Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Enea Bastianini of Italy and Gresini Racing MotoGP in action during the MotoGP of Aragon at Motorland Aragon Circuit on September 18, 2022 in Alcaniz, Spain. PIcture: JOAN CROSS GARCIA - CORBIS/CORBIS VIA GETTY IMAGES
Enea Bastianini beat Francesco Bagnaia on the last lap to win a thrilling Aragon Grand Prix on Sunday for his fourth victory of the season as world championship leader Fabio Quartararo crashed out in the first lap, blowing the title race wide open.
Gresini Racing’s Bastianini avenged his narrow San Marino GP defeat earlier this month by denying Bagnaia a fifth straight win after a photo finish in Alcariz, fighting off the Ducati rider to win by 0.042 sec.
Bagnaia cut Frenchman Quartararo’s championship lead to 10 points with five races remaining, with Aleix Espargaro also back in the title hunt after completing the podium for Aprilia by passing Red Bull KTM’s Brad Binder on the penultimate lap.
Reigning champion Quartararo hit the rear of Marc Marquez’s Honda on the exit of turn five before the Spaniard and Takaaki Nakagami made contact, bringing the race to a premature end for all three riders.
“I lost the rear in turn three and Fabio made contact. When I engaged the holeshot device later in the lap, the bike locked and moved to the left because there was a piece of Fabio’s bike in the rear,” Marquez said. “It was really unlucky and I want to apologise to both Taka and Fabio.”
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Bastianini pips Bagnaia to win Aragon MotoGP
Enea Bastianini beat Francesco Bagnaia on the last lap to win a thrilling Aragon Grand Prix on Sunday for his fourth victory of the season as world championship leader Fabio Quartararo crashed out in the first lap, blowing the title race wide open.
Gresini Racing’s Bastianini avenged his narrow San Marino GP defeat earlier this month by denying Bagnaia a fifth straight win after a photo finish in Alcariz, fighting off the Ducati rider to win by 0.042 sec.
Bagnaia cut Frenchman Quartararo’s championship lead to 10 points with five races remaining, with Aleix Espargaro also back in the title hunt after completing the podium for Aprilia by passing Red Bull KTM’s Brad Binder on the penultimate lap.
Reigning champion Quartararo hit the rear of Marc Marquez’s Honda on the exit of turn five before the Spaniard and Takaaki Nakagami made contact, bringing the race to a premature end for all three riders.
“I lost the rear in turn three and Fabio made contact. When I engaged the holeshot device later in the lap, the bike locked and moved to the left because there was a piece of Fabio’s bike in the rear,” Marquez said. “It was really unlucky and I want to apologise to both Taka and Fabio.”
Reuters
New book commemorates 60 years of Kyalami
SA will not have a Formula One race in 2023
Super Max wins Belgium Grand Prix from 14th on grid
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Most Read
Related Articles
New Volkswagen Polo sedan touches down in SA
BMW i4 Gran Coupe is an electrifying experience
Toyota’s Hilux GR Sport storms into SA
Published by Arena Holdings and distributed with the Financial Mail on the last Thursday of every month except December and January.