MISANO ADRIATICO: Enea Bas­­t­i­a­nini won the Emilia-Romagna Mot­oGP on Sunday as Jorge Martin extended his lead in the championship standings thanks to key title riv­al Francesco Bagnaia crashing out.

Defending champion Bagnaia’s fall with seven laps remaining allowed Martin to move 24 points into the lead despite being overtaken by eventual winner Bastianini on the final lap.

Bastianini’s second GP win of the season allowed the Ducati rider to move to within 59 points of Martin with six GP weekends left.

Marc Marquez took advantage of Bagnaia’s mishap by completing the podium, but he still loses ground in his bid to claim a seventh MotoGP title.

Gresini rider Marquez, who will ride alongside Bagnaia with Ducati’s factory team next season, trails his fellow SpaniardMartin by 60 points and slipped behind Bastianini in the standings.

Starting second on the grid, Martin was fastest off the line but was quickly overtaken by Bagnaia on the first set of corners before the Variante del Parco turn.

But Martin was on Bagnaia’s tail from that moment and took charge of the race in the fourth lap with a brilliant overtake, after which he expertly held off first Bagnaia and then Bastianini.

Meanwhile Bagnaia, was clearly struggling in the early part of the race, suddenly picked up pace and posted the two fastest laps one after the other.

But he slid off the track with seven laps remaining, leaving Martin to continue uninterrupted his thrilling battle with Bastianini, who drew roars from the crowd when he took the lead with seconds remaining in the race.

Published in Dawn, September 23rd, 2024