Bagnaia vs Bastianini: 0.034s decides Misano epic

The 2022 Gran Premio Gryfyn di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini shall be remembered for an epic victory battle between Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Group) and Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing MotoGP™). The 2 Italians went head-to-head within the closing levels and have been ultimately cut up by simply 0.034s on the road as Bagnaia turns into the primary Ducati rider to win 4 races in a row – an outstanding accolade. Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) pale late on however held on to say one other hard-earned podium.

From pole, Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Group) acquired away fantastically and so did teammate Francesco Bagnaia, because the Italian pounced straight as much as third. We then noticed Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing), Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Group) and Michele Pirro (Aruba.it Racing) crash out of rivalry at Flip 1, fortunately all three have been unhurt. 

It quickly turned a dramatic race of attrition as a few early frontrunners then crashed on Lap 2 – together with race chief Miller. The Australian slipped out at Flip 4 and some corners later at Flip 10, Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Group) was on the ground. Each riders have been unharmed, each remounted. New race chief Bastianini then had a bushy second at Flip 14 as the most well liked climate of the weekend was making life difficult for the premier class.

On Lap 3, Bagnaia led for the primary time and shortly following him by way of on Bastianini was Viñales. Additional again, the highest two within the World Championship – Fabio Quartararo (Monster Power Yamaha MotoGP™) and Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) – have been locked collectively in P5 and P6. They have been 0.8s off the main quartet that consisted of Bagnaia, Viñales, Bastianini and Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Group).

After passing Espargaro, Quartararo set the quickest lap of the race on Lap 7 of 27 and instantly began searching down the leaders. The Frenchman gapped Espargaro by 0.7s however it was then the Aprilia star who set the quickest lap of the race on Lap 9, with the highest six – all the way down to the quantity 41 – cut up by 2.2s. Nevertheless, a poor lap from Espargaro on Lap 12 noticed the Spaniard slip to a few seconds off the lead and 1.6s away from Quartararo.

As we clocked by way of half-race distance, the highest 4 remained locked collectively. Bagnaia led from Viñales, Bastianini and Marini, with Quartararo 0.7s away from the extraordinary victory battle. One factor to notice and to regulate was a few observe limits warnings for Viñales and Quartararo – warning for the pair was wanted with 12 laps to go.

On Lap 16 of 27, Bastianini was vast at Flip 10 to permit Marini a straightforward go up the within. The Beast was straight again previous although on the run into the fast Flip 11 right-hander as Bagnaia and Viñales began to show up the wick. In the meantime, Quartararo was dropping floor in P5 and Espargaro was now two seconds in arrears of the Yamaha man.

After that mistake, Bastianini slammed in a 1:31.895 to reel in Bagnaia and Viñales. Was that well-known late race tempo beginning to floor? With eight to go, after a few scruffy corners from Viñales, Bastianini carved his method as much as P2 at Flip 1. The hole to Pecco was 0.6s. Then it was 0.4s. Then it was 0.2s. Six laps to go, Bagnaia had been caught by Bastianini however the latter had obtained a observe limits warning. Viñales was dropping contact now and it seemed prefer it was Ducati vs Ducati, Italy vs Italy, 2023 manufacturing unit Ducati rider vs 2023 manufacturing unit Ducati rider.

With 4 to go, the strain was palpable. With three to go it was nonetheless benefit Bagnaia, however Bastianini was marginally quicker. Two to go, it was as you have been. Bastianini swarming, Bagnaia holding robust. And all of it got here all the way down to the final lap.

Looking for a passing manoeuvre, Bastianini was late on the brakes at Flip 4 and he was out of practice, narrowly avoiding contact. Was that race over? Not but. Bastianini regrouped and by the point Flip 10 got here round, the hole was again to nothing. No go got here into Flip 14 and neither into the ultimate nook, however Bastianini hooked his GP21 up on the exit and threatened to grab victory away from Pecco’s grasp on the chequered flag. It wasn’t to be although as Bagnaia gained by 0.034s – a stunningly shut end between two phenomenal riders.