Bastianini claims victory in Silverstone Sprint, Bagnaia crashes

Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) took his first victory of the season in a dramatic British GP Sprint.

Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) came out top at lights out and led a front group of four with Bastianini, Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) and Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team).

The quartet was reduced to a trio when championship leader Bagnaia crashed out halfway through the race.

Bastianini took the lead off Martin on Lap 6 and did not surrender the position from there.

“I’m very happy,” he said in parc ferme. “It has been a very good fight with Jorge [Martin]; we pushed on the limit, the lap times were crazy. The whole Sprint has been crazy.

“It’s my first victory of the year, I’m so happy. I saw yesterday that my pace was good and Silverstone is one of my favourite tracks – it’s fantastic.”

Bagnaia barged his way past pole sitter Espargaro at lights out to lead through Turn 1, but Martin had an even better start and claimed them both to take P1 at Turn 3.

Bastianini too was sharp early on in the race and swiftly made his way into second while Bagnaia fell behind Espargaro into fourth.

The top four broke away from the field and soon held a healthy advantage; the race looking destined to go down between them.

However, disaster struck for championship leader Bagnaia on Lap 5. His front end folded at Turn 4 and the title defender went down and out.

One lap later, Bastianini launched an attack for the lead into Copse. Martin responded and the duo exchanged blows through multiple corners, Martin just about holding on to P1 initially.

Bastianini was relentless though and sent it down the inside from a long way back into Stowe Corner. This time he made it stick and immediately gained some breathing space over Martin.

Bastianini managed the position and there was no retaliation from Martin who had to settle for runner-up, just over a second separating them in the end.

With the win, Bastianini moved up into third in the championship standings, trailing Bagnaia by 55 points. Martin reduced his deficit in the table to a single point.

“It was really nice to race in Silverstone today,” the Spaniard said post-race. “We made a mistake in qualifying, so it was difficult, starting from the second row. But at the start I gained first position, I was pushing like it was qualifying, and, finally, Enea [Bastianini] was superb, he was much stronger than me.

“But it was a nice way to pay tribute to Angel Nieto with his helmet design, so hopefully, tomorrow we can bring it to first position.”

Espargaro had nothing to offer against his opponents late in the race and took the chequered flag in third.

“I’m happy with our performance today, especially in qualifying, and in the Sprint I did everything I could,” he said.

“The pace was extremely fast; I knew that the Ducati boys would improve for the race, but I never expected that much. I was really on the limit, there was nothing more I could have done.

“But it was a nice race and, hopefully, tomorrow with the medium rear tyre we can push even more.”

Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing) had gained fifth place early on in the race when a failed overtake attempt from Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) on Bagnaia resulted in contact with Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) instead.

Aero went flying and Marquez went down the inside to claim them both and move up the order.

The six-times MotoGP world champion looked comfortable behind the top group for the longest time, but a front end wash-out at Turn 16 took him out of the race on Lap 8.

Instead, Binder inherited the position and brought fourth home ahead of Acosta and Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP).

Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was seventh from Maverick Vinales (Aprilia Racing), while Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) bagged the last point on offer in ninth.

It has to be Bastianini who finally returned to the top step of the podium.

The Ducati rider has proved numerous times so far this season that he has superb pace late in a race, but, by his own admission, ruined his chances with poor qualifying efforts.

Starting from the front row, Bastianini was at the sharp end from the get-go and there was no stopping him in the second half of the race.

A brilliant return from the summer break and while 55 points in the championship standings will be a lot to overcome, Bastianini will have a word to say in the title decision if he can maintain this form.

1/10: MARTIN STEALS THE LEAD AT LIGHTS OUT – Bagnaia barges a way past Espargaro’s inside to take the lead into Turn 1. However, it’s Martin who has the best get-away and pulls off a move past both to take the lead at Turn 3. Bastianini too is in excellent form early on and moves up into second.

4/10: TOP GROUP OF FOUR – The gaps between the top four are gradually decreasing again. They currently hold a healthy lead over M Marquez in fifth – it looks like a four-horse race for the top.

5/10: BAGNAIA DOWN – Front end wash-out for Bagnaia. Nothing he can do as his front tyre folds at Turn 4 and he goes down and out.

6/10: BASTIANINI ATTACKS, TAKES THE LEAD – Bastianini launches an attack on Martin and the Pramac rider counters and the duo exchange punches. Martin holds firm for the moment, but Bastianini is relentless and makes a move stick after all.

8/10: M MARQUEZ DOWN – M Marquez too exits the race with a front end wash-out – his bike folds at Turn 16.

10/10: BASTIANINI WINS IN SILVERSTONE – Bastianini brings it home with about a second of an advantage at the front. Martin is runner-up, meaning the championship lead just remains with Bagnaia, and Espargaro completes the podium.