RACER Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo) revived his hopes of winning the MotoGP world title again by winning the Malaysian GP ahead of his rival, Jorge Martin.
Bagnaia, a two-time title winner, finished three seconds ahead of Martin to win his 10th GP of the season.
Due to the Italian racer’s victory, the determination of the championship title will be finalized in the final race of the season, where Martin has a 24 point advantage.
“Jorge was very aggressive, he knew he had to leave me behind, but my speed was too good,” said Bagnaia as quoted by BBCSunday (3/11).
“As usual on Sunday’s race, I was able to attack and be more aggressive.”
Martin could have secured his first title if he had finished nine points ahead of Bagnaia, and he swapped positions with the Italian racer several times in the early laps before finally taking second place.
“We looked good in the first few laps, but once he overtook me it was impossible to fight,” said Martin.
“At the end I tried again to apply pressure but I almost fell, so I think getting eight points from this is great.”
An early accident at the second corner meant the race was stopped after a collision occurred between Brad Binder, Jack Miller and Fabio Quartararo.
Miller received medical assistance at trackside but did not suffer serious injuries, while Binder was unable to continue racing.
Six-time champion Marc Marquez had a chance to climb the podium in third place before falling, giving his position to Enea Bastianini and finishing in 12th place.
The final race was scheduled to be held in Valencia on November 15, but was canceled due to flooding in the area.
The final race option is likely to be scheduled in Barcelona.
“We think Barcelona is the best place because of its proximity to Valencia, considering that many people have traveled to reach the final,” said Dorna Sports head of sport Carlos Ezpeleta. (Ndf/P-3)
#Bagnaia #fast #Jorge #Martin #catch
### Interview with Francesco Bagnaia: Reflecting on His Malaysian MotoGP Victory
**Interviewer:** Congratulations on your stunning victory at the Malaysian MotoGP, Francesco! It must feel amazing to have revived your title hopes. Can you tell us about your race strategy?
**Francesco Bagnaia:** Thank you! It was an intense race, and I knew I had to push hard from the start. My plan was to secure a strong position early on. Jorge (Martin) was very aggressive, but I focused on my speed and rhythm, which ultimately paid off.
**Interviewer:** You finished three seconds ahead of Jorge Martin. Did you expect to create such a gap during the race?
**Francesco Bagnaia:** Honestly, I didn’t know what to expect. I knew Jorge would be pushing hard to stay close, but I felt confident with my pace. When I saw I had created a gap, it motivated me to push even more. I wanted to win not just for me, but to keep the championship hopes alive for the final round.
**Interviewer:** With this win, the championship title will be decided in the last race. What are your thoughts on going into that race, knowing Martin has a 24-point lead?
**Francesco Bagnaia:** It’s definitely a challenging situation, but I thrive under pressure. I believe anything can happen in racing, and my team and I will give it our all in the final round. I’ll focus on my performance and try to minimize any mistakes. The key will be to keep the momentum from this victory.
**Interviewer:** You’ve won 10 GPs this season, a remarkable achievement. How do you maintain such consistency throughout the season?
**Francesco Bagnaia:** It’s a combination of teamwork, preparation, and focus. My team works tirelessly to give me the best bike possible, and I do my part by constantly analyzing races and improving. I try to stay calm and motivated, which helps a lot.
**Interviewer:** Looking ahead, what will be your main priority in the final race?
**Francesco Bagnaia:** My priority is simple: win the race. I’ll approach it like any other event, but with the championship title at stake, I know I need to leave everything on the track. It’s an exciting opportunity, and I’m ready for the challenge.
**Interviewer:** We can’t wait to see how it unfolds! Thank you for your time, Francesco, and best of luck in the final round!
**Francesco Bagnaia:** Thank you! I appreciate the support and hope to bring home the title!