Bagnaia doubles up at Misano

There are many stories to tell from the 27-lap San Marino Grand Prix, where Pecco Bagnaia rode his Lenovo Ducati GP21 to his second career premier-class win just seven days after celebrating his first.

Once again showing he has the mental fortitude to hold off the fiercest pressure from the best in the world, it was eight-time world champ Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) seven days ago who was unable to break the Italian, and it was championship leader Fabio Quartararo (Monster Yamaha) this time around. The Frenchman reduced a 2.5-second lap at half race distance to just one tenth by the final lap, but he couldn’t get close enough to show the in-form Ducati rider a front wheel.

And the fact that Quartararo was willing to risk a safe second-place haul of 20 points was remarkable in itself. Not known for an all-or-nothing approach, he came into this round with a 53-point advantage over Bagnaia, but if he had beaten the Ducati to the line he would have had a mathematical chance to wrap the title up in Austin, Texas, in just two weeks’ time. Now he’ll need to wait.

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Bastianini breaks through

Perhaps the biggest story of the day, however, is MotoGP rookie Enea Bastianini’s (Avintia Ducati) stellar ride from 12th on the grid through to a breakthrough maiden podium, picking off some huge names of the sport along the way.

He’d made up six places by just the fifth lap and picked Marc Marquez’ pocket for fourth place one lap later. With 22 laps left to run, there was a 3.5-second gap up to Quartararo in third, who was chasing the two factory Ducatis of Bagnaia and teammate Jack Miller.

A mistake by Miller on Lap 10 signalled the start of his problems, with Quartararo catching and passing the Aussie by Lap 14. In the meantime, with Marquez breathing down Bastianini’s neck, the rookie – on the notoriously difficult two-year-old Ducati GP19 – reeled off three fastest laps of the race in quick succession and had passed Miller for third with eight laps to go.

A battle for fourth between Marquez, Miller and reigning world champ Joan Mir was won by Marquez after a move by Mir on Miller sent the pair wide, leaving Marquez to grab them both on the last lap. And although Mir crossed the line ahead of the Aussie, he was demoted one place for exceeding track limits on the final lap.

Tough race for Suzuki

It was a disappointing end to such a strong showing for both Suzuki riders all weekend. Mir and teammate Alex Rins spent the practice sessions rarely out of the top five places, though once again they were hampered in qualifying and failed to find early rhythm in the race.

Rins followed Bastianini through the field and was up to fifth place before he suffered his fourth DNF of the season, while Mir’s eventual sixth place now leaves him with a 67-point deficit to Quartararo and out of the title battle.

Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda) finished seventh ahead of brother Aleix (Aprilia Gresini Team) and Red Bull KTM’s Brad Binder, with Taka Nakagami (Idemitsu LCR Honda) rounding out the top 10.

Maverick Vinales finished his second race on the Factory Aprilia in 13th, Valentino Rossi (Petronas Yamaha SRT) finished 17th, one place ahead of the returning Franco Morbidelli (Monster Yamaha) who was making his debut in the factory squad. Andrea Dovizioso (Petronas Yamaha SRT) was 21st on his return to the premier class for the first time this season.

Bagnaia’s win has kept the championship fight alive with 186 points to Quartararo’s 234. Mir remains in third with 167 points and Johann Zarco (Pramac Ducati) stays in fourth on 141 points, just one point ahead of Miller (140) in fifth.

Moto 2

Moto2 rookie sensation Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) took his sixth win of the season in San Marino, his second on the trot and both with a broken bone in his right hand. From pole position, the Spaniard remained calm and pushed his way through to lead the field by lap 15, while teammate and championship leader Remy Gardner made his way through from sixth on the opening lap.

In the end, Gardner rode a clever race to limit the damage, crossing the line in second place ahead of third-placed Aron Canet (Liqui Moly Intact GP).

Gardner remains in control with 271 points ahead of Fernandez’ 237, with Sky Racing Team VR46 rider Marco Bezzechi in third on 190 points.

And just when it looked as if Romano Fentai (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) was set for another runaway Moto3 win, the experienced Italian threw away a 2.6-second lead on Lap 15 when he crashed out, leaving last week’s winner Dennis Foggia perfectly poised to pick up his second consecutive victory.

With title leader Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) mired in a battle for eighth place, the opportunity for title rival Sergio Garcia (Gas Gas Aspar Team) to profit from Acosta’s average result was lost when his podium battle ended in a fourth-place finish behind two popular locals in Niccolo Antonelli (Avintia VR46) and Andrea Migno (Rivacold Snipers Team).

While Acosta stays in charge with 210 points, Foggia moves into second place but draws level on points with the now third-placed Garcia on 168 points. Fenati is in fourth with 134 points.

The series now moves to Austin, Texas, in two weeks’ time, before returning to Misano.