MotoGP News: Bagnaia gets crucial win over Martin in Malaysia

Factory Ducati rider Francesco Bagnaia has kept his World Championship hopes alive at the Petronas Grand Prix of Malaysia. It was a sensational ride from the #1, putting down the hammer after a breathtaking duel with points leader Jorge Martin in the opening laps.

The #89 went head-to-head with Bagnaia, battling hard at the start of the Grand Prix before finishing in second and rounding out an incredible weekend at the Petronas Sepang International Circuit.

It was a huge day for the Championship, with Martin’s advantage now reduced to just 24 points as the title fight now rolls onto the final round.

Behind them, the other Ducati factory rider Enea Bastianini was able to grab the final spot on the podium in a crucial day for ‘The Beast’, who moved a step closer as he continues his fight for third position in the Championship. Bastianini took solid points on Sunday, finishing 10.484s adrift from teammate Bagnaia in a Grand Prix which will be remembered.

“Managing the heat was the easiest part today,” said Bagnaia.

“Jorge was very aggressive and he knew he had to let me behind, but our pace was too good. Like always in the race on Sunday I can attack, I can be more and more aggressive.

“We just need to understand why on Saturdays in the Sprint races I’m struggling to do the same. It’s the 10th victory of the season and we are doing an incredible job. I just have to improve a bit on Saturdays.”

“Jorge was very aggressive and he knew he had to let me behind, but our pace was too good. Like always in the race on Sunday I can attack, I can be more and more aggressive.

“We just need to understand why on Saturdays in the Sprint races I’m struggling to do the same. It’s the 10th victory of the season and we are doing an incredible job. I just have to improve a bit on Saturdays.”

With the gap under two seconds, the race-defining mistake at Turn 9 on Lap 16 blew the lead back out. All told, Martin finished three seconds back.

“Thanks to Pecco [Bagnaia] because he’s making this challenge more and more difficult,” Martin said.

“I wanted to win and I wanted to be on the lead, but for sure Pecco had another strategy. He was quite aggressive, I was also, and we were making a good show for the first few laps.

“But then as soon as he overtook me, it was impossible to fight. I tried to put some more pressure, but I almost crashed.”

2024 Malaysian GP Race Results

* Rookie