MotoGP Jerez: Bagnaia blitzes Spanish GP

Ducati Lenovo’s Pecco Bagnaia claimed his first victory of the 2022 season in stunning style at the Spanish Grand Prix despite a damage shoulder.

The Italian was tailed throughout the race by Monster Energy Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo with the duo dominant as they crossed the line over ten seconds clear of Aleix Espargaro’s Aprilia. The Spaniard’s dream season continuing as his third podium promoted him to second in the championship standings.

Bagnaia was back on pole, his first with the GP22, as the 25-lap race prepared under the southern Spanish sun. Yamaha’s reigning champion lining up alongside with Espargaro continuing his dominant run on the RS-GP from third.

The Italian grabbed the holeshot with teammate Jack Miller sandwiching Quartararo from third, Espargaro bickering with Marc Marquez off the line as the Aprilia dropped to sixth with LCR’s Takaaki Nakagami capitalising with a move to fourth. Pramac’s Jorge Martin enduring another disastrous race day as he crashed out at turn 13 alongside wildcard rider Stefan Bradl.

Bagnaia held a two-tenth lead after two laps around the Andalucian circuit, Quartararo a further four ahead of the Australian with Marquez, Espargaro and Joan Mir equally spaced behind. Maverick Viñales struggling once again with a new rear tyre on the Aprilia as he circulated in 20th despite his 12th place grid start.

Nakagami had Marco Bezzecchi for company as the Mooney VR46 held a top eight position by lap four, Johann Zarco and Brad Binder completing the leading ten on the Pramac and KTM machines respectively with Enea Bastianini, Pol Espargaro and Miguel Oliveira behind.

LCR Castrol’s Alex Marquez made a move on Suzuki’s Alex Rins for 14th as the race unfolded. The Ecstar rider enduring a