INDONESIA: In a spectacular display of skill and determination, Francesco Bagnaia stormed back from 13th on the grid to claim his sixth Grand Prix victory of the season, securing an 18-point lead in the championship.
This remarkable feat comes on the heels of losing his standings lead for the first time since the Spanish GP to rival Jorge Martin. Martin’s dominant performance in the sprint at Mandalika initially put him seven points ahead of a struggling Bagnaia.
Sunday’s race saw a transformed Bagnaia, who capitalized on Martin’s misfortune as he crashed while leading with a three-second advantage on lap 13 of 27.
Reflecting on the pivotal moment, Bagnaia revealed, “My goal today was to win. The only objective was to win. When I saw him crash, I could breathe a bit because I was not needing to push so much. I was in control.”
This victory at the Indonesian GP marks Bagnaia’s first Sunday success since Austria, following a challenging period where a 66-point lead was eroded due to injury and errors.
Bagnaia expressed the significance of this win, saying, “To have this performance again was very, very important. To win is always very important, and in a moment when Jorge was out, the main thing was to take as many points as possible. And we did that.”
Overcoming the aftermath of heavy bruising from the Catalan GP incident, Bagnaia highlighted that this was the first round since Le Mans where he wasn’t carrying an injury.
He explained, “When I arrived in Barcelona it was finally okay, and then the haematoma I had on my leg was incredible after the crash. This weekend was the first weekend without any problems on the leg and it was great for sure.”
This resounding victory not only rejuvenates Bagnaia’s title hopes but also underscores the resilience and unwavering determination of the entire team. They have managed to enhance their performance significantly throughout the weekend, showcasing their relentless pursuit of excellence in the fiercely competitive world of MotoGP.
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