MotoGP News: Bastianini breaks through for Sprint Race win

Ducati factory rider Enea Bastianini overhauled Jorge Martin to take a maiden Sprint success at the British MotoGP, as Bastianini’s teammate Francesco Bagnaia crashed.

For the fourth time in 2024 points leader Bagnaia crashed in the Sprint race, while Bastianini and Martin fought for victory.

The Pramac rider initially led before Bastianini blazed past, while pole man Aleix Espargaro took a comfortable third.

Not only was it a special breakthrough for Bastianini, it meant his teammate Bagnaia stayed in the championship lead by a single point.

Australia’s Jack Miller had a solid ride and secured important points with seventh.

It was an even start between Bagnaia and Espargaro who went side by side through Turn 1, but by the time they reached Turn 3 it was Martin who had the momentum.

Martin soared into the lead as Bastianini also pounced on Espargaro, while Bagnaia fell to fourth.

Further back there was a high speed crash between Marco Bezzecchi and Franco Morbidelli.

Morbidelli came into Abbey Corner far too hot and took out Bezzecchi in dramatic fashion.

At the start of Lap 2 future teammates Brad Binder and Pedro Acosta had a side to side clash.

In addition to losing a significant amount of aero, it allowed Marc Marquez to pass the pair and get fifth.

The strong pace of Bastianini meant Martin was not allowed to ride into the distance in a tight two-horse race comfortably clear of Espargaro.

As the race approached midway, Bagnaia started to show his hand and creep closer to the leaders having set the fastest lap.

However, he stopped himself from making any further inroads when he crashed under braking at The Loop.

The battle for the lead hotted up on Lap 6 when Bastianini made his first move.

He dived the inside at Copse, only for Martin to perform the switchback and retain the lead after the pair charged into Maggotts side by side.

The contest resumed as they charged down the Hanger Straight where Bastianini was able to snatch the lead for good.

Within two laps the #23 was able to pull the best part of half a second on the #89.

At the end of Lap 8 Marc Marquez, who looked settled in fourth, fell into the gravel on approach to Club.

Although other big Ducati names fell, Bastianini was on fire and charged to victory by more than a second.

Attention turns to the Grand Prix at 22.00 AEST where riders will race in retro liveries.

MotoGP British Grand Prix Sprint Results