Motorsport
All or nothing! Martín keeps title hopes alive with ninth MotoGP sprint win in Valencia, mandatory minimum for Bagnaia
This year’s World Championship of Road Motorcycles concludes its journey in Valencia, Spain, at the Ricardo Tormo circuit. Twentieth round out of 20, 37 opportunities to score points and yet only 21 points separated Pecco Bagnaia and Jorge Martín ahead of the final grand prix of the season.
This year’s World Championship of Road Motorcycles concludes its journey in Valencia, Spain, at the Ricardo Tormo circuit. Twentieth round out of 20, 37 opportunities to score points and yet only 21 points separated Pecco Bagnaia and Jorge Martín ahead of the final grand prix of the season. The last performance in Saturday’s sprint was dominated by their undisputed king, Martín, ahead of Brad Binder and Marc Márquez. The cautious Bagnaia finished in fifth position, his lead ahead of Sunday’s finale stands at 14 points.
The math was clear. Bagnaia needed to score at least four more points than Martín to celebrate his second MotoGP World Championship title after Saturday’s short race and not have to stress about Sunday’s final. The Italian’s second place in the morning qualifying session gave him a better starting position for the sprint race, as Martín qualified only sixth. Pole position was awarded to Maverick Viñales on the factory Aprilia for the first time in more than two years.
You have to go for success
When Viñales starts from the front row, it is common for him to fall through the field during the first moments of the race. For a moment after the red lights went out, it looked like tradition was being upheld as the Spaniard was overtaken by a superbly-starting Bagnai. However, the 28-year-old Aprilia rider had had enough and sent his machine under the Bagnai ducati from a relatively long distance at the second corner.
Viñales, however, was eventually successful in this manoeuvre, staying on the racing line and leaving Bagnai at the mercy of the riders behind him, especially Martín, who earned three positions over his starting position.
Martín was left with no choice but to attack and go for the still existing MotoGP championship hopes. He no-holds-barred his rival Bagnaiu into Turn 10 and was able to thank Brad Binder and Marc Márquez on the exit for staying close enough behind him to take positions from Bagnaiu as well. Martín may have lost positions to them too, but the Spaniard’s pace in the sprints in general is highly superior and there was no doubt that he would soon find himself in the lead.
Bagnaia, on the other hand, usually doesn’t catch up in Saturday’s races and very quickly lost valuable tenths to the leading four. So the question is whether Bagnaia was tactically risk-averse this time, or whether he has once again confirmed that he has room for improvement for next season.
Nothing new under the sun – Martín excels, Bagnaia languishes
Martín’s excellence in the sprints only reflects his explosive temper and skill in short distance riding. Bagnaia, on the other hand, excels in Sunday’s grand prix, where tactical balance and tyre-saving strategy are crucial.
So far, the sprint course at the VC of Valencia has accurately demonstrated the established standard. While Martín handled Márquez in the battle for third place and quickly fell in behind second-placed Binder, Bagnaia, on the other hand, fought back against his encroaching Ducati teammates and also Fabio Quartara on the Yamaha.
One of Bagnaia’s stablemates, Marco Bezzecchi, momentarily helped his compatriot with a manoeuvre on Quartara on lap four of thirteen. The Frenchman responded very quickly and a lap later attacked Bagnai, who was gaining more and more ground on the leaders. However, the 2021 World Champion couldn’t control his machine and surprisingly didn’t take Bagnaiu with him.
At the front a little later, Binder tried to take the lead from Viñales, but without lasting success. Their duel was closely watched by Martín and, with a little reserve, Márquez. On the following circuit, the South African tried again on the KTM machine and this time held on to the lead. Viñales was then humbled by both Márquez and Martín, who didn’t take long to overtake Binder.
Half the job done, 14 points ahead of the grand finale
Bagnaia, thanks to the battles ahead, has closed his gap to the leading group to one second. Unfortunately for the Italian, it didn’t look like he was going to be able to do anything else about his situation in four laps. But even after Quartataro had talked himself out of fighting with him, Bagnaia was not resting on his laurels.
The winner of the last grand prix in Qatar, Fabio di Giannantonio, was visibly quicker and it was only a matter of whether he would attack his compatriot again this time as he did last Sunday. However, Di Giannantonio held his nerve and stayed close behind the rear wheel of Bagnai’s bike until the end of the race.
Although Binder was pressuring Martino, there were no further significant attacks for position for either this pair or the rest of the starting field. Martín did what he had to do to maintain his maximum title chances, winning the MotoGP sprint for the ninth time ahead of Binder, Márquez and Viñales. Bagnaia finished fifth, which cut his lead at the head of the championship to 14 points.
In a way, both Martín and Bagnaia got the result they needed. If the duo finish Sunday’s final in identical positions, Bagnaia will defend his world championship title. Martín did the best he could. Now he has no choice but to repeat his performance in the grand prix and hope that Bagnaia will leave his traditional extravaganza in the long race.
MotoGP Valencia Grand Prix sprint results (13 laps = 52.065 km; top 10 only):
1. Jorge Martín (Sp., Ducati) 19:38.827
2. Brad Binder (RJA, KTM) +0.190
3. Marc Márquez (Span., Honda) +2.122
4. Maverick Viñales (Span., Aprilia) +3.106
5. Francesco Bagnaia (Ita., Ducati) +4.253
6. Fabio di Giannantonio (Ita., Ducati) +4.400
7. Marco Bezzecchi (Ita., Ducati) +4.502
8. Álex Márquez (Span., Ducati) +5.578
9. Johann Zarco (Fra., Ducati) +5.910
10. Augusto Fernández (Span., KTM) +6.095
2023 MotoGP rider standings (top 10 only):
1. Francesco Bagnaia (Ita., Ducati) 442
2. Jorge Martín (Spa., Ducati) 428
3. Marco Bezzecchi (Ita., Ducati) 329
4. Brad Binder (RJA, KTM) 277
5. Johann Zarco (Fra., Ducati) 205
6. Aleix Espargaró (Sp., Aprilia) 198
7. Maverick Viñales (Span., Aprilia) 198
8. Luca Marini (Ita., Ducati) 194
9. Álex Márquez (Span., Ducati) 167
10. Fabio Quartararo (Fra., Yamaha) 167
Source: MotoGP
