Enea Bastianini of Ducati delivered a stunning performance to win his maiden sprint race at the British Grand Prix on Saturday. The 26-year-old, starting from third on the grid, took the lead from championship contender Jorge Martin of Prima Pramac Racing on the sixth lap. This victory marks Bastianini’s first sprint win in his MotoGP career.
Meanwhile, reigning champion Francesco Bagnaia, who had been aiming to extend his championship lead, suffered a setback after crashing out of the race. Bagnaia’s crash occurred at turn four, denying him valuable points and potentially impacting his championship aspirations.
Despite starting fourth, Jorge Martin made a strong start and quickly moved into the lead, momentarily overtaking pole sitter Aleix Espargaro. Martin’s impressive performance saw him close the gap to Bagnaia in the championship standings by a single point ahead of Sunday’s main race.
Aprilia’s Espargaro, who had earlier set a new lap record during qualifying to claim his second pole position of the season, faced constant pressure from Martin throughout the sprint. However, he managed to maintain his position and secure a commendable third-place finish.
The race also saw a disappointing end for six-time MotoGP champion Marc Marquez of Gresini Racing, who crashed out of the contest.
With Bastianini emerging as the victor and Bagnaia’s unfortunate crash, the championship standings have become even more intriguing. The main race on Sunday promises to be a thrilling spectacle as riders battle for crucial points and a chance to make a significant impact on the championship standings.
