MotoGP Round 14 | Bastianini triumphs in dramatic Misano

The MotoGP World Championship has taken a twist as Martin regains the lead of the title chase! MotoGP Round 14, Bastianini triumphs in dramatic Misano! The Beast rules, the Martinator rues and Marc Marquez completed the podium as Bagnaia crashed out at Misano. Report: Ed Stratmann/MotoGP

Friday Practice and Saturday Qualifying
MotoGP

Following a slow start to proceedings at the Gran Premio Pramac dell’Emilia-Romagna due to damp conditions in the morning, the sun shone on MotoGP™ Practice in the afternoon and it was some of 2024’s brightest stars that rose to the fore, with Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) taking control.

Read our Round 13 report here…

The #1 set a new Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli all-time lap record – a 1:30.286 – to beat World Championship leader Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) by 0.198s, with the #89 unable to search for an improvement in the closing stages after a small crash at Turn 8. Completing the top three was Round 13 winner Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) as the eight-time Champion sat 0.299s off Pecco heading into Saturday.

For the second weekend running on familiar territory, home favourite Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) fired his way to a phenomenal pole position. 0.214s was the gap to World Championship leader Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) as the top two in the title race enjoyed a scintillating Saturday morning Q2 jostle, with Bagnaia landing another new all-time Misano lap record.

The Italian and Spaniard were joined on the front row by Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) after a late attack from ‘The Beast’, with Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) set to start from a tricky P7 after a crash.

Moto2

Just shy of 0.4s is the healthy advantage Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) boasted on Friday at the Emilia-Romagna GP as the Italian fired in a 1:35.386 to lead second place Aron Canet (Fantic Racing) and impressive rookie Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team) in Moto2™ Practice 1.

A last-gasp 1:34.935 saw Aron Canet (Fantic Racing) collect a fourth pole position of the season in an epic scrap for Saturday’s intermediate class honours. The top three were split by just 0.010s as Joe Roberts (OnlyFans American Racing) and Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) completed the front row in Emilia-Romagna.

Moto3

For the second Friday in a row at Misano, Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) topped the timesheets on Friday afternoon thanks to a 1:41.071 – a lap good enough to beat second place Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) by just over a tenth. Third place went the way of San Marino GP race winner Angel Piqueras as Leopard Racing saw both their bikes sit inside the top three at the early stage of the Emilia-Romagna GP.

Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) became a Grand Prix polesitter for the first time thanks to a late 1:40. in Moto3™ Q2 at the Emilia-Romagna GP. The Japanese star ousted World Championship leader David Alonso (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) from P1 as the Colombian suffered a small crash at the end of the session to halt his hopes of finding an improved time. Completing the front row was San Marino GP hero Angel Piqueras (Leopard Racing), who launched from the front row for the second time in 2024.

Read all Practice and Qualifying results here...

Saturday
Tissot Sprint

Martin made a dream take-off at the start of the Sprint, with the #89 launching his attack on the run to Turn 1. He then pulled the pin at the beginning, pushing hard on the opening laps, while Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) leapfrogged the reigning World Champion too, pushing Bagnaia down to third.

Binder was then elbowed down to fourth at Turn 8 as Bagnaia and then Bastianini shot through. Next it was Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) making moves. On the comeback from his P7 starting position after a crash in qualifying, Marquez got past the South African, and soon so did Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3). All eyes then returned to the front as Bagnaia reeled in the Championship leader, closing the gap to under half a second.

By Lap 8, Bagnaia was glued to the Pramac ahead, having reeled him in, lost a few metres, saved a front end moment and then gathered it back up. And Martin then suffered his own small drama, heading wide and leaving the door far enough ajar to allow Bagnaia through. The hammer then went down from the #1. From sixth tenths up the road to Bagnaia on the penultimate lap, Martin edged closer and closer until the lap count ran out, forced to cede defeat by less than three tenths. Bagnaia struck back after a tougher run, cutting his deficit in the title fight to just four points – so if a duel eventuated on Sunday, the winner would decide the Championship lead.

Bastianini remained close too and will be one to watch on Sunday when he has Grand Prix distance to go at, for he’d so far enjoyed a 100% podium record at Misano in the premier class. The last time he started a GP race from the front row, he won it. Behind that trio, Marc Marquez couldn’t make too much progress from fourth and was also hampered by a mistake at Turn 13.

“I tried everything to be at my 100 percent riding and luckily I’m able to ride at my 100 percent,” said Bagnaia. “I missed the start again and to overtake Jorge was very, very tough. I used his mistake to be leading and after that moment everything was much easier. The pace today was incredible. One week ago, to ride 1:31 or 1:32 here was something unbelievable. I’m very happy.”

Tissot Sprint Race Results

Francesco Bagnaia Ducati Lenovo
Jorge Martin Pramac Ducati (+0.285s)
Enea Bastianini Ducati Lenovo (+1.319s)
Marc Marquez Gresini Ducati (+5.386s)
Pedro Acosta Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 (+6.580s)

Sunday
MotoGP

High drama, another title fight twist and a last lap clash: the Gran Premio Pramac dell’Emilia-Romagna was a stunner right to the wire. On the top step after a brutal last lap lunge, Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) took Ducati’s 100th premier class win – and ensured the factory wrapped up the 2024 Constructors’ crown. He also ensured he cut his deficit to the top of the Championship, as his last lap attack was to defeat points leader Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing).

