MotoGP: Francesco Bagnaia wins the Spanish Grand Prix after a thrilling duel with Marc Marquez

Thanks to nerves of steel, Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati) won the premier Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday 28 April, ahead of Marc Marquez (Ducati-Gresini) and Marc Bezzecchi (Ducati-VR46). The two-time world champion won his second race of the season at the cost of an epic resistance, fourteen laps, in the face of attacks from the Spaniard.

Without a win for 917 days, Marquez, the six-time MotoGP world champion, multiplied the lap records to find himself behind the leader. In the end, he overtook him twice, but Bagnaia immediately regained the distance. The Italian deals a double blow by retiring after Jorge Martin (Ducati-Pramac) crashed while in the lead, allowing him to close the gap to 17 points in the drivers’ standings.

Starting from 23rd position, Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha) worked his way up to finish fifteenth, a day after his surprising fifth place finish in the sprint. “The bike was very complicated to ride”, lamented Niçois on Canal+. Another French driver Johann Zarco retired (Honda). They will be eagerly awaited at the French Grand Prix at Le Mans on Sunday 12 May.