Emilia Romagna GP: Bastianini wins at Misano; Martin extends MotoGP title lead

Ducati wraps up the 2024 MotoGP constructors’ championship. Bagnaia’s crash helps Martin in the title fight.

Published on Sep 23, 2024 12:43:00 PM

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Enea Bastianini pulled off a last-lap move on Jorge Martin to secure a historic 100th premier class win for Ducati at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix on Sunday. The Bologna factory also sealed the 2024 MotoGP constructors’ championship at Misano, with six rounds to go.

Martin had to settle for second place, but he increased his championship lead after Francesco Bagnaia crashed out on Lap 21.
  1. Bastianini wins, 5.002secs ahead of Martin
  2. Marquez on podium

Bagnaia crashes out of Emilia Romagna GP

Martin took the lead off the line, but Bagnaia had a better exit out of Turn 1 and overtook him right away. Martin closely followed his title rival and finally found a way past him on Lap 4.

As Martin pulled away at the front, Bagnaia dropped to P3 after being passed by his Ducati teammate Bastianini. But just when it seemed like it was going to be a two-way fight between Martin and Bastianini, Bagnaia upped the pace. He got the gap to the lead down to 2 seconds but suffered a costly crash on Lap 21 of 27.

Bastianini pulls off last lap pass on Martin

This swung the title fight in Martin’s favour, but it wasn’t over; he still had to fend off Bastianini. The two were locked in battle for several laps, but Bastianini finally made a move stick at Turn 4, on the very last lap.

It was a controversial move, with Bastianini forcing Martin off the track and onto the run-off as they made contact. However, the stewards decided not to investigate the incident, confirming Bastianini’s victory on home soil.
 
“Jorge (Martin) was extremely fast throughout the race and there was a moment when I wasn’t sure if I could have stayed with him as I started experiencing a bit of vibration at the rear-end,” Bastianini reflected after the race.

“As the laps went by, however, I tried to understand how to minimise the issue. In the final laps, something extra obviously comes out that enables you to battle for the win. In the end, I made my move: when I dove in, Jorge tried to close the door and that forced me to lean a bit, which led to the front-end locking. I tried to rely on the rear as much as I could, while making sure I could make the turn, and it worked," he added.

Marquez on Misano podium

Marc Marquez followed up his San Marino GP win with another podium finish, benefitting from Pedro Acosta and Bagnaia’s crashes.

Marco Bezzecchi took fourth place, ahead of Franco Morbidelli and Maverick Vinales. Fabio Quartararo looked on course for a P5 finish, but the Yamaha rider ran out of fuel and just about made it to finish P7. Aleix Espargaro, Alex Marquez and Miguel Oliveira rounded out the top 10.

Ducati win MotoGP constructors’ championship

With 500 points (261 points clear of KTM), Ducati secured the MotoGP constructors’ championship for the fifth year running. The manufacturer also scored its milestone 100th win in the premier class – becoming only the fourth manufacturer to do so, after Honda (313), Yamaha (245) and MV Agusta (139).

2024 MotoGP championship standings

Bagnaia’s crash has helped Martin extend his championship lead to 24 points. Bastianini is third overall, 35 points behind his teammate Bagnaia.

MotoGP will now head to the Mandalika Circuit for the Indonesian GP from September 27-29.

2024 Emilia Romagna GP results

2024 Emilia Romagna GP results
PosRiderTeam
1Enea BastianiniDucati
2Jorge MartinPramac Racing
3Marc MarquezGresini Racing
4Marco BezzecchiVR46 Racing
5Franco MorbidelliPramac Racing
6Maverick VinalesAprilia
7Fabio QuartararoYamaha
8Aleix EspargaroAprilia
9Alex MarquezGresini Racing
10Miguel OliveiraTrackhouse Racing
11Joan MirHonda
12Luca MariniHonda
13Raul FernandezTrackhouse Racing
14Fabio di GiannantonioVR46 Racing
15Johann ZarcoLCR Honda
16Jack MillerKTM
17Takaaki NakagamiLCR Honda
18Augusto FernandezGasGas Tech 3
19Brad BinderKTM
NCFrancesco BagnaiaDucati
NCPedro AcostaGasGas Tech 3

Also see:

New 2027 MotoGP rules explained: 850cc engines, no ride height devices

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