It’s the big comeback of Pecco Bagnaia. In great difficulty this season, unable to tame his new Ducati, the Italian driver won this Sunday at the Spanish Grand Prix in Jerez. Starting on pole, he was able to resist the pressure of Frenchman Fabio Quartararo 2nd at the finish but still leading the championship. The two bikers fought an intense battle during the 25 laps of this 6th track of the season.
Oscillating between five and eight tenths, the gap between the two leaders was minimal throughout the race. Bagnaia and Quartararo quickly widened the gap in the lead, counting more than six seconds ahead of the rest of the field. In the hunter position, the Yamaha rider was a constant threat to Pecco Bagnaia, especially as the Ducati’s tires seemed slightly worn from the 15th lap. But taking advantage of regular and error-free driving, the Italian perfectly contained the Niçois to sign his first success and even his first podium of the season.
Quartararo takes the championship lead alone, Zarco misses out
A week after his victory in Portugal, Fabio Quartararo wanted to be fair at the end of the race: “Pecco had a great race. I tried to overtake him on the first lap because I was afraid of having a problem with the front axle, but he was super fast. I thought the pace we had today was incredible but it wasn’t enough. I was still able to maintain the gap and I think we were both quick and I congratulate him”. It must be said that this 2nd place is more than enough for Quartararo’s happiness since he regains a 7-point lead over Aleix Espargaro at the head of the World Championship. Pecco Bagnaia goes back to 5th place.
The other tricolor, Johann Zarco, will quickly have to forget this Spanish Grand Prix which quickly took on the appearance of a nightmare. 5th on the grid, the Ducati rider first experienced a complicated start, quickly losing 4 places to vegetate in 9th place. The 31-year-old Frenchman even crashed on lap 9 after losing the front in a curve. He was therefore unable to complete the plot.
This Spanish Grand Prix was also marked by a fierce fight for the podium between Jack Miller, Marc Marquez and Aleix Espargaro. Long in 3rd place, the Australian was first overtaken by Marquez before the Spaniard took the lead by slipping away from the two drivers just 4 laps from the end. Espargaro, winner a month ago in Argentina, completes the podium. The whole set now has an appointment in France in two weeks.