2023-08-06 15:42:18
Francesco “Pecco” Bagnaia led the British Grand Prix from the second lap and maintained his lead through light rain. But when Aleix Espargaró launched an attack in the last lap, there was no counterattack.
However, the world championship leader did not want to speak of a conservative approach. “I just pushed. I tried to win,” he assured and made it clear: “The moment I stop pushing and I’m satisfied with second place, I would have to question everything.”
Nevertheless, the Ducati factory rider was ultimately able to live well with the podium finish. After being passed down to 14th place in the sprint, he extended his lead in the World Championship standings to 41 points on Sunday, also because Marco Bezzecchi fell.
“Yesterday we lost a lot of points, but we know that our potential in all conditions must be what we showed today. That’s why I’m happy with the result of the weekend at the end,” was Bagnaia’s conclusion on Sunday.
The 26-year-old Italian described the course of the race and the final attack by Aleix Espargaró: “We had to start with the soft front tire in these conditions. That might not have been the best choice at the moment. When it started raining, I was just a little scared. When you’re leading and it starts raining, it’s very critical. It’s harder to understand where and how to push. In the last sector it was very slippery, in turn 15 I didn’t understand the limit. I was just trying to control it, but at the same time I saw and heard that Aleix was very close. I knew he would have tried in the last few laps.”
“If you also consider the potential Aleix has at this track and the traction Aprilia brings to the track, I was prepared for it. I tried to respond to his attack, but it wasn’t enough. He deserved the win today,” added Bagnaia.
The world champion admitted that maybe he still has to improve in these difficult conditions. “If Miguel Oliveira was one second faster per lap, that means he understood the limit better. So maybe I need to improve and understand it better, but for today I’m satisfied. If you look at the World Championships, I’ve never had a bigger lead over second. We have to keep going.”
The first pursuer is now Jorge Martin once more, who dropped back to 21st place following a contact in the first corner. In sixth, the Pramac star was still doing damage control, but Bagnaia’s advantage is now 41 points.
MotoGP Results, Silverstone (6th August):
1. Aleix Espargaró, Aprilia, 20 Runden in 40:40.367 min
2. Bagnaia, Ducati, + 0.215 sec
3. Binder, KTM, + 0,680
4. Oliveira, Aprilia, + 0.750
5. Viñales, Aprilia, +2,101
6. Martin, Ducati, +7,903
7. Marini, Ducati, + 9,099
8. Miller, KTM, + 9,298
9. Zarco, Ducati, +9,958
10. Raúl Fernández, Aprilia, + 19,947
11. Augusto Fernández, KTM, + 20,296
12. Pol Espargaró, KTM, + 1:06.120 min
13. Di Giannantonio, Ducati, + 1:27,605
14. Morbidelli, Yamaha, + 1:28,913
15. Quartararo, Yamaha, + 1:29,075
16. Nakagami, Honda, + 1:38,573
17. Lecuona, Honda, + 1:49,674
– Bastianini, Ducati, 4 laps down
– Marc Marquez, Honda, 6 laps down
– Bezzecchi, Ducati, 15 laps down
– Alex Marquez, Ducati, 15 laps down
– Mir, Honda, 18 laps back
MotoGP Results Sprint, Silverstone (5th August):
1. Alex Márquez, Ducati, 10 Runden in 21:52,317 min
2. Bezzecchi, Ducati, + 0.366 sec
3. Vinales, Aprilia, +3,374
4. Zarco, Ducati, +5,671
5. Aleix Espargaró, Aprilia, + 6,068
6. Martin, Ducati, +7,294
7. Miller, KTM, + 9,415
8. Augusto Fernández, KTM, +9.850
9. Binder, KTM, + 10,435
10. Oliveira, Aprilia, +11,247
11. Marini, Ducati, + 17,365
12. Di Giannantonio, Ducati, +20.063
13. Bastianini, Ducati, +24.352
14. Bagnaia, Ducati, +25.527
15. Morbidelli, Yamaha, +27,191
16. Pol Espargaro, KTM, +27,693
17. Mir, Honda, +29.062
18. Marc Marquez, Honda, +29,326
19. Raul Fernandez, Aprilia, +29,627
20. Nakagami, Honda, +29,909
21. Quartararo, Yamaha, +30,326
22. Lecuona, Honda, + 47,674
Championship status following 18 of 40 races:
1. Bagnaia, 214 Punkte. 2. Martin 173. 3. Bezzecchi 167. 4. Binder 131. 5. Zarco 122. 6. Aleix Espargaró 107. 7. Marini 107. 8. Miller 90. 9. Alex Márquez 75. 10. Viñales 75. 11. Quartararo 65. 12. Morbidelli 59. 13. Augusto Fernández 49. 14. Rins 47. 15. Oliveira 40. 16. Di Giannantonio 37. 17. Nakagami 34. 18. 18. Bastianini 18. 19. Marc Márquez 15. 20. Raúl Fernández 14. 21. Pedrosa 13. 22. Savadori 9. 23. Folger 9. 24. Pirro 5. 25. Mir 5. 26. Petrucci 5. 26. Bradl 5. 27. Pol Espargaró 4.
Constructors’ Championship:
1.Ducati, 317 Punkte. 2. KTM 172. 3. Aprilia 153. 4. Honda 89. 5. Yamaha 84.
Team World Cup:
1. Prima Pramac Racing, 295 Punkte. 2. Mooney VR46 Racing 274. 3. Ducati Lenovo Team 242. 4. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 221. 5. Aprilia Racing 181. 6. Monster Energy Yamaha 124. 7. Gresini Racing 112. 8. LCR Honda 84. 9. GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3, 62. 10. CryptoDATA RNF 58. 11. Repsol Honda 20.
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#Leading #rain #critical
