Bagnaia holds off Quartararo to win Spanish Motogp

JEREZ DE LA FRONTERA: Italian Francesco Bagnaia ended a barren run by outpacing championship leader Fabio Quartararo to win the Spanish Motogp at Jerez on Sunday.

Spaniards Aleix Espargaro and Marc Marquez took the next two places as Spaniard Alex Rins, who started the race level on points atop the standings, failed to score.

Bagnaia won six times last season as he finished second to Quartararo in the championship, but this season had finished no beter than fith.

“This is one of the most grateful wins because it comes ater a long wait,” he said.

At the start he shot away on his factory Ducati and stayed ahead the rest of the way.

“The best start I ever did in a race,” he said. “Today we have finally found what we were reaching for.”

He said he was still batling shoulder pain but had managed it by limiting his time on track in practice and qualifying.

“It was important not to test my shoulder too much this weekend so id idn’ t ride many laps ,” he said.

Only Yamaha’s Quartararo could keep pace, but ater pressing in the early laps, spent the rest of the race hanging on before finishing just over a quarter of a second behind.

“He was too fast today,” said Quartararo. “It was not a batle because we did not overtake, but it was intense and we enjoyed it.”

“You fight all the race to try to win and at the end you do not succeed. But I know very well that these are very good points to take, I was at the limit, I could not do beter.

“It’s good to fight with a rider like him because I’m improving my riding.”

The batle, and the overtaking, were several seconds behind as Australian Jack Miller, on another Ducati, tried to hold off the ever-aggressive Marquez, with two more Spaniards, Espargaro, on an Aprilia, lurking.

They provided breathless entertainment for a crowd of more than 60,000, the first time spectators have been permited at the Andalusian circuit since the last pre-covid race in 2019.

“Jerez is one of the most iconic tracks,” said Espargaro. “When I saw the hillsides black with people this morning it made me feel good.”

- ‘This is my corner’ - Marquez overtook, but later lost control on a corner, only saving himself from another crash by elbowing down on the tarmac, while the Australian misjudged his braking.

“It has been very difficult mentally,” said Espargaro who pounced.