Bagnaia takes pivotal win

Francesco Bagnaia produced a timely reminder of his class by winning a wet Thai Motorcycle Grand Prix as a first podium in 34 races slipped away for Jack Miller.

Just when the championship appeared to be drifting, Bagnaia dominated a wet Buriram International Circuit to reduce Jorge Martin’s points lead to 17.

Miller again impressed in slippery conditions and appeared on track to get a first trophy since Spain 2023.

However, both Pedro Acosta and Fabio Di Giannantonio passed the Australian in the final two laps with the Tech3 rookie ending a run of DNFs in impressive style.

Marc Marquez was also a victim of the conditions, falling from second and eventually recovered to 11th.

“This morning after the warm up I wasn’t that happy but want to say thanks to my team doing an incredible job,” Bagnaia said.

“There was more water on the asphalt which was better for me.”

Martin initially extended his points lead in the Sprint despite losing out to the factory Ducati of Bastianini.

Bastianini was the beneficiary of the title contenders clashing on the opening corner.

Martin went in deep, but escorted both himself and Bagnaia wide, allowing Bastianini through to a lead he would never let go, winning by 1.5s

Martin’s mistake saw the PRAMAC rider fall to fifth, but he put his head down to soar up to second, critically one place ahead of Bagnaia.

Wet weather greeted the riders ahead of Sunday’s main race at the Buriram International Circuit in front of 205,343 fans.

The conditions caught out Alex Marquez on the sighting lap coming out of Turn 12 and had to start from the pits.

Martin got a rapid launch to storm into the lead, but almost threw it away by running wide at Turn 3.

This led to a thrilling exchange as Martin ran shoulder to shoulder with Bagnaia down the straight where the Pramac rider prevailed on the outside and quickly opened half a second with some rapid pace.

Behind them Marc Marquez and Quartararo both gained two spots to get into the top four as Bezzecchi and Acosta dropped out of the top 10 with offs. 

The VR46 rider was completely out of action by Lap 4 after a big fall at Turn 1.

Binder had a rapid opening lap, soaring from 13th to fifth while Miller also leaped from 15th to eighth.

Within a handful of laps the Aussie found himself in the top five amid some drama.

Quartararo’s impressive ride on the Yamaha ended in dramatic fashion on Lap 4.

After Binder passed the #20, Morbedelli tried to follow through at Turn 8, but made contact, sending his former teammate chasing into the gravel.

Four laps later karma struck with Morbidelli falling himself, while Bastianini did the same.

Martin was next to crack, going off at Turn 3 and it was costly, slipping from first to third, gifting Bagnaia a 1s lead.

A similar mistake for Binder vaulted Miller into the top four, 2s adrift the top three that was tightening up.

On Lap 9 Marquez made his first move at the final corner and snatched the lead, only for Bagnaia to immediately reclaim it.

After four tense laps Marquez had a second crack, but it was an action replay.

Eventually it was the Gresini star, who cracked under pressure as the #93 slid from underneath him at Turn 8.

Marquez almost saved it, but could not hold on and fell from second to 16th, while Martin almost joined him in the gravel.

With 12 laps left it gave Bagnaia a handy 2s lead over Martin, while Miller was promoted to the podium.

The biggest threat to the Australian was Tech3 youngster Acosta, who picked off Binder with ease with four laps to go.

The Spaniard only needed one lap to catch the back wheel of the #43 and the pair produced a stunning fight for third on the penultimate lap.

Acosta looked to have got it done by going around the outside at Turn 3, only for Miller to respond with an equally impressive pass on the outside of the following corner.

The pair were side by side all the way to Turn 7 before the Tech3 rider prevailed.

Miller ended up drifting to fifth as Di Giannantonio also got by.

But no one was coming close to the brilliant Bagnaia as he took a ninth win of 2024 to trim Martin’s points lead ahead of the final two rounds.

The thrilling title fight heads to Sepang next weekend.

2024 Thai Motorcycle Grand Prix results

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