IMPECCABLE PECCO
Francesco Bagnaia was unflappable in Jerez, undeterred by constant pressure from Fabio Quartararo to take his first MotoGP win of the season and get his 2022 title challenge back on track.
While Bagnaia took the win his Aussie teammate Jack Miller was pushed back from third to fifth in the closing stages of the race, coming off third best in a dog-fight against Spairds Aleix Espargaro and Marc Marquez.
All weekend long Ducati’s Bagnaia and reigning MotoGP champion Quartararo were the class of the field, the pair took off in the early laps, the intensity was high with neither making a single error.
Quartararo’s pressure was relentless, within 1s for much of the race. The Yamaha rider was never close enough to make a move despite closing in on the closing laps, and that was due to the incredible consistency of Bagnaia.
Espargaro and Marquez’s fight began on the opening lap when they sat behind both Miller and Takaaki Nakagami.
Marquez was aggressive on the opening lap into the final turn forcing his way by Nakagami to claim fourth. The Japanese rider was off line and this allowed Espargaro through also.
After only a couple of laps the leading pair had taken off into the distance and continued to increase the margin throughout the race.
Miller’s attention turned to the Spainard’s behind as the fight for third commenced.
Up front in the closing laps Quartararo trimmed the lead down to under 0.4s but it was not enough Bagnaia held on by just 0.285s at the line.
Quartararo finished second to extend his championship lead from Aprilia’s Espargaro who was 10.5s further back.
Aleix Espargaro who prevailed to take his third podium of the season, nipping by both Marquez and Miller in one move. Up the inside of Miller, Marquez who made a miraculous save.
From there Espargaro put his head down and powered away. Behind the Miller and Marquez scrap continued.
The battle for fourth went down to the final lap with the factory Honda man risking it all, diving up the inside of Miller at Turn 8 in spectacular style, he made it stick and held on to fourth.
Miller was fifth ahead of Team Suzuki Ecstar’s Joan Mir who drifted into late contention for a podium, but couldn’t find a move on the men in front.
Nakagami eventually came across the line in seventh, 4s clear of former championship leader Enea Bastianini, rookie Marco Bezzecchi and KTM Factory Racing’s Brad Binder.
Joint championship leader coming into the round, Alex Rins’ had a shocker, after qualifying in 14th, the Team Suzuki man made a trip through the gravel after he lost the front end and finished outside the points in 19th.
The other Aussie Remy Gardner was just behind in 20th.
Both Pramac Racing riders crashed, Jorge Martin on lap 1 and Johann Zarco a few laps later.
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