Jorge Martin took the MotoGP sprint win in Australian GP from Marc Marquez, as Enea Bastianini climbs up to third from Francesco Bagnaia.
Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) has extended his title advantage at the Qatar Airways Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix after an incredible Tissot Sprint. The #89 started from pole position and set a relentless pace before storming to glory. Martin crossed the line ahead of Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP), who charged to second after a tough start as Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) claimed the final spot on the Sprint podium after a fantastic ride from 10th on the grid. ‘The Beast’ crossed the line ahead of teammate Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), who took fourth and now has a 16 point defect to Martin in the Championship.
Excitement filled the air as the lights went out, with Martin claiming the perfect launch from pole position, storming into the lead on the run to Turn 1. The #89 was leading with Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) and Bagnaia in chase after the reigning World Champion secured a fantastic launch from P5 on the grid. It was a tough start to the Sprint for Marc Marquez, dropping to eighth after the #93 ran wide at Turn 1. However, the eight-time World Champion began to claw back time, carving past Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing) and Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing), picking off Bastianini and Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) for P4.
Martin put the hammer down early, stretching a one-second lead to Bezzecchi, who was now under immense pressure from Bagnaia. The #1 made the move stick on Lap 4, charging into second while Bezzecchi was soon under pressure from the hard-charging Marc Marquez. Positions continued to change, with Bezzecchi demoted to fourth as Marc Marquez set his sights on Bagnaia as the gap reduced at every sector before the #93 pounced on Lap 8. Bagnaia was unable to match the pace and soon dropped to fourth, with Bastianini finding a gap in his teammate’s armour and entering the podium rostrum.
Drama struck for Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), crashing on Lap 8 to the disappointment of the Australian crowd. The #43 was not the only rider to have a tough day, with Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) and Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP) also suffering crashes during the Sprint. Meanwhile, Bezzecchi and Viñales continued an intense battle for fifth, with the #12 overtaking the Italian at the start of Lap 12. However, everything unfolded at Turn 1 as Bezzecchi and Viñales collided, and both riders crashed out. Binder’s hopes of points were also lost moments later as the South African lost the front at Turn 4.
Nobody could match Martin’s pace in the closing stages of the Sprint, allowing the #89 to charge to victory at Phillip Island. Martin crossed the line with a 1.520s advantage over the recovering Marc Marquez, who crossed the line in second and crucially ahead of Bastianini as the battle for third in the Championship continues. Bagnaia crossed the line in fourth spot with some pace still to find for Sunday after losing further points to title rival Martin. Meanwhile, Morbidelli secured a positive fifth place finish, crossing the line ahead of Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse Racing), who capped off a confidence-boosting Saturday after bagging sixth and finishing ahead of Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team).
The #49 was demoted to seventh after receiving an eight-second time penalty due to running tyre pressures lower than the advised parameters. Further back, Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) was eight in a strong result for the #41 as the final point of the day went the way of Augusto Fernandez, who finished as the sole Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 rider after teammate Pedro Acosta suffered a late crash.
Result: https://x.com/MotoGP/status/1847497547696271621
Penalty: https://x.com/MotoGP/status/1847521535130546621
[Note: The story is as per press release]