Jorge Martin reduces deficit to Francesco Bagnaia with dominant MotoGP Thailand sprint win

Pramac’s Jorge Martin reduced his gap to Francesco Bagnaia at the top of the championship standings with a comfortable MotoGP Thailand sprint victory.

The Spaniard, who lined up on pole after setting a lap record at the Buriram International Circuit, was sluggish off the line but recovered to open up a comfortable gap and take the chequered flag ahead of Brad Binder.

It was Martin's fifth sprint win in a row and cut his deficit in the championship to 18 points as Bagnaia struggled to seventh.

"Winning is always great," Martin told TNT Sports. "It was a complicated weekend because I didn't feel that strong compared to Australia, I had less advantage.

"Everything is so, so tight here but I think we worked really well, we could really use the tyres.

"So I had something [in hand] after six or seven laps and then on the end I just tried to manage the seconds, tried to finish safely for tomorrow and keep the energy I will need for tomorrow 100%.

"Also working a little on the maps. I think overall it was a great day, I'm really happy."

Martin was slow off the line, which allowed Luca Marini to challenge up the inside into the first corner, but the Spaniard was brave on the brakes and swooped around the outside to preserve his lead.

It was the only time he appeared under threat as he rode away from the field.

Behind, Marini lost his battle for second with Binder and had to settle for third.

Marc Marquez starred in the 13-lap shoot-out from eighth on the grid, snatching fourth from Aleix Espargaro on the last lap.

After showing strong pace this weekend, Marco Bezzecchi laboured to sixth in a further dent to his title prospects, although he did finish ahead of Bagnaia.

The championship leader made a poor start to slip from sixth to eighth and then lost another place to Johann Zarco.

He was promoted to seventh after a tussle between Alex Marquez and Zarco but couldn't make up enough time over the remaining laps to challenge those ahead.

Marquez and Zarco crossed the line eighth and ninth respectively, ahead of Jack Miller in 10th.

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