New Delhi. History repeats itself: Francesco Bagnaia is the 2023 MotoGP World Champion. Thanks to a win in the Valencia GP season finale, held this afternoon at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Cheste, the Ducati Lenovo Team rider secured his second world title in the premier class. Having made history for being the first Italian rider to win in MotoGP with an Italian motorcycle last year, the Ducati Lenovo Team rider has now written another important chapter in motorcycle racing history by reconfirming himself on the top of the world with his Desmosedici GP.
For the Bagnaia-Ducati duo it has been another emotional journey with 7 successes achieved in the 20 GPs and 4 victories in the Saturday Sprint races, introduced this year in the event program. From his first win in the inaugural Grand Prix at Portimão, to an unforgettable success in Jerez, to triumph in front of his home crowd at Mugello, up to his great wins in the Netherlands and Austria, Pecco and his Desmosedici GP’s march towards a second title seemed to be unstoppable, but the dramatic accident at Barcelona, from which the rider from Chivasso fortunately emerged with bruises but no fractures, put a halt to his rise. With Jorge MartÃn increasingly in tune with his Pramac Racing team Desmosedici GP, the fight for the world title soon became a head-to-head between the two Ducati riders. However, Bagnaia's response did not take long to arrive and with another spectacular victory in Indonesia, coming back from thirteenth position on the grid, the Ducati Lenovo Team rider resumed his climb to the top of the World Championship.
Today’s exciting finale at Valencia saw Bagnaia start from first on the grid following a penalty for Viñales (Aprilia) in the warm-up and the rider from Chivasso made the most of his advantage with a great start. At Turn 1 of lap 2 Martin made a late braking move on Pecco to try and take the lead, but they touched, and the Spaniard went wide. Martin then crashed out on lap 6, bringing an end to the title battle. Bagnaia inherited the lead on lap 19 when Miller (KTM) crashed at Turn 11. Teammate Enea Bastianini had another unfortunate race at Valencia. Starting 14th on the grid, Bastianini’s race lasted just 9 laps after he crashed out at Turn 1.
Francesco Bagnaia (1, Ducati Lenovo Team)
I’m super happy, more than this is impossible, also because we won the race so it’s fantastic. I want to say a big thanks to all the team, they did an amazing job, from Barcelona, it was quite tough for us, but we deserved this title more than anyone. I didn’t see anything behind me, I was thinking Jorge was still in the race, and I was quite scared about that.
Enea Bastianini (#23, Ducati Lenovo Team)
My season ended like it started, it was very difficult today, my speed was not bad but my confidence with the front tyre was too strange, and I entered Turn 1 like the lap before, probably a bit faster to close the gap with Raul, but I lost the front and crashed.
Claudio Domenicali, Ducati CEO
One year ago I remember that together with fans from all over the world we celebrated the MotoGP and WorldSBK World Titles, being overwhelmed by joy and enthusiasm. Today we find ourselves once again in a condition of extraordinary happiness, but at the same time I like to define this as the 'victory of awareness': that of being at this moment the best in the world in racing. Pecco has had an incredible season and today he rewrites our history again, becoming the first Ducati rider to be two-time World Champion in MotoGP. I also want to congratulate Jorge for having ignited the duel for the title and Bez, who was part of the World Championship challenge for a long time.
Manisha.Gupta@zenogroup.com
0 Comments