Malaysian MotoGP: Francesco Bagnaia wins after intense battle with Enea Bastianini, title race heads to Valencia

Francesco Bagnaia has taken yet another step closer to his first MotoGP title after winning from ninth on the grid at Sepang.
Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati MotoGP Sepang
Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati MotoGP Sepang

As 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Jorge Martin made a brilliant start to keep the lead pole, all eyes were on MotoGP title contenders Bagnaia and 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Fabio Quartararo, as both riders also made lightning starts.

Bagnaia went from ninth to second by the end of turn two, while Quartararo was up from 12th to💦 fifth. 

Unable to go with the top two in the championship, 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Aleix Espargaro was beginning to see his champions𝔉hip hopes fade in very quick fashion as he dr𝄹opped five positions during the opening few laps. 

A big effort on lap five saw Martin get his lead over Bagnaia to above a second for the first time, as 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Enea Bastianini r🌸emained very close to his future tea🌳m-mate. 

However, Martin then threw away a great chance of winning his first race of 2022 after crashing out onღ lap seven.

A gift for Bagnaia but Bastianini remained extremely close to the factory Ducati rider. Behind the leading duo was Quartararo who was on course to keep his title hopes alive, although a fast-charging 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Marco Bezzecchi was now up to fourth and att😼empting to close down the⭕ Yamaha rider.

Staying close without making an attempt at taking the lead for so long, that all changed for Bastianini on lap 11 as he pounced under br🦂akin🌞g at turn three. 

Slightly surprised that his fellow Ducati rider came through, Bagnaia took an immediate look over his shoulder before attempting to respond at turn seven, but the Gresini rider shut the doꦑwn. 

As Bagnaia began to 𓆏find more pace, the serie🎃s leader came very close to running into the back of Bastianini at turn seven. 

Another change for the leꦬad then took place at the end of l🌞ap 14 as Bagnaia went through under braking at the final corner. 

With ൩the top two squabbling for th⛦e lead, reigning world champion Quartararo was rapidly closing on the two leaders while also beginning to gap Bezzecchi.

Fabio Quartararo, MotoGP, Malaysian MotoGP, 22 October
Fabio Quartararo, MotoGP, Malaysian MotoGP, 22 October

A stunning 15th lap saw Quartararo take four tenths out of the top two as 𝓰Bezzecchi lost even more time in fourth. 

Bagnaia an♎d Bastianini managed to slow Quartararo’s momentum on the ensuing couple of laps as the fighting at the front was halted momentarily. 

As the penultimate lap began, Bastianini gained three tenths ahead of a possible finﷺal lap showdown. But as he lined up a move heading towards sector four, the Italian very nearly ran into the rear of Bagnaia which saw him lose hi💛s opportunity.

Victorious for the seventh time this season, Bagnaia was not able t♏o claim the title as Quartararo delivered a brilliant performance to take third. 

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