Bagnaia ends Marc Marquez run with ‘fantastic’ USA MotoGP success

AFP | Houston

Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

Francesco Bagnaia hailed a “fantastic” win in an eventful Grand Prix of the Americas on Sunday to end crash-victim Marc Marquez’s perfect start to the MotoGP season.

Six-time elite class world champion Marquez was set fair to make it six wins out of six in Texas after romping to victories in the sprints and main races in Thailand, Argentina and Saturday’s sprint in Austin.

But a crash on lap nine did it for the Spanish superstar, gifting victory to his Ducati factory teammate.

Alex Marquez, on a Ducati satellite bike, took second for the sixth time to move one point clear of his older brother in the riders’ standings.

Fabio Di Giannantonio, on another Ducati satellite machine, came in third at the Circuit of the Americas.

Under a wide-brimmed Texan hat Bagnaia beamed: “I’m super happy I have lost my voice. I screamed out loud during (the last) lap.”

The 2022 and 2023 world champion, winning for the first time this year, added: “It’s a fantastic feeling to be back on the top step of the podium after a difficult period.”

New championship leader Alex Marquez commented: “This is something very great. I’m super happy, have to keep going now.” Di Giannan - tonio mean - while said h was going to toast his first podium since 2023 with “200 beers”.

Bagnaia supplied Ducati with their 20th consecutive grand prix success, just two shy of Honda’s historic benchmark of 22

There was chaos before lights out with riders on the grid, their bikes equipped with wet tyres, all set for the start.

But then, with the changeable overcast conditions drying, pole-sitter Marc Marquez dramatically ran back to the pits to swop to a bike with slicks, triggering a domino effect as his grid rivals copied his example.

As he had not sat on his bike Marquez did not break any rules, only causing mayhem, and a delayed start with a race reduced by one lap to 19 laps.

There was one last twist to the pre-race drama, when Maverick Vinales, last year’s winner, had to wheel his KTM bike off the grid with an issue to start from the pits.