An elusive Enea Bastianini won the Sprint Race in Thailand, surprising everyone in a chaotic departure. The official Ducati rider completed the 13 laps of the short race ahead of Jorge Martin and Francesco Bagnaiawho are competing for the MotoGP title.
Thanks to this result the Spaniard gained two more points in the drivers’ world championship ranking over the Turin driver (now at -22). An advantage that allows Martin to also finish second in all five races remaining between now and the end of the season and still win the world championship.
Marc Marquez came fourth, followed by his brother Alex, then Franco Morbidelli, Marco Bezzecchi and Fabio Di Giannantonio, completing yet another show of strength for Ducati, which placed its eight bikes in the top eight positions. Brad Binder (KTM) and Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha) completed the Top-10.
Starting from pole – obtained with a time of 1’28″700, Buriram’s record, which suggested a very different performance – Bagnaia immediately seemed uncomfortable. Given the qualifying sessions of a few hours earlier «I thought I would be more competitive. “It was a different behavior of the tyres, perhaps due to the temperature – he clarified – We have to decide what to do, but nothing that can’t be resolved for tomorrow. Luckily I only lost 2 points” he concluded. Like him, Martin also ran wide at the first corner, after risking colliding with Marc Marquez, finishing from second to fifth. Bastianini took advantage of the situation to overtake his teammate and take first position, which he never gave up, winning the second Sprint of 2024, after the one in Great Britain in August.
«It was a very difficult race, perhaps the most complicated so far» commented the Madrilenian, who had to pass first Pedro Acosta (who fell well caught, for the umpteenth time), then Marc Marquez. With 7 laps to go he also managed to overtake Bagnaia. «After passing Pecco, who I saw was very fit, I had to push. I took a risk by going on the green once – Martin said again – but in the end this second place suits me. Tomorrow I will try to be further ahead, also to suffer less from the heat, which is terrible here.” Another trespass on the prohibited part of the track would have cost him a penalty and, probably, that second place on the podium that he had regained with so much effort.
«Today keeping Bastianini behind was difficult, so I tried to maintain my position on the grid – the words of Marc Marquez – In the Sprint I wasn’t able to keep up with those in front». In tomorrow’s race «the target remains to finish fourth. The choice of rubber? With the hard tire on the rear I felt very good, the pace was constant. I will decide after the warm-up.”