There are still a lot of races left, short ones like this one on Saturday and real big prizes on Sundays. The champion, the Italian ‘Pecco’ Bagnaia (Ducati), which continues to run in a World Cup plan, that is, thinking about the way and the system to repeat, to retain, the title, appears very solid. TRUE. But the impetus of the young man from Madrid Jorge Martin (Ducati)who has just done a double in Misano, remains intact and, today, in the World Cup debut of India, the 30th country to visit the Motorcycle World Championship, has achieved its fourth victory in the ‘sprint’ (the same as Bagnaia) and has subtracted another three points from the leader, who is already within striking distance of the Spaniard, since he has ‘only’ 33 points, when in a weekend whoever wins both races can add 37.
Today’s race had, without a doubt, Martín as its main protagonist, who fought for pole position yesterday against Marco Bezzecchi (Ducati), today more than spectacular, portentous, as he crashed in the first corner and climbed back to fifth position. Martín recognized before the race that “whoever reaches the first corner first has a 90% chance of winning the race.” No sooner said than done. “I had a great start, I took the first corner first, it benefited me when Marco (Bezzecchi) went down, I pushed hard and when I had a second on ‘Pecco’ (Bagnaia) I kept it and won well. I’m very happy, but still “There is a lot of work to do. ‘Bezz’, tomorrow, in the long race will be fearsome, today he went like a bullet after falling.”
Martin, huge
Outstanding for Martín, indeed. Almost a 10 for Bagnaia, who even with the consequences of his accident in Misano, added a second place that allows him to maintain certain distances with respect to Martín. “Today, the best I could achieve was a podium and I achieved it, I don’t know if I would have finished second if ‘Bezz’ had been in the fight, but it was all I could do. Tomorrow everything will be harder and we hope that the track will be is completely dry, since today it has been in critical conditions after the flood.
Almost triumph for Marc Márquez (Honda), who is experiencing one of his worst seasons and who, after the podium in Portimao (Portugal), another third place and, again, with Martín and Bagnaia (on that occasion ‘Pecco’ won and Jorge was second), he had an impressive race, dominating the pace and resisting the chase of the South African Brad Binder (KTM), who ended up close to the tail of the Honda 93, but being unable to overtake the champion from Cervera (Lleida).
“I would like to always be on the podium, but it is impossible. Of course, my commitment to Honda and the competition is unalterable. I always try.” Marc Márquez, Repsol Honda team driver
“I would always like to be on the podium, of course, of course! But there is what there is and the only thing I want is to continue showing that my commitment to Honda and the competition remains unalterable,” said Márquez at the end of the race and celebrating. the bronze with all its equipment. “The race pace was very good, although Bagnaia was a bit far away. I suffered and had to take risks in several corners to keep Binder behind, but I am very, very, happy.”
Tremendous Bezzecchi
And, yes, let’s dedicate the last paragraph to a sensational Marco Bezzecchi (Ducati), third candidate for the title, who went wrong and collided, in the first corner, with his teammate Luca Marini, causing a fall that left him with no options. podium. But Valentino Rossi’s favorite student got up, took his Ducati and left like a buffalo, like a rocket, and rose from last position to fifth place In just seven laps! Well, we are talking about a short race, a ‘sprint’. Awesome! certainly spectacular, as ‘Bezz’ linked fast lap after fast lap and remains third in the championship.
Drivers’ World Cup: 1. ‘Pecco’ Bagnaia (Italy, Ducati), 292 points; 2. Jorge Martín (Spain, Ducati), 259; 3. Marco Bezzecchi (Italy, Ducati), 223; 4.Brad Binder (South Africa, KTM), 179 and 5. Aleix Espargaró (Spain, Aprilia), 160.