MotoGP San Marino GP: Jorge Martin Dominates at Misano, Closes Gap on Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia

Jorge Martin achieved a commanding victory in the Misano MotoGP event, securing a consecutive triumph by emerging as the winner in the primary race, with Marco Bezzecchi finishing in second place. Just like the MotoGP sprint, the race was led by a breakaway duo of pole-sitter Jorge Martin and Francesco Bagnaia. Bagnaia swarmed all over Martin's rear end in preparation for an overtaking as they approached the last turn, but Martin held strong. The MotoGP main event at San Marino GP got off to a clean start for pole-sitter Jorge Martin on his Pramac Ducati machine. Ducati's Francesco Bagnaia overtook VR46 Ducati's Marco Bezzechi to go up to third, while KTM's Dani Pedrosa remained in fourth. KTM rider Brad Binder moved up to sixth after passing Maverick Vinales of Aprilia, while Miguel Oliveira of RNF Aprilia moved up to seventh, passing Honda's Marc Marquez and moving ahead of Gresini Racing's Alex Marquez and VR46's Luca Marini. 

MotoGP San Marino GP: 2023 Misano Race Result

Aleix Espargaro of Aprilia slid to eleventh place in the Top 15, as the standings altered as the race went on, behind Fabio Quartararo of Yamaha, Raul Fernandez of RNF, Michele Pirro of Ducati, and Johann Zarco of Pramac.

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Martin was being pursued by Bagnaia and Bezzecchi, while Binder successfully overtook his teammate Pedrosa and joined the group of pursuers. Bezzecchi successfully overtook Bagnaia to secure the second position, but a moment of going wide enabled the VR46 rider to regain second place and maintain it.

But Binder had a little mishap behind them, destroying whatever hope he had of finishing in the top three. He successfully resumed participation in the race, with Pedrosa finishing in fourth place ahead of Vinales. Meanwhile, Marquez moved up to sixth after passing Oliveira, while Alex Marquez moved up to eighth. Marini was ninth, followed by Fernandez, who ascended the ranking. Zarco also advanced in position, moving from 11th place ahead of Espargaro, Quartararo, Franco Morbidelli of Yamaha, and Pol Espargaro of GASGAS Tech 3, securing a spot among the top 15 points earners.

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MotoGP San Marino GP: Bagnaia Holds Off Pedrosa's Late Charge for the Podium

The current leader of the World Championship, Francesco Bagnaia, made a remarkable comeback after a major crash only one week before, displaying a strong performance and closely challenging the race winner, Jorge Martin, in the San Marino Grand Prix. The Italian competitor secured the third position on the podium. The accident happened after he narrowly escaped major damage in a collision with fellow racer Brad Binder the previous week. Bagnaia now maintains a 36-point advantage over Martin, who emerged victorious against Marco Bezzecchi, the runner-up.

Nothing more to give!

7 days after his #CatalanGP crash, @PeccoBagnaia has finished third in the #TissotSprint, third in the race and got the fastest lap in the process #SanMarinoGP ???????? pic.twitter.com/xrZYfp1oRm

— MotoGP (@MotoGP) September 10, 2023

The Ducati rider held off a fierce late challenge from KTM rider Dani Pedrosa, while Martin cruised to victory from the pole position after shattering the qualifying lap record by half a second. With his victory in Saturday's sprint race, Martin swept the weekend. Bagnaia finished the race with the assistance of pain medication, while Bezzecchi continued to nurse a wrist injury sustained in last weekend's Catalunya Grand Prix.