Double delight for SKY Racing Team

IT was all in the family for SKY Racing Team VR46 at the Sepang International Circuit.

Yesterday, the team enjoyed a double delight when Italian Francesco Bagnaia clinched the Moto2 world title after finishing third in the Malaysia Grand Prix race.

The Italian finished behind title rival and KTM rider Miguel Oliveira of Portugal to seal the world title with one race to spare.

Bagnaia’s teammate Luca Marini also made it a memorable day when he secured his maiden victory in the intermediate class.

Marini is the half brother of multiple MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi, who is also the owner of the team.

Bagnaia arrived in Sepang 36 points clear of Oliveira, meaning he could afford to finish outside the points as long as his Portuguese rival did not end up in the top two.

Bagnaia was immediately on the move when the 18-lap race got under way and jumped from sixth to second on the opening lap.

Oliveira slotted himself right behind Bagnaia and passed him in Turn 4 by lap seven but a second place was just not enough to keep the title fight going into the Valencia finale in Spain in two weeks time.

Bagnaia was declared champion in the end, having built an unassailable 32-point lead over Oliveira with only 25 on offer in Valencia.

After 18 races so far, Bagnaia is now on top with 304 points, followed by Oliveira with 272 points.

Meanwhile, Marini ran wide at turn 1 on lap 13 but the Sky VR46 rider recovered fast to build a small buffer again.

He held on to score his first victory of the season under sweltering Sepang conditions, bettering his second-place result from the Czech Republic earlier this year.

The 21-year-old Bagnaia was thrilled to claim his first world title.

“We tried in Phillip Island last week but we were unable to, here it was possible,” said Bagnaia, who will be a contract rider for Ducati in his rookie MotoGP season in 2019.

“It’s a good farewell for me as I am going up to MotoGP next year,” added Bagnaia, who has won eight races so far in his second season in Moto2 category.

You go, guy: Italian Moto2 rider Francesco Bagnaia celebrating with his team members after winning the world title during the Shell Malaysia Motorcycle Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit yesterday.