Defending champion Francesco Bagnaia heaped the strain on Jorge Martin – the chief within the general MotoGP standings – by finishing a sprint-race double on the Japanese Grand Prix.
Italian Ducati rider Bagnaia, 27, overhauled Pramac Racing’s Martin final season to say his second consecutive title.
And he reduce the 26-year-old Spaniard’s result in 10 factors with 4 races of the season remaining, after following up Saturday’s win within the dash race with victory in Sunday’s grand prix.
Bagnaia overtook pole-sitter Pedro Acosta on the opening lap and maintained the lead all through, ending 1.189 seconds forward of Martin in second place, as Gresini Racing’s Marc Marquez was third.
“We’ve to maneuver on to the following one with the identical ambition, the identical technique and attempt to proceed like this,” mentioned Bagnaia, as he seemed forward to the Australian MotoGP at Phillip Island in two weeks’ time.
Bagnaia’s win on Motegi’s Twin Ring circuit was his eighth of the season – his finest ever tally – whereas Martin could have been relieved to not lose extra factors in his title problem, shifting up from eleventh on the grid after crashing in qualifying.
Italy’s Enea Bastianini completed fourth and stayed third within the general standings, two factors forward of Spain’s six-time champion Marquez.
Spanish rookie Acosta failed to choose up any factors, sliding off after 21 laps after additionally crashing out of the dash race.
