MotoGP Aragon: Bastianini wins Ducati battle after first lap chaos

Gresini Racing’s Enea Bastianini secured his fourth MotoGP victory after a dramatic battle with fellow Ducati rider Pecco Bagnaia at Motorland Aragon.

The two Bologna riders were in a class of their own in the closing stages as they battled for domination over six seconds ahead of the fight for third. Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro winning out for the final podium position at the expense of Red Bull KTM’s Brad Binder and the second Lenovo of Jack Miller.

Bagnaia headed the Aragon Grand Prix grid ahead of the 23-lap race with the entirety of the field opting for hard front, medium rear Michelin tyres. Miller and Bastianini completed the Ducati lockout of the front row with reigning champion Fabio Quartararo lining up sixth, two places behind Aprilia’s title-challenger Espargaro. Repsol Honda’s Marc Marquez began his comeback race following his fourth round of shoulder surgery from 13th with 2020 Champion Joan Mir missing from the action completely due to his right ankle injury sustained in Austria.

Bagnaia maintained the holeshot over his teammate as the lights released the pack after a brief delay, KTM’s Binder storming through to second from tenth as Quartararo crashed out. The Yamaha collecting the back of a fast advancing Marquez - who claimed seven places by turn two. Suzuki’s Alex Rins narrowly avoiding the incident as he ran off track and returned to the action at the back of the field.

The drama continued as Marquez then collided, twice, with Takaaki Nakagami with the Japanese rider left in the middle of the packed track on the entry to the corkscrew. The RC213V spewing smoke before he retired into the pitlane at the end of lap one.

Back at the front Miller was through on Binder for second as Bastianini circulated