Francesco Bagnaia cleans up at Italian Grand Prix with dominant win to extend championship lead
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Updated 11/06/2023 at 14:31 GMT+1
The Francesco Bagnaia show continued in Italy on Sunday, as the Ducati star and defending world champion powered to victory at the Italian Grand Prix. The home favourite was never threatened, as he powered to victory to back up his success in the sprint race on Saturday. Bagnaia's victory extended his already handy lead in the championship standings
Francesco Bagnaia waves the Italian flag as he celebrates after winning the Italian MotoGP race at Mugello Circuit in Mugello, on June 11, 2023
Image credit: Getty Images
Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia took the chequered flag at his home MotoGP race in Mugello, sealing his third win of the 2023 season and his second successive victory at the Italian circuit.
It was a great day for Pramac Racing, who secured a double podium finish, with Jorge Martin finishing in second and Johann Zarco in third.
Bagnaia was fresh from his win in Saturday’s sprint race, and started on pole position. Despite getting passed by Jack Miller into Turn 1 on the first lap, the 26-year-old regained the lead a few corners later and remained there until the end.
Marc Marquez, who started in second place and was one of the riders part of the group behind the leaders, crashed out from fourth position on Lap 6 as the battle for the final podium position heated up.
His brother, Alex, who managed to get past the VR46 bike of Luca Marini on Lap 11 to take third place also saw his machine end up in the gravel, crashing out three laps later as the pressure of defending his position became too much.
It meant Zarco and Marini were embroiled in a nine-lap fight for the final place on the podium, and the Frenchman came out on top after an exciting battle.
Bagnaia’s victory sees him extend his lead at the top of the rider’s championship to 21 points over nearest challenger Marco Bezzecchi, who could only come home in eightth.
RIDER OF THE DAY - Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing)
The Frenchman sealed a great podium finish - his third of the season - for the Pramac Ducati team, after coming all the way from a ninth-placed start on the grid.
Granted, he benefitted from the misfortune of both Marquez brothers, who crashed out of the race whilst fighting for the podium, Zarco made the most of the situation to ensure his team leave the weekend with a fantastic haul of points.
The 32-year-old sits in fifth place in the riders championship, with 87 points.
WHERE THE RACE WAS WON AND LOST
LAP 1/23: MILLER LEADS INTO TURN 1, BUT BAGNAIA FIGHTS BACK - Bagnaia makes a great start but is passed by Miller, who leads into Turn 1 after a sensational getaway from the front row! However, the Ducati comes back and gets back past the Australian into Turn 3.
LAP 6/23: MARQUEZ CRASHES OUT! - The Honda rider runs wide into the final corner and tries to make up for it, and it sees him lowside the bike and he is into the gravel and out of the race from P4! He is up and OK, and gestures to the bike - it looks like he feels his machinery let him down there!
LAP 11/23: FIGHT FOR PODIUM HEATS UP - A. Marquez uses the slipstream down the main straight to make the move on Marini into Turn 1. The Spaniard is now up into P3, and looks in a good position to get the final podium place!
LAP 14/23: THE SECOND MARQUEZ BROTHER CRASHES - The pressure of defending from Marini and Zarco behind him took its toll as he low sides into the gravel into Turn 2! He is back up with the bike, but it remains to be seen if he can get it going again! Marini inherits third place.
LAP 17/23: GREAT BATTLE - Zarco gets past Marini into third after the exit of the last corner, but the VR46 rider trail brakes into Turn 1 to retake the position. It looks like he has the move stuck, but the Pramac rider comes back at him into Turn 3! Fantastic battle! Six laps to go!
LAP 23/23 - BAGNAIA WINS! - The Ducati rider wins his second consecutive race at Mugello! He extends his lead at the top of the championship with this victory, and he will be very pleased with today's work. A great day for Pramac Ducati, as Martin and Zarco finish in P2 and P3!
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