Jorge Martin pounces at Misano MotoGP

It was only just over a week ago that the 2023 MotoGP world title was beginning to adopt a tedious feel as Pecco Bagnaia’s (Lenovo Ducati) peerless consistency saw the reigning world champ with a 66-point lead. But one highside, collision, sprint and Italian Grand Prix later, Pecco Bagnaia’s second premier-class title is well and truly under threat.

If there were points awarded for grit, he probably could have extended his lead at his home grand prix. Two podium finishes from two starts in Misano were well above anyone’s expectations at a round many believed he may not have even been declared fit to ride.   

Unfortunately for Pecco, the rider who capitalised the most on his injuries is the rider closest to him in the championship standings. Not only did Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac) set a new lap record for pole position and take the holeshot in both contests, the Spaniard led every single lap of both races to take maximum points and inflict maximum pain on his title rivals.

Not that they needed any assistance in the pain department. As well as Pecco’s severe bruising to his right leg and tailbone thanks to being run over by Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM) after his highside seven days earlier, Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Ducati) was nursing an injured left hand and thumb after being taken out by Enea Bastianini (Lenovo Ducati) in last weekend’s Turn 1 pile up.

So the fact that both Bezzecchi and Bagnaia found the resolve to put their Ducati GP22 and GP23s on the podium respectively behind Martin was a miracle in itself. Bagnaia did a brilliant job to hold off his countryman, even looking as if he might attack and pass Martin in the early stages of the race, but when Martin put the hammer down with 11 laps to go, Bezzecchi needed to find a way past Bagnaia, which he did on lap 19 of the 27-lap grand prix.

It was all too little too late. By lap 21 Martin had a 2.4sec lead over Bezzecchi, who managed to pull away from Bagnaia almost immediately. And while fourth in the standings Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM) began gaining on the leading breakaway trio he’d crashed on lap nine, leaving his wildcard teammate and KTM test rider Dani Pedrosa in fourth, the only rider within striking distance of the three Ducati men ahead.

However just as he did in the sprint the day before, Pedrosa found himself all over the rear wheel of third-placed Bagnaia but said while he had no problem finding the speed required, he was out of practice in terms of clean race overtakes, so had to settle for two sterling fourth-place finishes.  Remarkable given his time away and even more so given he was KTM’s star rider in Misano. Brad Binder remounted and rode through to 15th for one championship point, while Aussie Jack Miller ended his race in the gravel on lap 10.

In the end, Martin crossed the line 1.3sec clear of Bezzecchi, who in turn was 2.5sec ahead of Bagnaia. Bagania had to dig so deep to hold off Pedrosa, which he did by 0.6sec at the line.

Maverick Vinales (Team Aprilia) rode to a lonely fifth-place finish, six seconds behind Pedrosa and almost two seconds clear of Miguel Oliveira (RNF Aprilia). Behind him was a three-rider battle for seventh, which was eventually won by Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) for his best finish of the year. Raul Fernandez (RNF Aprilia) scored his premier-class career-best finish in eighth, ahead of Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Ducati), Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac) and Alex Marquez (Gresini Ducati).

The result puts Bagnaia 36 points clear and well within striking distance of Martin with eight rounds left to run, 283 points to Martin’s 247. Bezzecchi isn’t out of the game on 218, with Binder (173) and Aleix Espargaro (160, Aprilia Racing) rounding out the top five. Miller (104) drops another position to 10th. 

The series now heads to Delhi for the inaugural Indian Grand Prix in two week’s time.