Bagnaia wins Thai MotoGP ahead of title rival Martin, SA's Binder 6th

Francesco Bagnaia won the Thai MotoGP in wet conditions on Sunday to close the gap on championship leader Jorge Martin, who was second, with two race weekends left.

Spaniard Martin's lead over defending champion Bagnaia, of Italy, was cut from 22 points to 17, ahead of another chapter in their title tussle at Sepang in Malaysia next week.

Pedro Acosta was third at a rainy Buriram, but this was all about Martin and Bagnaia, with the championship now a two-horse race and likely to go right down to the wire.

South Africa's Brad Binder finished sixth.

No better time for @PeccoBagnaia to find his wet weather form! #ThaiGP ???? | #TheRematch ?? pic.twitter.com/pbK1mYNAlM

After Malaysia, the season finale is at Valencia on November 15-17.

Pramac Ducati's Martin, who is trying to win the world crown for the first time, said he was happy to settle for second, coming home nearly three seconds behind.

"The level we are demonstrating - not a lot of people can understand how fast we are going even in these conditions," he said.

Just two remain ??

The Contender vs The Champ@88jorgemartin vs @PeccoBagnaia #VamosJorge ?? vs #ForzaPecco ??#TheRematch starts now ?? pic.twitter.com/u73aCWjy9Q

Bagnaia thanked his Ducati team for keeping his hopes of a third world title in a row alive.

The 27-year-old said he had never won in the rain before.

"It was a day to make the difference and luckily we did it," he said.

"Wasn't an easy race, it was very long and stressful but as soon as I started my feeling was good.

"I knew it was important to make up points in the championship.

"It's a good day for us and 17 (gap in points) is a good number for me."

Martin began the race on the front row in third and made a lightning start to grab the lead from his pole-sitting