Simply two days after asserting plans to retire on the finish of the season, Spaniard Aleix Espargaro thrilled his house nation followers by profitable the MotoGP Tissot Dash Race Saturday at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
Driving his manufacturing unit Aprilia RS-GP on Michelin management tires, Espargaro gained the 12-lap race by 0.892 second.
After a tough time in qualifying left him 14th on the grid, six-time MotoGP World Champion Marc Márquez charged ahead on his Gresini Racing Ducati to complete second.
Rookie sensation Pedro Acosta celebrated his twentieth birthday by racing for the lead and ending an in depth third, proper behind Marquez.
Championship level chief Jorge Martin received fourth on his Prima Pramac Racing Ducati, and Enea Bastianini rounded out the highest 5 finishers on Lenovo Ducati.
Bastianini’s teammate, two-time and defending MotoGP World Champion Francesco Bagnaia crashed out of the lead on the final lap of the race.
MotoGP Factors after Dash Race
Extra, from a press launch issued by Dorna:
Espargaro wins, Bagnaia slides out, Marquez takes on Acosta in dramatic Dash in Barcelona
Massive alternatives go begging on Saturday because the Tissot Dash serves up the drama, with three riders crashing from the entrance
Saturday, 25 Could 2024
Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) took victory in a dramatic Tissot Dash on the Gran Premi Monster Power de Catalunya, retaining it faultless to the flag as not one, not two, however three completely different leaders slid out.
First was a heartbreaker for Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse Racing) because the maiden entrance row starter was constructing a spot after which overcooked Flip 10 within the early levels. Second was a tumble at Flip 5 for Brad Binder (Purple Bull KTM Manufacturing unit Racing) simply after he’d fought off the affections of rookie Pedro Acosta (Purple Bull GASGAS Tech3), after which lastly and arguably crucially, reigning Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Crew) noticed his hopes of a primary Dash win of the season flip to mud on the ultimate lap as he slid out at Flip 5.
Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) vs Acosta then grew to become the battle to finish the rostrum behind Espargaro, with the #93 turning the tables on the rookie at Flip 1 as they went toe-to-toe on the brakes.
Because the lights went out, Bagnaia took the holeshot from second on the grid, with Acosta slicing as much as lead the chase. Binder additionally received a quick begin to transfer up however then misplaced out once more to Raul Fernandez because the Aprilia slotted into third.
It didn’t take lengthy for Acosta to assault for the lead, but it surely likewise didn’t take lengthy for Bagnaia to hit again. Raul Fernandez was harrying them although, and as Acosta attacked into Flip 1 on Lap 3 and took it again, the Trackhouse machine lined up the reigning Champion at Flip 3.
Then it was all change in wonderful however comparatively clear havoc on the entrance, with Raul Fernandez rising because the race chief after barging previous Acosta. The Trackhouse machine was completely flying as Binder and the rookie duelled simply behind him, each the place and a few further RC16 glory on the road. As soon as Acosta made it stick at Flip 1, Fernandez was already eight tenths clear. However out of the blue, it then all got here aside for the Trackhouse rider as he slid out at Flip 10, rider okay however head in palms.
From there, Binder vs Acosta appeared like it will mild up the battle for the lead, however the 33 received the higher hand and began to construct a spot – leaving Bagnaia to wrestle with Acosta as a substitute. Quickly sufficient although the second race chief to slip out grew to become Binder, the entrance finish of the KTM saying goodbye at Flip 5.
That left the lead as a duel between Bagnaia and Acosta, or vice versa. Flip 1 was the battle floor and the rookie pulled what was fast-becoming his Barcelona signature transfer, however the #1 was fast to seek out a solution up the kerb on the within of Flip 3. Brutal? Sure. Job performed? Sure. From there Bagnaia began to construct a spot, and Espargaro was on the march subsequent to check out Acosta’s defenses, discovering a manner by means of to take up the chase on the reigning Champion.
That left the grasp and the apprentice locked in battle over third: Acosta led Marc Marquez. And this time, in a fantastic reverse of that assertion Flip 1 transfer the #31 has been revelling in, it was Acosta beneath assault because the #93 sailed into the nook aspect by aspect with the rookie, taking on in third.
The ultimate drama was dealt on the very remaining lap. Seeming like he had it in his pocket, Bagnaia was then out of the blue sliding out at Flip 5, seeing what might have been a key haul of factors disappear within the gravel lure as Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) suffered a more durable Dash exterior podium competition. Espargaro swept by means of for the spoils, in simply sufficient clear air to make sure he held on for that fairytale win.
Marquez held off Acosta spherical the ultimate sector too, and what might have been a key title swing proved a lot much less as Martin’s drama-free Dash noticed him take P4 regardless of not having initially had the tempo for it. Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Crew) made a stable comeback from exterior the highest ten on the grid to finish the highest 5, and with that strikes again into the highest three within the standings too as Bagnaia drops to fourth.
Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Crew) was sixth – ending in the identical place he began and taking some stable Saturday factors. Jack Miller introduced the remaining Purple Bull KTM Manufacturing unit Racing machine to seventh after battling with Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing), who rounded out the highest eight after charging from twelfth. The ultimate level within the Dash went the way in which of Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Crew’s Marco Bezzecchi, having sliced up from P16 on the grid, with every little thing nonetheless up for grabs on Sunday.
Because the mud settles, there are much more questions for Sunday than earlier than. Can Bagnaia hit again? Has Martin received extra? And can we now have one other beautiful battle in Barcelona? After some large alternatives went begging within the Dash, discover out who’s taking the spoils on Sunday at 14:00 (UTC +2)!
