Bastianini snatches final-lap thriller, Bagnaia falls

Ducati won the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, but it was not Francesco Bagnaia, who crashed out as teammate Enea Bastianini snatched the win from Jorge Martin in a controversial last-lap thriller.

The MotoGP championship changed hands throughout the opening stages as Bagnaia held the lead of the race to possess a one-point advantage over Martin.

But tyre dramas saw the reigning champion drift to third and eventually in the Turn 8 gravel, handing both the race and points lead to Martin.

But the sister factory Ducati could not be ignored as Bastianini made a late charge setting up a grandstand finish.

The Italian launched a dive-bomb on Martin at Turn 4 and contact forced the latter wide and down to second.

The decisive move ensured Bastianini claimed a second win of 2024, but Martin was furious and expressed his displeasure crossing the line.

Despite missing out on an important win, Martin critically extended his championship lead to 24 points thanks to Bagnaia’s crash.

Australia’s Jack Miller finished 16th after a fast start before falling away.

A strong launch saw Martin take the lead over Bagnaia through turn 1, but an impressive switchback from his title rival saw the #1 fly into P1 around the outside going into Turn 2.

Bastianini settled into third after bumping elbows with Binder as Miller made big gains to 12th.

The pace was hot at the front and many could not handle it with Binder the first victim, falling from fourth.

On Lap 3 Martin launched three counterattacks for the lead, but neither were successful.

However, the Pramac rider finally prevailed when he dived down the inside at Quercia on Lap 4 to take both the race and championship lead.

To make matters worse for Bagnaia, he fell to third by running wide at Tramonto and letting his teammate through.

Across the next 15 laps the reigning champion drifted around 2s back until disaster.

Bagnaia locked the front on approach to Quercia and crashed out, throwing away valuable points.

The Ducati star pointed towards some “strange” tyre struggles, which he believes is having an affect on the bigger picture.

“I don’t know what was normal, everything was quite strange,” he explained.

“But nothing, I was straight, because I was having 32 degrees, and normally in track conditions you can crash directly like this.

“I didn’t brake hard, I braked 18 metres before (I did on) the fastest lap I did, and I still lost the front like I touched a bump but there is not. 

“Strange, but everything is strange from the start.

“I arrived in the race with the pace to win the race, starting from pole position, leading the first lap, and then I had to slow down because the tyres are not ready, the tyres are not there.

“This is a huge problem that is making the championship not balanced in this moment.”

Bagnaia joined Acosta, who also had a big crash from fourth at Turn 15 and these incidents allowed Marquez to inherit third.

But all eyes were on the leaders as Bastianini had caught Martin and piled on the pressure.

It came alive with five laps to go as a few wide moments from Martin brought Bastianini on his back wheel.

On Lap 25 the #23 tried to make a run down the back straight, but the #89 shut it down to retain the leader as they took the final lap.

Bastianini went for it at Turn 4, going very deep on the inside, forcing Martin to sit up, run wide and concede defeat.

It was the winning move albeit a controversial one from Bastianini.

“I think the manoeuvre maybe was a bit too much because he pushed me out of the track and I couldn’t fight back,” Martin recalled.

“There was no room to make that manoeuvre. I deserved that victory and (if) he made a move, at least do it clean and don’t touch me.”

“Jorge was certainly not happy, but he closed the gap a lot when I overtook him,” Bastianini defended. 

“It was a bit on the limit, but it was a good overtake.

“When you have the chance to win the race, you have to do it. 

“Yes, it has been a bit on the limit, but it was the only choice.”

The next chapter of the title fight will be at Thailand this weekend where there was plenty of action last year.

Images: Gold and Goose

2024 Emilia Romagna Motorcycle Grand Prix results

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