Milan (Italy) (AFP)* – Francesco Bagnaia is setting his sights on overtaking MotoGP championship leader Jorge Martin in what will be the Italian rider’s 100th Grand Prix, set to take place at his home circuit of Misano Adriatico this weekend.
As the defending champion, Bagnaia is only seven points behind Martin heading into the Emilia-Romagna MotoGP, a race that was added to the calendar after the cancellation of the Kazakhstan GP.
Bagnaia, who rides for Ducati, made significant strides in closing the gap between himself and Martin at the San Marino MotoGP two weeks ago. During that race, Martin misjudged a weather change, opting to pit in anticipation of rain that never materialized. The miscalculation caused Martin to finish 15th, allowing Bagnaia to chip away at his lead in the riders’ standings, reducing it by 19 points. Despite finishing second behind Marc Marquez, Bagnaia was able to capitalize on Martin’s error and move closer in the title race.
Reflecting on the San Marino GP, Bagnaia said, “When I saw Jorge entering the pit box, I knew I was going to gain a lot of points. I tried everything to win, but when I realized beating Marc was difficult, I focused on finishing with the maximum points.”
The championship battle is not limited to just Bagnaia and Martin. A reinvigorated Marc Marquez and fellow Ducati rider Enea Bastianini are also emerging as threats as the season enters its final stages. Marquez, a six-time world champion, has stormed back into contention with two consecutive GP wins, putting him third in the standings, just 53 points behind Martin.
Marquez’s recent triumphs, particularly his dominant win at the San Marino GP after starting from ninth on the grid, have reignited his title hopes. With five races left in the season, the possibility of a hat-trick of victories and a seventh world title looms large. Misano has been a favorable track for Marquez, who has five career victories at the circuit.
“When I was leading in the second half of the race, I felt very comfortable, and that gave me a lot of confidence,” Marquez remarked ahead of this weekend’s race.
Meanwhile, Martin remains focused on maintaining his slender lead in the standings. “I feel more focused when Pecco is a bit closer,” Martin joked, referring to Bagnaia’s proximity in the championship standings. He added, “The key is to learn from mistakes and bad moments.”
Bagnaia’s Advantage
Despite Marquez’s resurgence and Martin’s consistency, Bagnaia may have a slight edge heading into Misano. The 27-year-old rider has recovered from injuries sustained at the Aragon MotoGP earlier this month, which hampered his performance in previous races. Furthermore, Bagnaia enjoys the benefit of racing on his home track for the second consecutive GP, where he frequently trains and feels comfortable.
However, Bagnaia has not won at Misano since 2022, and Marquez’s recent return to form could make this a tough challenge. Marquez, who will join Bagnaia at Ducati’s factory team next year, has been revitalized in recent weeks, winning back-to-back GPs after a three-year drought.
The Marquez-Rossi Dynamic
Bagnaia has kept quiet about recent comments from his mentor Valentino Rossi, who, in a podcast interview with former rider Andrea Migno, labeled Marquez a “dirty” rider. Rossi, a nine-time world champion, famously clashed with Marquez during the 2015 season, accusing the Spaniard of deliberately hindering his title chances.
With Marquez joining Ducati next year, it will be interesting to see how the dynamic between him and Bagnaia evolves, especially given the rocky history between Marquez and Rossi, who remains a close advisor to Bagnaia.
Beyond the riders’ championship, Ducati is on the verge of securing its fifth consecutive constructors’ title. With five GPs remaining, the Italian manufacturer only needs to maintain a 222-point lead over closest rival KTM to clinch the title this weekend. Currently, Ducati holds a 229-point lead, and with eight Ducati bikes competing across the factory team and satellite outfits, the title seems all but assured.
Bagnaia’s home GP at Misano could mark another step toward both personal and team glory. As he celebrates his 100th Grand Prix, all eyes will be on whether he can narrow the gap to Martin and reclaim the top spot in the MotoGP championship standings.
