Jorge Martin and Johann Zarco maintained their 2023 MotoGP World Championship charge by finishing second and third respectively behind home winner Francesco Bagnaia at the Italian GP around the Mugello circuit. Here is all you need to know:
– Pole sitter Bagnaia got the off line quickly to just nip ahead of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jack Miller, while the likes of Spaniards Marc Márquez – fresh off his new Red Bull TV documentary Marc Márquez: ALL IN – and Martin jostled for position behind.
– Álex Márquez nearly took out three riders soon after when he misjudged breaking into a corner as he settled into the leading positions alongside Australian Miller and his teammate Brad Binder.
– Unfortunately for six-time MotoGP champion Márquez he lost the front end of his Repsol Honda and slid out with 18 laps to go as Martin put pressure on the Ducati of Bagnaia up at the front.
– Frenchman Zarco then edged ahead of Miller and South African Binder in the middle of the race as Álex Márquez lost his Ducati bike on a corner to slide out with nine laps to go.
– In the end, home hero Bagnaia led from start to finish to extend his MotoGP World Championship lead over Marco Bezzecchi to 21 points with Martin finishing in second and Zarco rounding out the podium.
– Luca Marini finished fourth on his Ducati with Binder leading home teammate Miller in fifth and seventh, leaving Spaniard Augusto Fernández in 15th as Portuguese Miguel Oliveira failed to finish the race.
– Martin, 25, said: “It was a really difficult race. I choose the soft rear and I take the risk. The last four laps were tough with the rear grip. We are looking forward to the next one.”
– Zarco, 32, said: “Pretty happy. I knew that with the medium rear, I could be very competitive. I knew a few guys were with the soft rear tyre and I expected the performance at the end of the race.”
Table of Contents
Italian GP result
1. Francesco Bagnaia ITA Ducati 41:16.8630
2. Jorge Martin SPA Ducati +1.067
3. Johann Zarco FRA Ducati +1.977
4. Luca Marini ITA Ducati +4.625
5. Brad Binder RSA KTM +8.925
2023 MotoGP World Championship standings
1. Francesco Bagnaia ITA Ducati 131 points
2. Marco Bezzecchi ITA Ducati 110
3. Jorge Martin SPA Ducati 107
4. Brad Binder RSA KTM 92
5. Johann Zarco FRA Ducati 88
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