Francesco Bagnaia gained a dramatic Malaysian Grand Prix on Sunday, however the champagne for the Italian’s maiden MotoGP world championship stays on ice after rival Fabio Quartararo completed third.
Bagnaia would have clinched the title had Quartararo completed exterior the rostrum locations at Sepang, however the Ducati rider as a substitute prolonged his result in 23 factors forward of the season’s last race at Spain’s Valencia in two weeks.
Bagnaia took the chequered flag in 40min 14:332sec, 0.270sec forward of fellow Ducati rider Enea Bastianini. Quartararo accomplished the rostrum 2.7sec adrift.
Bagnaia began ninth on the grid, however made a blistering begin which noticed him swoop by means of the sphere to second by the top of the primary lap, on the again wheel of pole sitter Jorge Martin.
“I did the most effective begin I ever did in my life,” mentioned an ecstatic Bagnaia. “It was excellent.”
The dynamics of the race modified on the seventh lap when Martin crashed out, permitting the Ducati rider to cost into first with Bastianini scorching on his tail.
“I took some danger on the entrance,” mentioned Bagnaia. “Following Jorge was a bit an excessive amount of for the rear tyre and I used to be beginning to stress, then sadly he crashed.”
Bastianini managed to overhaul his countryman on flip 4 of the tenth lap, however his lead was short-lived as Bagnaia regained the ascendancy.
Quartararo, who earlier within the season had been 91 factors forward of Bagnaia, was in the meantime being drawn in a battle towards Marco Bezzecchi for third, however held his floor to stave off the Gresini Racing rider.
On the entrance, Bastianini continued to stress Bagnaia, however the Italian stored his cool to cross the end line for his seventh win of the season.
“Immediately we did a very, actually good job by way of the championship. It’s additionally my seventh win, so we could be very completely satisfied,” mentioned Bagnaia.
With a most 25 factors obtainable in Valencia, Quartararo should win the ultimate grand prix of 2022 and hope Bagnaia finishes fifteenth or decrease to have any hope of retaining this world championship.
“It’s been a very long time since I made the rostrum,” mentioned Quartararo, who crashed within the earlier race at Phillip Island.
“I gave my most as we speak, couldn’t do any higher, however I’m pleased with myself as a result of I felt that is certainly one of my finest rides of the season,” added the Frenchman who was driving with a fractured finger, sustained when he fell in FP4 on Saturday.
“I’m completely satisfied at the very least we’re bringing it to Valencia. Even when the prospect is tremendous small, we did every little thing to carry it to Valencia.”
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