Marco Bezzecchi dominated to first MotoGP win in Indian GP ahead of a knackered Jorge Martin with Fabio Quartararo in third.
It was a bit cloudy to start the MotoGP race in Indian GP at Buddh International Circuit where Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia took the lead from Pramac Ducati’s Jorge Martin as he dropped to third behind VR46 Ducati’s Marco Bezzecchi after a wide moment.
Honda’s Marc Marquez was fourth from Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo with the other Honda of Joan Mir in sixth from Pramac’s Johann Zarco, KTM’s Brad Binder, Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro and Yamaha’s Franco Morbdielli in the Top 10.
Binder was biggest gainer on Lap 1 as the other points places in the Top 15 saw LCR Honda’s Takaaki Nakagami in 11th, GASGAS Tech 3’s Pol Espargaro 12th, Gresini Ducati’s Fabio di Gianantonio 13th, RNF Aprilia’s Raul Fernandez 14th and KTM’s Jack Miller 15th.
The lead for Bagnaia didn’t last long as Bezzecchi took it and started to stamp his authority where Bagnaia was left to fend off Martin. He defended well but not for long as Martin came on him at Turn 4. The two went a bit wide but Martin took second.
Marquez tried to get on the tail of Bagnaia but slipped off at Turn 1. He was able to rejoin in 16th as Quartararo was up to fourth from Mir. Behind them, Binder was up to sixth along with Espargaro and Morbidelli as Zarco dropped to ninth from di Gianantonio.
Nakagami was 11th from a recovering Aprilia’s Maverick Vinales with Fernandez leading RNF teammate Miguel Oliveira and P Espargaro in the Top 15 who was being chased by Marquez. The Spaniard kick-started his recovery rider to get back in the points.
He was slightly helped by one place when A Espargaro retired due to a gearbox issue as he joined Tech 3’s Augusto Fernandez in the retirement list. At the front, Bezzecchi checked out the field well as Martin had Bagnaia on his tail very closely.
He actually passed him to retake second at Turn 8. But he didn’t hold it for long as he crashed out which became a big moment in MotoGP title picture. His loss allowed Martin to be second again with Quartararo moving up to podium position.
He had Mir in fourth but Binder was on his tail close. Zarco re-passed Morbidelli to be sixth as di Gianantonio was eighth from the pair of recovering riders Vinales and Marquez in the Top 10. Nakagami was 11th still from Fernandez, P Espargaro, Oliveira and Miller.
There was no stopping Bezzecchi as dominated the proceedings to secure the first MotoGP win in Indian GP ahead of Martin who had some troubles with his racing overall which flung open. He also had a wide moment at Turn 4 which allowed Quartararo to pass him.
But Martin re-passed him around the outside to end second. Post-race he was completely knackered and had to be walked to the parc ferme. The doctor had to examine him in the parc ferme as Quartararo rounded out the podium places.
Binder was fourth after passing Mir who had a late moment at Turn 8. He tried to come back but couldn’t make it stick, with Zarco in sixth from Morbidelli, Vinales, Marquez and Fernandez in the Top 10 after there was a late retirement for di Gianantonio.
Nakagami was 11th from Oliveira, P Espargaro, Miller and LCR’s Stefan Bradl in the Top 15 points places, with Ducati’s Michele Pirro in 16th. DNF: di Gianantonio, Bagnaia, Espargaro, Fernandez.
Results: https://x.com/MotoGP/status/1705901939932741778?s=20