MotoGP - Spanish GP: Bagnaia defeats the KTMs, a race to forget for Zarco and Quartararo

2023-04-30 14:09:10

Published on April 30, 2023 at 4:09 p.m. – updated on April 30, 2023 at 11:37 p.m.

Mathieu Warnier

While Brad Binder led the Spanish Grand Prix for a long time, Francesco Bagnaia was able to make the difference at the very end of the race to win ahead of the South African and Jack Miller. While Johann Zarco crashed, Fabio Quartararo had a nightmarish Sunday and saved a few points.

Francesco Bagnaia made people forget his mistakes! At fault in Argentina then in Austin when he could score big points, the reigning world champion banged his fist on the table this Sunday in Jérez de la Frontera. The day after a sprint in which he took second place between Brad Binder and Jack Miller, the Ducati rider brought the KTM riders to heel. A Spanish Grand Prix which started with a shock. While Jack Miller had made the best start, the red flag was released before the end of the first lap. Blame it on a collision that sent Fabio Quartararo and Miguel Oliveira to the ground, which also involved Marco Bezzecchi. Author of an average start, “El Diablo” tried to pass between the Italian and the Portuguese but, after a contact with the Ducati of the pilot of the VR46 team, the Niçois took with him the Aprilia of the RNF stable. If Miguel Oliveira was not allowed to take the second start, the French responded despite a pain in his left ankle. Recognized as responsible for the collision, Fabio Quartararo received a “long lap” penalty for the rest of the race. After a long break of just over a quarter of an hour, the second start was very similar to the first.

Quartararo went through all the emotions

In effect, Brad Binder took the best flight ahead of his teammate Jack Miller and Jorge Martin. Just behind, Francesco Bagnaia wasted no time in overtaking Aleix Espargaro and moving into fourth position. On the French side, Johann Zarco placed eighth when Fabio Quartararo climbed to twelfth place. At the forefront, Jack Miller very quickly took first position from his teammate but Brad Binder replied on the fifth lap. The Australian then had to resist Jorge Martin to defend his second place. The Spaniard, meanwhile, couldn’t do anything against Francesco Bagnaia. Obeying the race direction’s order, Fabio Quartararo carried out his penalty on the sixth lap… but he didn’t perfectly follow the path to follow. The consequence was a new penalty taken two laps later. What pushed “El Diablo” back to 16th place. The race direction had a heavy hand this Sunday because Francesco Bagnaia had to give up second place a time taken from Jack Miller after a manly contact with the KTM rider. However, handicapped by the wear of his rubbers, the Australian was unable to respond when “Pecco” went on the attack in the last third of the race.

Bagnaia had the last word

From there, the Italian chased behind Brad Binder, who was then prancing in the lead. Gradually, the reigning world champion reduced his delay before going on the attack in the 21st of the 24 laps on the programme. The South African remained in contact as much as he could but no opening could be exploited to snatch a victory which seemed to him promised. After Portugal, Francesco Bagnaia signed his second victory of the season and took advantage of Marco Bezzecchi’s fall eight laps from the goal to soar in the championship standings. On the French side, Johann Zarco was on track to finish in the Top 5 but, a few moments before Marco Bezzecchi, the Cannes native lost control of his Ducati and his hopes of a good result. Fabio Quartararo, left far behind, took advantage of the various crashes in front of him to climb up to tenth place and save six points in the championship. Note the very good performance of Dani Pedrosa, who took seventh place on the occasion of the wild-card used by KTM. The paddock now has an appointment in two weeks at Le Mans, for a French Grand Prix which will be the 1000th Grand Prix in the history of MotoGP.

MOTOGP / SPANISH GRAND PRIX
Final classification – 24 laps (106.152km) – Sunday April 30, 2023
1- Francesco Bagnaia (ITA/Ducati) in 39’29”085
2- Brad Binder (AFS / KTM) at 0”221
3- Jack Miller (AUS / KTM) at 1”119
4- Jorge Martin (ESP/Ducati Pramac) at 1”942
5- Aleix Espargaro (ESP/Aprilia) at 4”760
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10- Fabio Quartararo (FRA/Yamaha) at 15”846
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Ranking of the drivers’ world championship after 4 Grands Prix (out of 20)
1- Francesco Bagnaia (ITA/Ducati) 87 points
2- Marco Bezzecchi (ITA/Ducati VR46) 65
3- Brad Binder (AFS/KTM) 62
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9- Johann Zarco (FRA/Ducati Pramac) 46
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11- Fabio Quartararo (FRA/Yamaha) 40
…