Pecco Bagnaia wins the race Jerez de la Frontera at the end of an exciting duel with Marc Marquez, a race that will go down in the history of this sport. The world champion resisted the extraordinary return of the Catalan Cannibal and with this success, the second after 4 events of the season MotoGPin the rankings it is hot on the heels of Jorge Martin (-17), who crashed during the race while in the lead. The podium is completed by another Italian, Marco Bezzecchi. At the finish line, 5 Ducatisti ahead of everyone, the success of Borgo Panigale is completed by Alex Marquez and Enea Bastianini, now third in the rankings at -22. But the real masterpiece was given by Pecco, the reigning world champion, who in the final was twice overtaken by the phenomenon from Cervera but was able to fight back like a champion, even setting the track record with three laps to go. It is the confirmation of a champion, but also the definitive return of another superhero, Marquez: Marc kneels in front of the jubilation of the Spanish public, but the real Cannibal today was him, Pecco.
«the match report»
Bagnaia: «With Marquez you have to be aggressive, but how nice»
After the finish line Bagnaia embraces Marquez, celebrating a challenge that is only just beginning, then celebrates: «The start was fundamental, because I started from the third row: that overtaking at the sixth corner was decisive», he explains. «Then I tried to push, Jorge made a mistake in front of me – again at turn 6 -: so, I had a lot of fun in the battle with Marc. With him you know that you always have to be very aggressive, in the end it was beautiful: seeing all this crowd celebrating is incredible, thanks to everyone.”
Marquez: «Today Bagnaia had something more»
On the circuit that seemed to compromise his career forever, the one where he fractured his right humerus, Marc Marquez was definitively reborn: “It was a very important race for me,” confesses the Catalan. At the beginning I was a little stiff, after yesterday’s crash, but I had the speed to get back to the front. It was like starting over from the old days, fighting with Pecco: I tried to pass him inside, but today he had something more. I’m happy with the podium.” Then a promise: “I will fight to the end.”
Bezzecchi on the podium: «Thank you, Valentino»
Marco Bezzecchi is back as a protagonist: «I’m very happy, it was a difficult moment and being able to react here in Jerez is twice as good. Thanks to the whole team, to my family who was close to me and to Valentino Rossiwho was here with us today.”
Bagnaia flies after a textbook braking performance
An extraordinary ‘braking’ by Bagnaia marks the first lap, and at the finish line the world champion – starting from the third row – is incredibly in the lead, with the Spaniards behind him: but at the end of the second lap Pecco makes a small mistake, taking advantage of it Martin to get in front with the Turin rider and Marc Marquez behind him. Behind the trio are Bezzecchi and Alex, Marc’s brother and teammate in the Gresini team. While Uncle Pedrosa – yesterday 3rd in the sprint 6 years after retiring – falls at turn 8, here Bez overtakes the Cannibal, with Martin who resists Bagnaia’s attacks.
Martin on the gravel
The twist comes after 11 laps: followed by the world champion, Martin loses control of the Gp24 when tackling turn 6: he ends up in the gravel, while Pecco goes ahead with almost 9 tenths of an advantage over Bezzecchi and a second and a half over Marquez. Behind them is Bastianini (6th) while Acosta struggles much further back (13th): the Aprilia does better than the Squalo di Mazarròn Viñales (9th), who lost his partner Aleix Espargarówhich crashed together with Honda’s Zarco. Three laps later, the Cannibal overtakes the Vr46 team driver and puts Bagnaia in his sights, devouring almost 4 tenths of his lead in a minute and a half.
Marc Marquez attacks, Bagnaia responds with the record
With 5 laps to go, Marquez has arrived: there is only a tenth of a gap between him and Bagnaia. The Catalan attacks, passes the world champion who replies and returns to the front, while the two first touch each other by centimeters at 300 per hour, then they touch, we both risk falling. Marc tries again, Pecco responds again and even sets the new track record (1’37″449) with 2 laps left to the finish line. Bagnaia took a sufficient lead to hold on, and after the finish line it was an embrace with the Ducati garage that he will never forget. Be careful, though, because now everything is clear: there are 3 champions who want the title – because Martin also deserves to be with those two – and in a couple of weeks at Le Mans it will be another event not to be missed.
