Aleix Espargaro beat Francesco Bagnaia after a last lap pass to win MotoGP race in British GP, with Brad Binder ending up third.
It was a clean start from Jack Miller on the KTM from the front row in dry conditions at Silverstone in British GP to take the lead as Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia passed VR46 Ducati’s Marco Bezzecchi to be second from third.
Gresini Ducati’s Alex Marquez was fourth from Aprilia pair of Maverick Vinales and Aleix Espargraro, with VR46’s Luca Marini in seventh from KTM’s Brad Binder, Pramac Ducati’s Johann Zarco and Ducati’s Enea Bastianini in the Top 10.
The fight for the lead was on where Bagnaia initially lost second to Bezzecchi, but regained the place and even cleared Miller to lead with Bezzecchi in second from Miller. The Australian was forced off when tussling with Marquez and Vinales.
He dropped to 14th as Honda’s Joan Mir crashed out from outside of points. The moment with Miller allowed Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro to get on the tail of Marquez. He eventually made the move to take third after which the Gresini rider was forced to retire.
He seemingly had a gearbox issue as Binder passed Vinales to be fourth with Zarco in sixth. At the front, as Bezzecchi tried to catch Baganaia, he locked up his tyres and crashed out from second allowing Espargaro to get on the tail of Baganaia.
Binder moved up to third from Vinales and Zarco in the Top 5. Another rider to charge through the field was RNF Aprilia’s Miguel Oliviera from 16th to sixth with Marini in seventh, Yamaha’s Franco Morbidelli, Bastianini and Pramac’s Jorge Martin in the Top 10.
He was on recovery mode after a slow start with Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo also on that move running in 11th from last on the grid. Honda’s Marc Marquez was 12th from RNF’s Raul Fernandez, Miller and Gresini’s Fabio di Giannantonio in the Top 15.
It was heating up at the front with Bagnaia being chased by Espargaro, as Vinales passed Binder for third but the South African stayed on his tail in fourth. Oliveira moved up to fifth from Marini, Zarco, Martin, Quartararo and Marquez in the Top 10.
As the rain started to spit, Marquez crashed onto the back of Bastianini with host of riders swapping bikes. At the front, Bagnaia continued to lead but Vinales pressed on Espargaro to take second. As the two were tentative, Binder went through both to second.
But Espargaro came back on Vinales and Binder to retake second. Vinales passed Binder for third and this fight brought Oliveira in contention too. He actually passed both to move up to third in one corner and slot himself behind the Top 2.
The Top 5 were close as Quartararo had a contact with Marini to drop back. He pitted to swap bikes after losing the front cover but remained in points. It was firing up at the front where Espargaro made the move on Bagnaia on the last lap to lead the race.
He the defended well to win his first MotoGP race in 2023 in British GP despite spits of rain. Bagnaia had to content with second from Binder who headed the other battle from Oliveira and Vinales in the Top 5 where three riders made it in the Top 5 from outside Top 10.
Martin ended up in sixth from Marini as Miller climbed back up to eighth from Zarco, Fernandez, GASGAS Tech3’s Augusto Fernandez & Pol Espargaro, di Giannantonio, Morbidelli and Quartararo in the Top 15 points places.
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