The great Italian euphoria! Ducati celebrates 15 years of MotoGP world championship among riders thanks to Bagnaia

Francesco Bagnaia left no one in doubt and after his tenth place at the Valencia Grand Prix he can celebrate his first MotoGP World Championship title. His main rival Fabio Quartararo did what he could with his strength and machine, but could not manage more than fourth position. The second win of the season went to Suzuki’s Álex Rins, who leaves MotoGP on top.

This year’s MotoGP season has come to a close. The Ricardo Tormo circuit hosted the final round of the 2022 MotoGP World Championship. There was only one significant question to be answered. Who would become world champion? Francesco Bagnaia or Fabio Quartararo?

Bagnaia held a 23-point lead in the World Championship before the race. Quartararo and Yamaha’s chances of a miracle of the century were therefore almost nil before the Valencia Grand Prix began. Only a confluence of unusual moments could yet turn this battle for this year’s championship between the riders in Quartara’s favour.

In the face of the impossible…

The Frenchman’s fourth position in qualifying proved that the factory Yamaha rider was not going to give up. Bagnaia qualified eighth, and in the event of a poor start, all hope might not be over for Quartara fans.

However, Bagnaia handled the final lights out of the season and the run into the first corner superbly. Just as he did in Malaysia, but not with the same gains as two weeks ago, the Italian headed up the order after the start.

Álex Rins made a superb start and took the lead after starting from fifth position. Jorge Martín, Jack Miller and Marc Márquez lined up behind him. Quartararo did not produce the tee shot of his dreams and instead of competing for the lead, he had to fend off attacks from Bagnai.

He even collided with his main rival for the title after exiting turn two on lap two. Only the wing on Bagnai’s Ducati took the knock.

Even without this aerodynamic feature, the Italian worked his way past the Frenchman into fifth place. Quartararo realised he had no business being in this position on the track and passed Bagnai on lap four.

Meanwhile, the leading four had built up a lead, and it was Quartararo’s job to erase that lead without delay. However, the evenness of the MotoGP machines played against the Frenchman, who with all his strength managed to reduce the time gap between him and the leading quartet as time went on.

Riding on the safe side for Bagnaia?

As always, Márquez proved, this time in Valencia, that his talent and skill are undeniable. However, over-eagerness to finish the season in the best possible way cost him a crash on the run-in to turn eight.

With everyone behind Márquez gaining position, Quartararo suddenly had one less rival to overtake. His pace, however, was not enough to give him any hope of victory. Bagnaia was also aware of this fact. Whether it was a drop in performance after losing a wing, riding on confidence or a combination of these aspects, the Italian was passed by Brad Binder and Joan Mir.

Behind Bagnaia, Miguel Oliveira and fellow Ducati riders Luca Marini and Enea Bastianini, Bagnaia’s teammate for next year, then began to take the chequered flag.

Meanwhile, Rins defended the top spot, with Martín and Miller holding on to it, but not overtaking each other. Quartararo couldn’t find a recipe for them. Instead, he missed the apex of turn two on lap 18, which Binder took advantage of on the ktm, which was showing off its speed in Valencia.

The celebrations for the new champion were overshadowed by a dominant performance from Rins

Bagnaia was visibly in no hurry to get anywhere. His title was getting closer and closer with every lap, so he didn’t mind when the Italian was beaten by Oliveira, followed by Marini and Bastianini. Even the tenth place, to which the twenty-five-year-old dropped, still guaranteed him overall success this season.

Attention then turned to the podium. Miller was no match for the speed of Binder, who took third from him on lap 23. The Australian eventually threw his machine away at Turn 11 on the same circuit. On the penultimate lap, Binder also took a swipe at Martin.

From start to finish, Rins found no one to threaten his first place. The Spaniard on the Suzuki, for whom this was his last grand prix before retiring from the sport, triumphed for the second time this season ahead of Binder and Martín. Quartararo did his best but could not manage more than fourth place.

Bagnaia finished ninth, and so there could have been riotous celebrations at Ducati and throughout Italy. MotoGP saw its fourth different world champion on machines from four different manufacturers in the last four seasons after the finish.

For Ducati, it was the rider’s first title in 15 years since the 2007 season, which saw Casey Stoner rejoice at the end of the season. Bagnaia also became the first Italian to win a world championship on a motorcycle of Italian origin in 50 years.

Quartararo’s title defense ultimately came up short. While fourth place in the grand prix is not disappointing, if Yamaha wants to challenge for the world title again next year, today’s race pace unfortunately suggests that the MotoGP series will most likely be dominated by European machines…

MotoGP Valencia Grand Prix results (Race 20/20, 27 laps = 108.135 km; top 10 only):

1. Álex Rins (Span., Suzuki) 41::22.250

2. Brad Binder (RJA, KTM) +0.396

3. Jorge Martín (Span., Ducati) +1.059

4. Fabio Quartararo (Fra., Yamaha) +1.911

5. Miguel Oliveira (Por., KTM) +7.122

6. Joan Mir (Span., Suzuki) +7.735

7. Luca Marini (Ita., Ducati) +8.524

8. Enea Bastianini (Ita., Ducati) +12.038

9. Francesco Bagnaia (Ita., Ducati) +14.441

10. Franco Morbidelli (Ita., Yamaha) +14.676

Final 2022 MotoGP rider standings (after 20/20; top 10 only)::

1. Francesco Bagnaia (Ita., Ducati) 265

2. Fabio Quartararo (Fra., Yamaha) 248

3. Enea Bastianini (Ita., Ducati) 219

4. Aleix Espargaró (Sp., Aprilia) 212

5. Jack Miller (Aus., Ducati) 189

6. Brad Binder (RJA, KTM) 188

7. Álex Rins (Span., Suzuki) 173

8. Johann Zarco (Fra., Ducati) 166

9. Jorge Martín (Span., Ducati) 152

10. Miguel Oliveira (Por., KTM) 149

Source: MotoGP