Bagnaia levels Martin in MotoGP Championship after Austria Sprint Success, Marquez crashes out

Francesco Bagnaia Won the MotoGP Austrian Sprint Race after duelling with Jorge Martin early on, the Italian draws level with Martin in the World Championship.

Bagnaia fought hard against his championship rival to achieve a crucial victory in the Sprint Race, the reigning champion now taking the lead of the championship going into the Grand Prix on Sunday.

It would be a fantastic start for Bagnaia, who took the lead of the race at the first corner from Jorge Martin. Jack Miller would run wide at the first corner, losing a few places after starting from fifth. Pedro Acosta gained a few places at the start as well after a disappointing Qualifying session put him in 14th. Alex Marquez would lose the front at Turn 2, somehow not making contact with anyone else around him, as both Gresini Racing riders crashed during the race.

Bagnaia and Martin duelled throughout the first lap at nearly every single corner, with Marquez sitting just behind them, waiting for an opportunity, which never quite came. Bagnaia would get a great launch off the exit of the first corner, drawing alongside Martin into the quick right-to-left chicane.

However, Martin would lose control of his bike, as his Pramac Ducati ran on through the chicane, and broke the rules by not losing one second. Martin came out just in front of Marquez, as Bagnaia began stretching the legs of the Ducati, opening a big lead of nearly five seconds.

Martin would be given a long lap penalty, which cost him around three seconds and put him effectively out of the running for the victory of the Sprint Race. Aleix Espargaro would slot in just behind him, unable to keep up with the pace and domination of the Ducati riders.

Franco Morbidelli would fight with Enea Bastianini, with Morbidelli being run deep into Turn 1, almost losing places to Brad Binder and Jack Miller.

Marc Marquez would lose the front of his bike, the Ducati’s front end washing out at Turn 4’s tight right-hander as Marquez slips further behind in the championship, now over 70 points down on the leaders.

Francesco Bagnaia would come home to take victory in the MotoGP Austrian Sprint Race, levelling Jorge Martin on points in the World Championship and taking the lead by a technicality of countback. Aleix Espargaro would come home to deliver another podium to Aprilia in his farewell season after Marquez’s crash, with Aprilia certainly able to challenge the Ducati’s this weekend.

MotoGP returns on Sunday at 13:00pm UK time for the Austrian Grand Prix.

MotoGP Austrian Sprint Race – Results

1st Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati
2nd Jorge Martin, Prima Pramac
3rd Aleix Espargaro, Aprilia
4th Enea Bastianini, Ducati
5th Jack Miller, Red Bull Factory KTM
6th Franco Morbidelli, Prima Pramac
7th Brad Binder, Red Bull Factory KTM
8th Marco Bezzecchi, VR46 Racing
9th Pol Espargaro, Red Bull Factory KTM (Wildcard)
10th Pedro Acosta, Red Bull GasGas KTM
11th Maverick Vinales, Aprilia
12th Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha
13th Miguel Oliveira, Trackhouse Aprilia
14th Raul Fernandez, Trackhouse Aprilia
15th Johann Zarco, LCR Honda
16th Takaaki Nakagami, LCR Honda
17th Luca Marini, Repsol Honda
18th Lorenzo Savadori, Aprilia
19th Joan Mir, Repsol Honda
20th Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
DNF Augusto Fernandez, Red Bull GasGas KTM
DNF Marc Marquez, Gresini Racing
DNF Alex Rins, Yamaha
DNF Stefan Bradl, Honda Test

Featured Image: Ducati Corse Media