently also snatched first place from Marc Marquez, concluding the first lap in the lead.
However, a small mistake by the Italian allows Martin to overtake him, while behind them Bezzecchi and Marquez also continue to push hard. The twist comes on lap 11, when the Spaniard, world leader, goes down and is forced to retire: Bagnaia thanks him and returns to first, trying to get ahead of his pursuers. Three laps later Marquez attacks Bezzecchi and takes second place from him, immediately trying to increase the pace to mend the gap on the leader. The Spaniard succeeds and glues himself to the world champion for some breath-taking final laps: the ’93 classmate attempts a couple of attacks, but the Italian defends himself brilliantly and puts a great masterpiece in his pocket.
Bagnaia, “I had a lot of fun in the finale with Marquez”
“The first lap was crazy, starting like that was very important. I tried to push in front, then Martin made a mistake and I took advantage of it. In the final with Marc (Marquez, ed.) I had a lot of fun, I knew I having to be aggressive to bring home the victory and I did it.” This is how a very happy Francesco Bagnaia expressed himself after his great victory in the Jerez Grand Prix. This is the second success of the season for the Italian from Ducati Lenovo, coming ahead of Marc Marquez and Marco Bezzecchi. This is the comment of the Spanish Ducati Gresini rider: “”It was a truly important and beautiful race. At the beginning I was stiff thinking about the recent crashes and I lost a few positions, but I knew I had the pace to fight. A great battle with Bagnaia, that’s the beauty of racing. I tried to pass him but he was very strong in the last laps. I’m very happy with this first podium.” The other Italian on the Ducati VR46 is also very happy: “I’m very happy, because I was coming off the end of the last season and the start of this new one being less than exciting. I managed to react here where I suffered last year and for this I am very happy. I thank the whole team and all the people close to me who have always believed in me and always supported me.”
Bezzecchi, “it’s nice to be competitive again in Jerez”
“For me, the start of this season and the final part of last year were difficult and so this result makes me happy. It’s nice to react right here in Jerez, where I suffered last year. I’m grateful to my team who helped me always supported.” This was declared by Marco Bezzecchi (Ducati Pertamina), third at the end of the Spanish Grand Prix, on the Jerez track.
