- AP Photo/ Kittinun Rodsupan
Valencia – Francesco Bagnaia successfully retains his title on MotoGP champion for second time. He confirmed the title at Valencia Grand Prix on Sunday after Jorge Martin has crashed.
As the 27-lap race began, challenges mounted, particularly with Bagnaia facing difficulties with the front end of his bike.
But, after Jorge Martin crashed out in a collision with six-time world champion Marc Marquez, the door was opened wide for Bagnaia to drive through.
Pembalap Ducati Corse, Francesco Bagnaia
- Istimewa
He needed only to finish the race to seal his championship. Despite that, Bagnaia admitted afterwards that he had been struggling.
"It was a long race, 27 laps of struggling because I didn't feel well with the front," Bagnaia said, as reported from Eurosport site.
Speaking about the race dynamics, he admitted that he had consciously allowed several riders to pass in order to improve the feel, potentially due to adjustments in tire pressure or temperature.
"I tried to let the two KTMs past and the feeling started to become better, maybe because of the tyre pressure or temperature," he explained.
Overcoming these challenges, Bagnaia found a turning point, "From that moment I started to feel better. I was able to push, but in the last laps I was completely without tyres and it was quite tough,"
VIVA Otomotif: Pembalap Gresini Racing MotoGP, Fabio Di Giannantonio
- Dok: Gresini Racing
Not only Bagnaia, Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Ducati) and Johan Zarco (Pramac Ducati) also got the podium.
Bagnaia won the race with 40 minutes 58.535 seconds. In the final standings, he occupied the first position with 467 points.
In 20 series, the Ducati rider won 7 wins and 15 times on the podium in the main cae or outside the sprint race.
While the second position is occupied by Jorge Martin, this Pramac Racing racer must be satisfied at the end of the season with 428 points, or 39 points less than Bagnaia.
While the third place remains occupied by Marco Bezzecchi with 329 points.
Brad Binder is the only rider outside Ducati who is in the top five. Meanwhile, the fifth position is occupied by Pramac Racing driver, Johann Zarco.
Meanwhile, Marc Marquez ended his last season at Repsol Honda badly. The Spanish racer who will defend Gresini Racing in the upcoming 2024 season is in 14th place with 96 points.
