Michael Laverty on Jorge Martin’s claim to Emilia Romagna Grand Prix win - 'It is dirty, it is filthy and I love it!'
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Published 22/09/2024 at 15:47 GMT+1
Enea Bastianini's divisive final-lap overtake on Jorge Martin earned him a dream win at his home Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, while the Spaniard claimed he deserved victory after leading the most laps at Misano. However, TNT Sports' Michael Laverty saluted the move as a fine example of hard racing, while Martin had the consolation of an increased championship lead over Francesco Bagnaia.
Bastianini sends Martin wide in dramatic last lap overtake
Video credit: TNT Sports
Jorge Martin believes he deserved victory at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix after a controversial last-lap move, but TNT Sports’ Michael Laverty disagrees.
Enea Bastianini dived up the inside of Martin who had been counting down the corners of a determined defensive ride in the closing stages, and the leaders made contact sending the championship leader wide.
That moment handed Bastianini a memorable victory on his home track, with Martin shaking his head for most of the remainder of the final lap.
Martin said he thought he deserved the win after climbing from his Ducati, but former MotoGP rider Laverty told TNT Sports he saw the move as a racing incident.
“A beauty from Enea’s point of view, horrible when you are on the receiving end, fantastic for the championship,” Laverty said. “It is one of those where it is close to the bone.
“Whenever you have led the race all the way, you have protected every line and someone goes up the inside and takes you off the track. As Jorge said, it does not give him an opportunity to fight back so that is where the penalty does not fit the crime for Jorge Martin,
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Emotional Bastianini celebrates after winning Emilia Romagna Grand Prix
Video credit: TNT Sports
“He deserved to be able to retaliate later in the lap so you can understand why he feels hard done by, five points went missing when he feels he earned it.
“But you have got to say Enea Bastianini, when you have got the chance to win your home GP you have got to put it all on the line and that is why MotoGP is fantastic. Because there should be no penalty, it is a racing incident.
“It is dirty, it is filthy as Gav [Gavin Emmett] called it in commentary, and I love it!”
While he lost out on the race win, it was still a positive afternoon overall for Martin, who gained 20 points on title rival Francesco Bagnaia as the reigning champion crashed out at Misano chasing the leading pair.
Bagnaia started on pole position after closing to just four points behind the Spaniard courtesy of victory in Saturday's Emilia Romagna Sprint, and retained the Grand Prix lead despite Martin claiming the holeshot.
However, tyre management problems on the medium rubber meant Bagnaia was passed by Martin and teammate Bastianini before he got on top of the issues in the second half of the race, then pushed too hard attempting to catch back up and lost control of his Ducati.
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Bagnaia crashes out of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix
Video credit: TNT Sports
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Martin saluted a ‘nice race’ after the chequered flag, but said he would have been a deserving winner in his post-race interview.
“I think the manoeuvre maybe was a bit too much because he pushed me out of the track so I could not fight back, and maybe afterwards I did some gestures because I was a bit hot.
"I think I was the stronger, I think I deserved the victory, but it is OK and I will try again next one.”
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