Francesco Bagnaia cleans up at Italian Grand Prix with dominant win to extend championship lead

Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia took the chequered flag at his home MotoGP race in Mugello, sealing his third win of the 2023 season and his second successive victory at the Italian circuit. It was a great day for Pramac Racing, who secured a double podium finish, with Jorge Martin finishing in second and Johann Zarco in third.

Ad Bagnaia was fresh from his win in Saturday’s sprint race, and started on pole position. Despite getting passed by Jack Miller into Turn 1 on the first lap, the 26-year-old regained the lead a few corners later and remained there until the end.

Grand Prix ItalyBagnaia extends championship lead with sprint win at Italian GP20 HOURS AGO Marc Marquez, who started in second place and was one of the riders part of the group behind the leaders, crashed out from fourth position on Lap 6 as the battle for the final podium position heated up. His brother, Alex, who managed to get past the VR46 bike of Luca Marini on Lap 11 to take third place also saw his machine end up in the gravel, crashing out three laps later as the pressure of defending his position became too much.

It meant Zarco and Marini were embroiled in a nine-lap fight for the final place on the podium, and the Frenchman came out on top after an exciting battle. Bagnaia’s victory sees him extend his lead at the top of the rider’s championship to 21 points over nearest challenger Marco Bezzecchi, who could only come home in eightth.

RIDER OF THE DAY — Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) The Frenchman sealed a great podium finish — his third of the season — for the Pramac Ducati team, after coming all the way from a ninth-placed start on the grid. Granted, he benefitted from the misfortune of both Marquez brothers, who crashed out of the race whilst