Francesco Bagnaia produced a stable restoration within the Indonesian Grand Prix to maintain the strain on MotoGP world title rival Jorge Martin, regardless of having no reply to the Spaniard’s dominance.
The 2-time defending champion whittled Martin’s erstwhile 24 level benefit all the way down to 21 factors after consolidating his win in Saturday’s dash race with a run to 3rd within the full-length encounter.
After struggling initially to get his tyres as much as working temperature after a nasty begin, Bagnaia ran as little as seventh in the course of the early phases and would spend a big portion of his race behind Franco Morbidelli, Enea Bastianini and Marco Bezzecchi’s that have been combating for third.
Nevertheless, after rising to fourth within the closing phases when Bastianini crashed out with seven laps to go and Bezzecchi out-braked himself at Flip 10 moments later, Bagnaia picked off Morbidelli to seal his eleventh grand prix podium of the season.
As such, regardless of an emphatic lights-to-flag victory for predominant rival Martin, it was Bagnaia who nonetheless got here away from the Lombok venue having scored extra factors throughout the weekend in complete.
“I attempted to do the identical begin as yesterday [the sprint race] however the clutch had a special response, so I received a wheelie and it began to spin,” Bagnaia mentioned.
“I didn’t lose many positions however after the beginning I used to be a bit too cautious within the first laps so I began to lose positions and I struggled to get them again.
“My tempo was very robust nevertheless it wasn’t sufficient to overhaul riders in entrance of me simply as a result of I would like round 10 laps to overhaul Bez. I used to be battling traction. It was troublesome, however I’m blissful as a result of after yesterday we nonetheless gained good factors.”
Enea Bastianini, Ducati Group
Picture by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Photographs
Bastianini pushing for second led to crash
Bastianini was left to rue the missed alternative of a podium after crashing whereas in pursuit of Pedro Acosta in second place in the course of the closing phases of the grand prix.
Having moved inside 1.5s of the Tech3 KTM rider with seven laps remaining, Bastianini low-sided off into the gravel at Flip 1.
Choosing up his a primary Sunday race DNF of the season, Bastianini admitted pushing to seize second place value him, following his personal poor begin.
“My goal was to win however Jorge was already fast from the beginning and I struggled loads initially with the rear tyre,” he mentioned. “I attempted my finest to not lose any time however ultimately we misplaced loads of time.
“I don’t find out about successful the race, in all probability I feel it was doable to get second place.
“For me with Pedro, it was arduous as a result of he was quicker however perhaps within the final two or three laps my tempo was very near him.
“I attempted to assault him, to battle however I arrived a bit quicker than the lap earlier than. I used to be pushing very arduous, attempting to shut the hole to Pedro, however I arrived over the restrict.”