Martin may not have taken the win but he leaves with a bolstered 24-point advantage in the title fight after reigning Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) slid out of third when on a charge to catch the duel at the front, promoting Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) to third. Martin took the holeshot with another stellar start from the middle of the front row, but Bagnaia wrestled the lead back at Turn 2, shooting round the outside and putting the hammer down in the lead in classic style.

Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was the first drama in the front group as the South African crashed out, rider ok and rejoining, but ceding in the battle against Acosta and Marquez. Acosta would do the same a few laps later, rider ok but not able to rejoin. In the meantime, there were fireworks at the front. Still with 25 laps to go, the top two in the title fight were taking the gloves off. Martin homed in and launched it, but Bagnaia cut back immediately. In the aftermath, the Spaniard was nearly sandwiched between the two Ducati Lenovo machines as Bastianini also looked to try his luck, but it stayed as you were. For now.

Next lap around, Martin went for a dive up the inside at La Quercia, and this time made it stick. Bagnaia looked to respond up the inside but was forced to slot back into second and defend from Bastianini instead – and from there the reigning Champion had a few scrappy corners, sectors and laps. Bastianini got past and set off after Martin, and it seemed Bagnaia was going to have to look over his shoulder for Marc Marquez and Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) starting to reel him in.

Or maybe not? As Bastianini shadowed Martin at the front, Bagnaia started putting in the fast laps. Leaving the #93 and #72 behind, he was cutting three or four tenths off the leading duo’s advantage. Then it was Martin only as Bastianini got his own hammer down to glue back onto the Pramac… but then the #1’s dream was over in some seismic Championship drama.

After getting the gap to the front down below two seconds and then struggling to cut any more into it, there was suddenly a cloud of dust streaking into the air – and a reigning Champion in the gravel. Rider ok, but Emilia-Romagna GP over, Bagnaia was forced to watch the duel for Ducati’s 100th win from the sidelines, wondering if his deficit was going to be 24 points or 29 by the end of play.

At the front, the chess match raged on. Martin in the lead, Bastianini his shadow. With five to go, the #89 then lost every last inch of advantage as he headed slightly wide and Bastianini was almost alongside. A grandstand finish was in the making. They stayed like that through another lap, and another, and another, and at times it looked like Martin had just been able to stretch out enough tenths to ensure he’d reach the flag without coming under attack. But Bastianini managed to find an answer every time, and on the last lap there was almost nothing in it. But where would the move come?

The answer was Turn 4, and it was brutal. The Beast sent it, Martin had to sit up, and the #89 was sent well wide, hand in the air as Bastianini sailed away into a nice cushion of time in the lead. Controversial or decisive as it may be for some, it wasn’t so for the FIM MotoGP™ Stewards, who declined to investigate. The #23 took a hard-fought home win – extending his 100% MotoGP™ podium record at Misano, cutting his deficit in the title fight and ensuring his teammate lost five less to Martin. As well as, of course, securing Ducati’s 100th MotoGP™ win and sealing that incredible sixth Constructors’ crown.

Martin was left to seethe at the move but celebrates the new 24-point advantage at the top, and Marc Marquez was bumped up to the podium after Bagnaia’s crash, another shift that has a say in those top echelons of the Championship. Just behind that, Bezzecchi took fourth, not quite able to stay with the #93 but putting in another solid weekend.

“Jorge was perfect for all the race and it was too difficult to try to overtake him,” Bastianini said. “I tried with three laps to go, but he closed the line from the exit from turn number six. After the last lap I saw a bit of space inside turn number four, I entered a bit on the limit but I closed the line.”

MotoGP Race Results

Enea Bastianini Ducati Lenovo
Jorge Martin Pramac Ducati (+5.002s)
Marc Marquez Gresini Ducati (+7.848s)
Marco Bezzecchi VR46 Ducati (+9.200s)
Franco Morbidelli Pramac Ducati (+13.601s)

Check out the full MotoGP race results here…

MotoGP Championship Points

Jorge Martin Pramac Ducati – 341
Francesco Bagnaia Ducati Lenovo – 317
Enea Bastianini Ducati Lenovo – 282
Marc Marquez Gresini Ducati – 281
Brad Binder Red Bull KTM – 165

Moto2

A stunner of a Moto2™ race played out at the Emilia-Romagna GP as a dramatic last lap saw home hero Celestino Vietti (Red Bull KTM Ajo) claim a second win of the season after the Italian beat Aron Canet (Fantic Racing) by 0.029s. Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) led on the last lap but a costly error at Turn 14 meant the Italian took the flag in P3, as Ai Ogura (MT Helmets – MSI) extended his title lead with a P4.

