Bagnaia extends his Spielberg win streak with another victory in Austria

Francesco Bagnaia claimed his 25th premier class victory at the Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich, extending his winning streak at Spielberg. The Ducati Lenovo Team rider crossed the finish line ahead of Jorge Martin and teammate Enea Bastianini, increasing his championship lead to five points.

The Austrian Grand Prix has been a happy hunting ground for Bagnaia, who has shown consistent dominance at the Red Bull Ring. This victory further cements his position as the rider to beat in the 2024 MotoGP™ season, with the Italian demonstrating both speed and tactical acumen throughout the race.

As the lights went out, Martin took the early lead, but Bagnaia quickly fought back, reclaiming the top spot on Lap 2. The two championship contenders engaged in a thrilling duel in the opening laps, setting the stage for an intense battle. Meanwhile, drama unfolded behind them as Marc Marquez made contact with Franco Morbidelli at Turn 1, dropping the Gresini Racing MotoGP™ rider to 14th place.

Bagnaia's pace proved relentless, consistently lapping in the 1:29 bracket and building a two-second lead over Martin. The Prima Pramac Racing rider made a late charge in the final laps but couldn't close the gap, settling for second place. Bastianini secured the final podium spot, continuing his strong run of form. 

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Marc Marquez showcased his exceptional talent with a remarkable recovery ride, fighting his way back through the field to finish fourth. The eight-time world champion's performance was a highlight of the race, demonstrating his ability to overcome adversity and challenge for top positions.

Brad Binder rounded out the top five, leading the charge for KTM on their home turf. The South African rider started from 12th on the grid but showed strong pace throughout the race to secure a solid result for the Austrian manufacturer.

Hopes were high for Jack Miller after the Australian secured an impressive P5 finish in Saturday’s sprint race, but the Queenslander, unfortunately, crashed during the Sunday main race on Lap 11 at Turn 2a from sixth position. He managed to remount and crossed the finish line in 19th.

Bagnaia expressed his satisfaction with the victory, saying, "We managed to find a great setting for the race, and I felt comfortable from the beginning. The team did an amazing job, and I'm really happy to extend our lead in the championship."

Austrian Motorcycle Grand Prix: Top 10

1. Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team)
2. Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing)
3. Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team)
4. Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™)
5. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
6. Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team)
7. Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing)
8. Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing)
9. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing)
10. Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™)

Riders' Championship Standings (top 5)

1. Pecco Bagnaia (Ducati) 275
2. Jorge Martin (Ducati) 270
3. Enea Bastianini (Ducati) 214
4. Marc Marquez (Ducati) 192
5. Maverick Vinales (Aprilia) 139

What's next?

Round 12: Aragon (MotorLand), 30 Aug - 1 Sep