'Pecco' pulls off a dream double

Double world champion Francesco Bagnaia won a third successive Austrian MotoGP to complete a dream sprint-race weekend double and take the outright lead in the world championship yesterday.

Jorge Martin, who went into the weekend atop the riders' standings, had to settle for second with Enea Bastianini completing the podium at the RedBull Ring circuit.

This was the Turin-born Bagnaia's seventh race success of the season, to match his tally from last season with still nine races remaining.

That is a sobering thought for Martin, who has a better sprint record than Bagnaia but when it comes to the main event it is Bagnaia who invariably comes out on top. "Our pace was incredible," said the race winner.