After getting a fantastic launch, Arbolino pounced into an early lead as Vietti and Canet quickly slotted into P2 and P3, with World Championship leader Ogura making solid progress from P7 on the grid to earn P4 in the early exchanges. As the race settled, drama unfolded for two title hopefuls. While running P7, Jake Dixon (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team) crashed at Turn 2 and Sergio Garcia (MT Helmets – MSI) crashed at Turn 1. Both were unable to get their bikes going, as the Briton and Spaniard’s Emilia-Romagna GPs ended in disappointment.

Back at the front, Arbolino’s early lead was being chopped away by Vietti and Canet. The trio were two seconds up the road from Ogura, with the Japanese rider having Fermin Aldeguer (MB Conveyors SpeedUp) for company, as Joe Roberts (OnlyFans American Racing) found himself in a lonely P6.

With six laps to go, Vietti made a mistake at Turn 2 to allow Canet into P2 – and Arbolino some valuable breathing room. The wobble cost Vietti 0.8s, meaning Canet was now in charge of trying to attack Arbolino. With four laps left, a slender 0.4s split the three, with Vietti climbing all over the back of Canet. Then, battle mode was engaged. A mistake out of Turn 13 saw Canet and Vietti pass Arbolino into Turn 14, before Vietti had another big moment at the final corner that cost the Italian more crucial ground. Vietti was now 0.7s down on the top two as Arbolino and Canet exchanged P1 twice in the first half of the penultimate lap.

Last lap time! Arbolino led from Canet, as Vietti was now right with the top two. Arbolino kept the chasers behind for the first half of the lap, but unbelievably, Arbolino was wide at Turn 14. And not just wide, very wide. It was a gift for Canet who now had to hold off Vietti through the final two corners to win. But on the run to the line, after getting a much better run out of the final corner, Vietti picked the pocket of Canet to win on home turf. A devastated Arbolino crossed the line in P3 as we witnessed an outstanding intermediate class race at Misano.

In the end, Ogura was only a second away from the podium in a P4 that saw the Japanese rider extend his Championship lead to 22 heading to Indonesia. Aldeguer completed the top five, 1.5s shy of Ogura, with Roberts sixth to earn his best result since the Italian GP. An impressive P7 for Senna Agius (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) signals the Australian’s second best result of the season.

Moto2 Race Results

Celestino Vietti Red Bull KTM Ajo
Aron Canet Fantic Racing (+0.029s)
Tony Arbolino Elf Marc VDS Racing (+1.921s)
Ai Ogura MT Helmets – MSI (+2.990s)
Fermin Aldeguer MB Conveyors Speed Up (+4.491s)

Moto2 Championship Points

Ai Ogura MT Helmets – MSI – 188
Sergio Garcia MT Helmets – MSI – 166
Joe Roberts OnlyFans American Racing Team – 143
Alonso Lopez Beta Tools Speed Up – 140
Fermin Aldeguer MB Conveyors Speed Up – 133

Moto3

The revenge David Alonso (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) was looking for was served at the Emilia-Romagna GP as the Colombian claimed a wonderful eighth win of 2024 to strengthen his grip on the Championship.

From pole, Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) grabbed the holeshot after getting a perfect launch, as drama unfolded at Turn 2 for the second week running for David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports) – the Spaniard tagged the back of Stefano Nepa (LEVELUP – MTA) and was out of contention, but Muñoz was able to complete his double Long Lap penalty after remounting. Meanwhile, Alonso picked his way to the front by the end of Lap 1, with Holgado carving his way up to P5 from P11 on the grid.

By Lap 5, Holgado held the P1 baton for the first time as Friday pacesetter, Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing), was now P2 ahead of teammate Piqueras. Alonso was fourth, Furusato was fifth, with Veijer sixth in a lead group that consisted of 14 riders. With 14 laps to go, Piqueras led for the first time, but a huge warning came a couple of laps later that cost the rookie a couple of places. Another big moment came a lap later, as Furusato – going for a lunge at Turn 14 – made contact with Fernandez which saw both riders lose valuable time. Fernandez was now P7, the polesitter was shuffled back to P11.

When Alonso hit the front again with nine laps left, the pace was upped and gaps began to appear in the group. Holgado, Piqueras and Veijer clung onto the coattails of the #80, with Luca Lunetta (SIC58 Squadra Corse) and Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets – MSI) 0.9s back. With two to go in Emilia-Romagna, it was four riders fighting for three spots in the podium. It was Alonso from Holgado, Piqueras and Veijer. Who was going to make the first big move? The answer was Holgado. Turn 14 on the penultimate lap, the #96 shoved his way past Alonso and Piqueras followed his compatriot through.

On the final lap, Holgado led until Turn 8 saw a change. It was three abreast into the left-hander and taking a two for one deal was Alonso. The title chase leader was back in the lead and after producing an inch perfect latter half of the lap, Alonso picked up another 25 points as Piqueras settled for a close second. Holgado crossed the line in P3, but after a track limits violation at the final corner, Veijer was promoted to P3. Ortola couldn’t bridge the gap once he got to P5, as Lunetta edged out Joel Kelso (BOE Motorsports) by under two tenths as the Italian and Australian took away P6 and P7 respectively.

Moto3 Race Results