Misano Adriatico — Francesco Bagnaia won the San Marino MotoGP on Sunday, marking his fourth consecutive victory in the top class and closing the gap on championship leader Fabio Quartararo.
In a dramatic victory at Misano Adriatico, Ducati rider Bagnaia edged out Enea Bastianini to move within 30 points of defending world champion Quartararo, who finished sixth.
He moves into second place in the championship standings, surpassing Aleix Espargaro, who finished behind Yamaha’s Quartararo.
Espargaro sits 33 points behind Quartararo after being passed by the Frenchman, who began the race in sixth place.
Bagnaia’s triumph was all the more impressive considering he had to start from fifth due to a three-place grid penalty issued on Friday during practice.
After taking the lead on the third lap, Bagnaia held off first Maverick Vinales and then Bastianini – his teammate for the upcoming season – to win his sixth of the 14 GPs contested thus far this season.
Jack Miller, a teammate of Bagnaia who had started on pole for the second time in his MotoGP career, was one of five riders to crash at the race’s tumultuous start.
Johann Zarco, Michele Pirro, and Pol Espargaro all crashed out on the very first turn, while Miller and Marco Bezzechi crashed out on the subsequent lap.
Dovizioso finished in 12th place in his final MotoGP race.
AFP