A duel of champions animated the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday at the Jerez circuit. Between Francesco Bagnaia, reigning two-time MotoGP world champion, and Marc Marquez, six crowns in the premier category during his career. The two men took advantage of the fall of Jorge Martin (Ducati Pramac), who fell on the 11th lap while leading the race, to come face to face. Well, rather one behind the other, but sometimes so close that they could have met each other’s eyes.
Especially in the 22nd of 25 laps, when the Spaniard, carried by the clamors of an exceptional crowd, managed to take the advantage over the Italian, by placing his right side squarely against the front wheel of the official Ducati. For a few moments, Marquez found himself in the lead, but Bagnaia was the strongest this Sunday.
After a delicate start (victory in Qatar of course, but retirement in Portugal and 5th place in Austin), the reigning champion finally showed his rivals that he was in the running for a third crown, that they should count on him and that he was ready to fight for it. He first made an excellent start from 7th place, putting pressure on Martin, who ended up breaking, before resisting Marquez for several laps. With this victory, the 20th of his career, he also had an excellent performance in the Championship, and moved up to 2nd place, 17 points behind Martin.
Zarco falls, Quartararo grabs the point for 15th place
Marco Bezzecchi (Ducati VR46), who had not yet made a top 5 this season, completes the podium of this Grand Prix, but almost four seconds behind the winner, which shows the gap that there was this Sunday between the leading duo and the other drivers. Pedro Acosta (KTM GasGas), leader at the start of the season, experienced a much more anonymous race, after a failed start and a collision with Johann Zarco, which he finished in 10th place.
The LCR Honda driver did not see the finish, carried away by the fall of Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia) on the 10th lap when he was 15th. His compatriot Fabio Quartararo, less celebrating than during the sprint, still managed to get into the points, with 15th place, while he was 23rd on the grid.
