Pecco Bagnaia’s win in Malaysia puts him just two points away from the MotoGP champion title. Aleix Espargaró says goodbye to the dream in a bittersweet way
Pecco Bagnaia came very close to claiming the wing at Sepang after taking his seventh win of the season. He did everything he could to achieve it, but Fabio Quartararo’s podium allows the Frenchman to keep the flame of the title alive. The one left out of the equation in the absence of a grand prix is Aleix Espargaró, who left his already few championship options he started with in Malaysia.
After a crazy Saturday where the three candidates crashed in practice and started way behind the grid, the race was ordered in just one lap, giving the favorites the lead. Bagnaia, who started ninth, made a memorable start, “the best of the season”, in the words of the Italian, and was in second place. Quartararo was not far behind, taking the same positions after the traffic light went out. From twelfth on the grid to fifth in just one lap. The only one of the candidates who didn’t win positions at the start was Aleix, planted in tenth position, who would verify from the start that this would not be his war.
The situation seemed scripted for Ducati, with three of its riders in the lead. For the first few laps, pole man Jorge Martín was in the lead and tried to evade team orders with an incomplete breakaway when he crashed on lap six. At that point, Bagnaia inherited the first position and pulled out the calculator. The Italian had to win and that his rival not be on the podium to judge the championship. However, Quartararo was already third after overtaking a lazy Márquez who, despite a good start on his side, lost positions as the race went on.
The race proceeded at the pace of a Bagnaia who seemed to have everything under control, with his brandmate (not teammate) Enea Bastianini leading the way, and with a two-second margin on Quartararo. Nobody expected Bastianini’s attack, but it came on lap 11. Without hesitation, he passed his compatriot and took the lead. During the time he was leading the race, the desperation of the Ducati toppers became apparent and they milled around the box in disbelief at what they were seeing. From doors to the outside, the message the Italian brand had given was that its pilots could fight in freedom for victory. But the nervousness appreciated in the Ducati garage made it clear that behind closed doors the message was another and that someone was not following the orders of the team.
This act of rebellion by Bastianini lasted three laps and to make matters worse, he will land in the official Ducati squad next year as Bagnaia’s teammate. With nine laps to go, the championship leader gave him back the overtake and tamed “the Beast” (nickname Bastianini is known by), who from then on remained at the wheel of his compatriot, without attacking, but so close that it seemed to show that he had something more. The blood didn’t reach the river and Ducati added another double this season, this time striving for a title that has withstood them since 2007. From behind, and despite the fact that it sometimes seemed that another Italian from Ducati , Marco Bezzecchi could have chased Quartararo, the Frenchman never gave up third place and with the podium he prevented Bagnaia from being crowned on the track from Sepang.
In two weeks, Bagnaia will face the last Grand Prix of the year at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia with a 23-point lead over Quartararo. It is enough for the Italian to add two points to become champion. Or which is the same, finish the race in 14th place. The hardest yet for the Frenchman, who only has to win the race and wait for his rival’s puncture.
The best Spaniard on Sunday was Álex Rins, who crossed the finish line in fifth place, while Marc Márquez showed this time that he hadn’t fooled anyone. Cervera’s had ensured that he would finish the race between seventh and eighth on Saturday, and it was. A seventh that left a bad taste in his mouth due to the big 14 seconds difference from the lead of the race. Too much margin to recover before 2023. And finally, Aleix Espargaró came no further than tenth position in Malaysia. End of the party for the Catalan rider who even had a hard time finishing third in the standings. Just one point separates him from Bastianini and his place on the championship podium is at stake in Valencia.
Source: La Verdad
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