Reigning MotoGP champion Francesco Bagnaia won the thrilling Spanish GP at Jerez after defeating Marc Marquez, who scored his first feature race podium on Ducati machinery.
Marco Bezzecchi finished third to take his first podium of the season since the inaugural Indian GP last year.
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Bagnaia wins, 0.372 seconds ahead of Marquez
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Martin crashes out but still leads the standings
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Bezzecchi scores first podium since Indian GP
Martin crashes out
After winning Saturday’s sprint race, Jorge Martin was once again leading the Spanish GP in the initial stages. However, any chance of a double win was wiped away when he crashed out with 15 laps to go.
This neatly handed the lead to Bagnaia, who started seventh. The Ducati rider was aggressive at the start and led majority of the race from that point on.
Bagnaia vs Marquez
Polesitter Marc Marquez was hot on the heels of Bagnaia, but couldn’t quite manage to overtake the two-time World Champion. A bold move through Turns 8 and 9 by the Spaniard in the latter stages of the race saw Marquez and Bagnaia scrap it out.
While Marquez was aggressive on the outside, Bagnaia remained put and stayed on his racing line. After this scuffle, Bagnaia set the fastest lap of the race on worn out tyres.
Marquez wasn’t quite able to catch up to him and had to settle for second. This was his first podium finish in dry conditions since the 2022 Australian GP.
2024 MotoGP championship standings
Despite his crash, Martin continues to lead the championship, 17 points ahead of Bagnaia. Enea Bastianini – the other factory Ducati rider – is third overall, five points behind Bagnaia. Despite barely finishing in the top 10, rookie Pedro Acosta is at the fourth spot, just a point behind Bastianini.
MotoGP will now head to Le Mans for the French GP on May 10-12.
2024 Spanish GP results
Unnatee Gidithuri
