Bastianini Shines in Final-lap Thriller

Just like the previous race at Misano, this one also served up a thriller but for very different reasons. Here is how it unfolded

- Gaurav Davare

WE ALL THOUGHT that the 2024 MotoGP San Marino Grand Prix with its dynamic weather throwing curveballs on the field was the most exciting we would get at Misano, with the second race just a week later likely to be more straightforward. We would argue the 2024 MotoGP Emila-Romagna Grand Prix also had its own fair share of dramatic moments, albeit in extremely different circumstances.

The weekend started off with the reigning champion, Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), taking pole position, ahead of his championship rival, Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing), with the sister factory Ducati of Enea Bastianini rounding off the front row. Six-time premier class champion Marc Márquez (Gresini Racing) was relegated to seventh place following a fall in an attempt to improve on his lap-time.

Sprint

THE SPRINT COULD NOT HAVE GOT off in a better way for Jorge Martin as he took the lead from Bagnaia, with Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) also getting the jump on Bagnaia to take second place. This did not faze Bagnaia for long, though, as he made quick work of Binder and started making inroads towards Martin. The key moment came on lap eight as a mistake on the part of Martin was enough for Bagnaia to regain the lead and then he retained it all the way to the chequered flag. This brought the gap down to just four between Martin and Bagnaia in the title race.

Race

AS WAS THE CASE IN THE SPRINT, Jorge Martin had a great launch off the line to take the lead, but it proved short-lived as Bagnaia wrested it right back to maintain status quo, with Bastianini following close behind in third place. The twists at the front did not end there, for on the very next lap, a mistake by Bagnaia allowed Martin to be right on his tailpipe and then he made a couple of overtaking attempts before finally making it stick on lap four.