Bastianini unstoppable as Martin fends off Bagnaia in tense Thailand Sprint
Words and images courtesy MotoGP
Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) charged to victory in the Tissot Sprint at the PT Grand Prix of Thailand. Taking glory by 1.357s after a sublime performance escaping at the front. He laid down the gauntlet. Behind, the top two in the title fight went toe-to-toe! With Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) just able to hold off Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) on the final two laps.
Martin increased his Championship lead to 22 points.
Once the lights went out, Bagnaia made a phenomenal launch from pole, taking a slight advantage on the run to Turn 1. However, Martin was on the attack, launching a move down the inside. He sent both himself and his main title rival wide enough to allow Bastianini and Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP) through.
The #89 was now left with work to do. Dropping even further to fifth as Pedro Acosta (Re Bull GASGAS Tech3) also picked his way past and defended. Martin tried to move straight back through.
On Lap 2 Martin was back in fourth though, past the rookie before Acosta had overcooked it and slid out. The next target for the Championship leader was Marc Marquez. Martin made a textbook move at the final corner to overtake the #93. It got close on the exit, but the #89 kept it, digging in to now chase down the next target:
Bagnaia in second.
Martin began to edge closer to the reigning World Champion. Bagnaia, Martin, and Marc Marquez were all glued close together on track. Once Martin was right on the tailpipes of the #1 though, he pounced at Turn 7. And there came some controversy as he ran slightly wide on the exit. This proved the next strike to award the Spaniard to a track limits warning. But he kept the position…
It was building to be a tense finale. Bastianini checked out at the front but the title rivals were separated by a mere 0.350s on the chase.
Bagnaia continued to pile on the pressure at every corner in an enthralling end to Saturday’s action. He looked like he was going to be able to set up a move.
By the final lap though, Martin had reeled in Bastianini more than Bagnaia had managed to make ground on the #89. In a tense final few kms the three sliced round Buriram. Ultimately, the ‘Beast’ kept it tidy to take a second Sprint win of the year in style. Martin held on under intense pressure to take second, and Bagnaia was forced to cede two more points in that Championship battle. He came home third.
Marc Marquez crossed the line in fourth, grabbing some strong points. The #93 was unable to match the pace of the top three in the latter stages. The eight-time World Champion finished ahead of teammate Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP), who rounded out the top five positions after a sensational ride.
The Spaniard had to work hard in the closing laps, with Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing) finishing a further 0.947s behind in sixth.
Further back, Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team’s Marco Bezzecchi and Fabio Di Giannantonio had a battle of their own. The Italians fought it out throughout the Sprint as Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) began to drop down the order. This was after climbing to P6 in the opening stages. Bezzecchi took P7 in the end, a tenth ahead of his teammate. Binder was forced to watch on and settle for the final point in ninth.
Another ding dong just behind saw Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) able to escape Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing). The Australian was then forced to fend off Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) by the flag. The Frenchman also stayed ahead of Joan Mir (Repsol Honda Team).
MOTO2
Pressure? There was no sign of it on Saturday as title race leader Ai Ogura (MT Helmets – MSI) collected a crucial pole position. This was at the PT Grand Prix of Thailand to hand himself the best possible starting slot for match point Sunday. The Japanese star set a 1:34.728 to beat Aron Canet (Fantic Racing) by 0.051s. Rookie star Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team) completed a front row that was split by just 0.074s.
Battling through the pain, Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) slotted home a late PB lap to earn P4 in Q2. But that will turn into P7 after the Italian was handed a three-place grid penalty for his involvement in Friday’s incident with Zonta van den Goorbergh (RW-Idrofoglia Racing GP).
That promoted Marcos Ramirez (OnlyFans American Racing Team) to the front of Row 2 in P4. The Spaniard was joined on the second row by Filip Sala? (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) and Albert Arenas (Gresini Moto2).
Australian GP winner Fermin Aldeguer (Beta Tools SpeedUp) will launch from P8. He will try to stop Ogura from claiming the 2024 crown in Thailand.
MOTO3
It’s been a long time coming but finally, following a fantastic final lap in Q2, Joel Kelso (BOE Motorsports) is a Grand Prix polesitter for the first time. The Australian’s 1:40.603 saw him beat Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) by 0.073s in Buriram. After being in the group that didn’t get out of pitlane in time to complete a final flying lap, Angel Piqueras (Leopard Racing) settled for an outside-of-the-front-row start in P3.
World Champion David Alonso (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) starts from the middle of the second row in P5. He aims to claim a record-breaking 12th win of the season.
The Colombian is sandwiched between fourth place Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) and sixth place Scott Ogden (FleetSafe Honda – MLav Racing). The Japanese star will be aiming to stand on the podium for a second year in a row in Thailand. Meanwhile, the British rider hopes to challenge for a maiden rostrum.
Hoping to keep himself in the driving seat for the silver medal in 2024, Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) will start tomorrow’s race from P7. Meanwhile, Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets – MSI) will go in search of keeping himself in the mix for that P2 overall spot. He will start from 9th on the grid.
