Jorge Martin won the MotoGP World Championship Tissot Sprint race on Saturday at the Misano World Circuit – Marco Simoncelli in San Marino. Riding Prima Pramac Racing’s Ducati Desmosedici on Michelin Control tyres, the Spaniard won the 13-lap race by 1.495 seconds. It was Martin’s fifth Sprint Race victory of the season, extending his lead in the World Championship points standings.
Two-time and defending world champion Francesco Bagnaia was second in his Lenovo Ducati.
Martin’s teammate Franco Morbidelli was a close third.
Bagnaia’s team-mate Innea Bastianini was equally close in fourth.
Six-time MotoGP World Champion Marc Marquez finished fifth in the Gresini Racing Ducati.
MotoGP points after the sprint race
Further, from Dorna’s press release:
Morbidelli rejected Martin Bagnaian at home as he said on the maiden sprint stage.
The Spaniard escaped the final lap to extend his lead to 26 points to finish the podium, waving to Sprint glory.
Saturday, September 07, 2024
Jorge Martin (Primac Pramac Racing) extended his championship lead in ‘enemy territory’ at the Gran Premio Red Bull di San Marino and della Riviera di Rimini. Take another impressive Tissot Sprint win. Bagnaya is now up 26 points as they are forced to settle for second place.
Bagnaia got off to a good start but Martin got better with #89 going for him and attacking him straight into turn #1. Finishing the job, he immediately brought the hammer down as Bagnaya chased ahead of Morbidelli. Thirdly.
At the back, Bastianini made a big gain from P8 to fifth, ahead of Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GAASGAS Tech3). The biggest loser from the start was Marco Bezecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) as he dropped to the back of the top 10 in contention, finishing behind Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) #93 as well. Go ahead.
At the front, Martin pounced, but the gap was hovering around a few tenths, with Morbidelli still very much in touch. Instead, the next move came from the second group as Bastianini went to attack Binder and take fourth, looking down the barrel of 1.7 seconds with nine laps to go in the podium clash.
Drama then struck for Bezecchi after a strong start, sliding out of contention in the #72, a rider perfectly fine, but he will be looking for more on Sunday as he makes his second front row start of the weekend. Teammate Fabio Di Gianntonio slipped out of the Tissot sprint early, with both riders safe.
Meanwhile, a Pierre Mobility duel was heating up for the fifth fight, with Acosta coming in and continuing to chop down Binder. Just ahead of them, Bastianini was absolutely testing the gap to Morbidelli, who had stopped the game for the win. ‘The Beast’ took half a second out of the deficit for his compatriot in one lap. At the same time, Marquez looked impatient behind Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and hit the next targets: Binder and Acosta with seven to go. #93 lunges at Binder and soon gets him stuck, setting up a final push to pass Acosta.
Another final push was coming from Bastianini – and from Morbidelli. Bagnaya was fading to Morbidelli as Martin managed to get a chance at the top as Baggiani grabbed both. On the final lap the ‘Beast’ hit Pramak, but occasionally drifted wide as Morbidelli cut inside. The gap between the three narrowed with #21 Pramak catching up with Bagnaia to form a three-rider train in the final sector.
Meanwhile, Marquez vs Acosta is on. The #93 shadowed the #31 and inched closer, eventually catching the inside exiting the Curvone through T12 and then taking the line.
Behind Martin, who put in another impressive Tissot sprint to extend his advantage to 26 points and ensure he leaves Misano as the championship leader, holding the line was all it took for Bagnaia and Morbidelli. Each did so to complete the Sprint podium, with Bastianini taking fourth.
Marc Marquez pocketed fifth over Acosta in the final lap, followed by Binder and Miller. The final sprint point went to Fabio Quattararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™), who managed to hold off Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) on another impressive Saturday.
There’s a lot more to come at Misano on Sunday, with Sprint offering an impressive food offering. Beyond the full Grand Prix distance, what does Martin have in lockstep? Can Bagnaia fight? Or are the likes of Morbidelli, Bastianini and Marquez ready to attack again? Find out Sunday when MotoGP™ returns to action at 14:00 (UTC+2)!
Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) teamed up with MotoGP™24 video game developer Milestone to create a special fan competition, allowing fans to use the game’s helmet editor to design a lid for Misano to wear. The Spaniard is showing off his winning design – handpicked by Top Gun himself – at the Gran Premio Red Bull di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini this weekend.
The concept shows how gaming and real-world sports can be combined, with the winning helmet design from a Brazilian player. A dynamic mix of colors, as well as a gorilla face, nods to one of Vinales’ most unique stage celebrations we’ve seen him do this year. The helmet is also available in MotoGP™24, allowing players to compete in their virtual races with the same look as Viñales.
As Garcia moved from P24, Arbolino Moto2™ pole called Vettti for the first time.
Tony Arbolino (Elf Mark VDS Racing Team) finally has a Moto2™ pole to his name after compatriot Celestino Vietti (Red Bull KTM Ajo) from Italy, who was thrown out in a fiercely contested Q2. Ai Ogura (MT Helmets – MSI) joins the Italians on the front row in P3, the Japanese rider’s third Q2 top three of the season – and a timely one at that.
– And why is it current? Well, it’s been another disappointing weekend so far for championship leader Sergio Garcia (MT Helmets – MSI) as the Spaniard was forced to settle for a P24 starting position for the San Marino GP.
– Aaron Canet (Fantique Racing) fronted the second row in P4, the #44 was two tenths shy of pole and was joined on row 2 by rookie Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team) and Albert Arenas (QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2™).
– Joe Roberts (US fans only) bagged P7 as Alonso Lopez (Beta Equipment Speedup) came through Q1 to start from P8, as title hopefuls Fermin Aldeguer (Beta Equipment Speedup) and Jake Dixon (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team) hoped to emerge. Order Sunday and collect valuable points from P10 and P14 respectively.
Tune in to the Moto2™ race on Sunday at 12:15 (UTC +2) to see what Misano’s title chase looks like!
Alonso impressed me late to steal the pole position of San Marino
A late impressive 1:40.505 handed world championship leader David Alonso (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) his sixth pole position of the season, while Italian Luca Lunetta claimed his season-best Saturday result in P2 at the SIC58 Squadra Corse home race. Four-tenths was the gap between the two on the grid, with title hopeful Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets – MSI) securing the P3 starting position for Sunday’s race.
– Angel Picerras (Tiger Racing) secured P4, but the rookie is set to pick up two long-lap penalties on Sunday after being found guilty of a practice 2 incident between himself and Scott Ogden (FleetSafe Honda – MLav Racing). .
– Colin Weir (Leaky Molly Husqvarna Intact GP), the rider as the main championship chaser for Alonso, will start from P5 on the grid, and the Dutch-Australian will have Joel Kelso (BOE Motorsports) for company after qualifying in P6. Meanwhile, Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) will aim to fight for a decisive victory from P7 on the grid.
Tune in at 11:00 (UTC +2) for the Moto3™ battle as the pack tries to stop Alonso Misano’s charge.
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