Francesco Bagnaia recovers from Dash crash to assert Malaysia Grand Prix victory and take title race to last day – Eurosport

Defending champion Francesco Bagnaia earned his tenth Grand Prix victory of the season with a superb efficiency that may take the title struggle right down to the wire.

The championship chief Jorge Martin settled for second place after opting out of the early battle with Bagnaia, settling for the 24-point lead going into the finale.

Marc Marquez was working easily in third till he crashed out and completed in twelfth place, gifting the ultimate podium slot to Enea Bastianini.

Bagnaia and Martin engaged in a fierce battle within the opening act round Sepang, buying and selling positions every nook till Bagnaia prevailed.

The championship will now be determined within the season finale, almost certainly to be held in Barcelona after tragic flooding in Valencia compelled a change in venue.

Polesitter Bagnaia obtained off to a terrific first begin, forcing Martin to run huge as chaos unfolded behind that precipitated an early purple flag to the race.

Brad Binder, Fabio Quartararo, and Jack Miller had been caught in a three-bike pile-up heading right into a busy Flip 2 that mandated a full restart.

Inside 20 minutes the riders had been again on monitor and Bagnaia perfected his begin on the second go, immediately pulling forward of Martin on the beginning straight.

He did not hold the lead for lengthy, although, as Martin instantly set to work and tried a daring transfer across the within Bagnaia on the opening lap.

A small wobble from the Prima Pramac rider compelled him to desert the transfer, however he got here proper again to grab the lead from Bagnaia after lunging across the within the ultimate nook.

Martin briefly led the pack earlier than the two-time world champion minimize throughout him at Flip 1 on Lap 2, placing all the pieces on the road because the title struggle involves blows.

The 2 championship rivals traded positions throughout the third lap, nearly colliding as they went aspect by aspect into the beginning straight.

Martin led the pack round Sepang once more earlier than dropping the place to Bagnaia round Flip 1 of Lap 4 in a dangerous transfer from the keen Italian.

From there, Bagnaia led the Malaysian Grand Prix easily as Martin opted out of the struggle as a way to save his overheating tyres within the blistering warmth.

He tried to shut the hole within the last 5 laps after utilizing the center part of the race to recuperate, however Martin nearly crashed at Flip 9 so he relinquished the struggle.

Marquez was current all through the early levels of the battle, lingering intently behind the championship rivals ready for a mistake to capitalise on.

It was all going effectively for Marquez in third place till he crashed at Flip 15 on Lap 7, gifting his place to his closest rival Bastianini.

Marquez managed to recuperate to twelfth place, retaining his P3 within the Riders’ Standings forward of the ultimate showdown in Barcelona.

After Marquez’s crash, Bagnaia picked up the tempo and cruised to a redemptive victory round Sepang as Martin settled for second place.

Solely 24 factors separate the Bagnaia and Martin as they put together for the season finale in Barcelona, anticipated to be a fierce showdown which might both crown a two-time world champion or have fun a maiden championship.

One rider turned a bitter weekend right into a redemptive one, and that was Bagnaia.

He was capable of come again to Sepang as a brand new man on Sunday and neglect the unlucky dash crash that many stated might value him the championship.

Ranging from pole, Bagnaia endured a ferocious battle with Martin for the lead and got here out on high after a superb defensive show and daring strikes.

He obtained his elbows out instantly, difficult Martin off the road for the lead, and continued all through the opening levels of the race.

His dangerous overtakes and aggressive defence proved to be excellent for the race, paired with the Ducati’s wonderful tempo that allowed Bagnaia to drag two seconds forward.

Bagnaia’s victory retains his title struggle alive, giving him weeks to arrange for a last showdown in Barcelona that might add to his tally of 10 victories this season.

1/20 BAGNAIA LEADS AS FIRST-LAP CHAOS UNFOLDS – Francesco Bagnaia leads Martin across the monitor however a purple flag known as earlier than the opening lap ends. Three riders went down within the pile-up, together with Brad Binder, Fabio Quartararo, and Jack Miller.

1/20 RED FLAG – The race can be restarted after a first-lap crash left three riders out of the race.

1/19 BAGNAIA LEADS OFF THE LINE – Bagnaia will get off to an incredible begin, pulling forward of Jorge Martin on the beginning straight as he leads the pack into the primary nook.

3/19 RIVALS GO BLOW FOR BLOW – The 2 championship rivals have put all the pieces on the road right here in Malaysia. Going aspect by aspect into the third lap, nearly colliding on the primary straight, they commerce positions each nook.

6/19 BAGNAIA LEADS AS MARTIN RESTS – Bagnaia leads the pack heading into Lap 4 after a dangerous transfer noticed him squeeze down the within of Flip 1 whereas Jorge Martin creeps behind.

9/19 MARQUEZ DOWN AS BAGNAIA LEADS – Bagnaia leads the Malaysian Grand Prix after a scrappy opening act noticed the 2 rivals commerce positions every lap. Marc Marquez crashes out of third place at Flip 15 on Lap 7 after taking the nook too aggressively within the hunt for Martin.

16/19 BAGNAIA CLOSE TO THE WIN – Bagnaia boasts a 2.2 second hole to Jorge Martin as they lead the riders round Sepang. Martin is beginning to minimize the hole right down to Bagnaia, taking a tenth out of the Italian in every nook.

19/19 PECCO PREVAILS – Defending champion Bagnaia earns his tenth Grand Prix victory of the season with a superb efficiency that may take the title struggle right down to the wire.