9.32pm – Martin cancels Bagnaia’s match point
(Paolo Lorenzi) Martin masterpiece, wins starting from the second row and halves the disadvantage from Bagnaia, fifth after a run in defence. They started side by side in Qatar, Pecco and Jorge, and they ran two races opposite each other. The Pramac rider aggressive from the first corner, the Ducati official free-diving for eleven laps. Martin ignited the duel with a decisive attack on Bagnaia on the second lap, the response to the overtaking suffered in Malaysia: «He tried to resist on the outside, we touched each other, I’m sorry – explained Martinator -, but that’s how it went . I knew I had more.” Three laps later Jorge was already in the lead, after overtaking Luca Marini and Alex Marquez. A fury on the counterattack, after a Friday spent trying to untangle the tire puzzle, and a nervous qualifying. Bagnaia suffered the blow, he couldn’t find the rhythm or even a way to attempt an overtaking.
They didn’t give up a meter in front of him. Well done Marini, who finished on the podium in third place, the two Gresini riders, Alex Marquez and especially Di Giannantonio who caught Martin in the final, but without managing to attack him, were very good. Martin was even better at giving everything to keep up with the Roman. Deserved victory, sweaty and happy, aware of having given a decisive jolt to the rankings, of having canceled Bagnaia’s first match point (the championship will be decided in Valencia), Martin celebrated dramatically, Pecco in the meantime earned his way to the box , apparently without getting upset, but the film he had in mind before the start was very different. «Difficult situation – his story -. I’m pissed off, this morning I was going faster with a worn tyre, this evening the bike was slipping everywhere. Seven points wasted.” In qualifying the official Ducati rider had trailed Martin, albeit by a fraction, he seemed to have the situation in hand. Now his leadership is starting to wobble. The lead has been halved and tonight he is forced to change gear. Martin has found the form that he seemed to have lost in Malaysia, Bagnaia seems to have returned two races earlier, forced to suffer the boldness of his rival. In any case, it seems like a comparison destined to be played out in the battle between the Ducatis. With five Desmosedicis in the top five places, the Borgo Panigale manufacturer confirms its excellent relationship with the Losail circuit. Behind them, Vinales recovered a couple of positions with the Aprilia, while Aleix Espargaro – relegated six positions for the gratuitous slap he gave Morbidelli on the helmet in practice – broke his fibula head in the initial crash which also involved Bastianini and Oliveira, The Portuguese lost his right shoulder blade.
This is the top 10 of the sprint race:
1. Martin
2. By Giannantonio
3. Marini
4. A. Marquez
5. Bagnaia
6. Viñales
7. Binder
8. Quarterly
9. A. Fernandez
10. Zarco
6.24pm – Martin wins the sprint race, Bagnaia fifth
It’s over, Jorge Martin wins. The Spaniard prevailed in the sprint race of the Qatar GP and, with Bagnaia finishing in fifth place, closed the gap in the world ranking: Pecco remained first but his advantage went from +14 points to +7. Tomorrow the long race. Second place in the sprint race was Di Giannantonio, third was Luca Marini who started from pole, fourth was Alex Marquez.
The last lap begins. Positions that, at the moment, seem crystallized.
6.18pm – Three laps to go
Three laps to go in the Sprint race. Bagnaia is almost a second behind Alex Marquez, fourth. Martin instead regained the margin over Di Giannantonio and Marini.
6.16pm – Di Giannantonio approaches Martin
Di Giannantonio doesn’t give up and tries to close the gap to Martin. Marini also remains close to the two leading the race. Alex Marquez and Bagnaia are further behind.
6.14pm – Di Giannantonio overtakes Marini
Di Giannantonio passed Marini and is now second. Meanwhile, Martin clears the way: almost 5 tenths behind the second. Bagnaia fifth, chasing Alex Marquez.
6.12pm – Martin overtakes Marini and is first
Martin attacks Marini and overtakes him: the Spaniard is ahead of everyone with 6 laps to go.
6.11pm – The top 5 with 7 laps to go
Seven laps to go, this is currently the top 5:
1. Marini
2. Martin
3. Alex Marquez
4. By Giannantonio
5. Bagnaia
6.07pm – Bagnaia against Martin
Hand-to-hand duel between Bagnaia and Martin, with the Spaniard overtaking the official Ducati rider.
6.04 pm – Off we go, Bastianini immediately on the ground
Off you go! And immediately a fall, involving Bastianini, Aleix Espargarò and Oliveira.
5.58pm – We’ll be leaving soon
Here are the riders, the warm up is now underway. We’ll be leaving soon
5.44pm – Sprint race, 11 laps to go
There will be 11 laps to cover in this Sprint Race, exactly half of those planned for tomorrow’s long race.
5.34pm – The ranking: Bagnaia champion if…
Bagnaia has a 14 point advantage over Martin in the standings with 2 races (plus 2 Sprints) left in the world championship and, by gaining at least 23 points this weekend, he could confirm himself as champion as early as this Sunday.
5.30pm – Qualifying, Marini on pole
(Paolo Lorenzi) Luca Marini gets everyone to agree, in the uncertainty of a qualifying dominated by the tire puzzle. The VR 46 rider takes his second pole since he races in MotoGP. Behind him was an excellent Di Giannantonio, who started well right from free practice, Alex Marquez third in alternating current (the Spaniard from Gresini had to go through Q1, after the uninspiring tests on Friday). Pecco Bagnaia wins the first round with Martin, finishing fourth ahead of his opponent.
5.28pm – Where to see it on TV
The MotoGP Qatar GP Sprint race is scheduled for today, Saturday 18 November, at 6pm.
2023-11-18 19:24:46
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