Bagnaia further closes on Quartararo despite winning streak being halted by Bastianini

Bagnaia
on
pole
for
Aragon
Grand
Prix
after
‘one
of
best
ever
laps’

Ducati’s
Bagnaia
was
aiming
to
become
the
first
rider
since
Marc
Marquez
in
2019
to
win
five
races
in
a
row
and
looked
good
value
to
achieve
that
heading
into
the
final
lap.

But
in
the
latest
tense
battle
between
the
pair,
Gresini
rider
Bastianini
took
the
lead
from
Bagnaia
on
turn
seven
to
claim
his
fourth
victory
of
the
season.

Bagnaia
had
to
settle
for
20
points,
which
further
increases
the
pressure
on
the
faltering
Quartararo,
who
crashed
out
early
on
and
has
just
one
podium
finish
in
his
past
five
races.

Aleix
Espargaro
held
off
Jack
Miller
and
Brad
Binder,
who
had
earlier
climbed
from
10th
to
third,
to
complete
the
podium
with
an
impressive
performance
on
home
soil

The
first
big
twist
arrived
on
the
first
lap
when
Quartararo
hit
the
rear
of
Marc
Marquez,
competing
for
the
first
time
since
May,
and
was
unable
to
continue.

Takaaki
Nakagami
was
fortunate
to
avoid
serious
injury
soon
after
when
unintentionally
struck
by
Marquez,
who
was
forced
to
retire
in
a
disappointing
return
to
action.

Further
up
the
grid,
Bagnaia
and
Bastianini
engaged
in
another
battle
and,
unlike
in
San
Marino
last
week,
it
was
the
latter
who
came
out
on
top
on
this
occasion.

Having
temporarily
taken
the
lead
a
little
earlier
before
gifting
it
straight
back,
Bastianini
made
a
sensational
move
on
Bagnaia
late
on
to
win
the
race.

The
battle
for
third
was
just
as
entertaining,
with
Espargaro
making
his
move
on
Binder
with
two
laps
to
go
to
move
within
17
points
of
leader
and
reigning
champion
Quartararo.

TOP
10

1.
Enea
Bastianini
(Gresini)
41:35.462
2.
Francesco
Bagnaia
(Ducati)
+0.042
3.
Aleix
Espargaro
(Aprilia)
+6.139
4.
Brad
Binder
(Red
Bull
KTM)
+6.379
5.
Jack
Miller
(Ducati)
+6.964
6.
Jorge
Martin
(Pramac
Racing)
+12.030
7.
Luca
Marini
(VR46
Racing
Team)
+12.474
8.
Johann
Zarco
(Pramac
Racing)
+12.655
9.
Alex
Rins
(Suzuki
Ecstar)
+12.702
10.
Marco
Bezzecchi
(VR46
Racing
Team)
+16.150

CHAMPIONSHIP
STANDINGS

Riders

1.
Fabio
Quartararo
(Monster
Energy
Yamaha)
211
2.
Francesco
Bagnaia
(Ducati)
201
3.
Aleix
Espargaro
(Aprilia)
194
4.
Enea
Bastianini
(Gresini)
163
5.
Jack
Miller
(Ducati)
134

Teams

1.
Ducati
335
2.
Aprilia
Racing
298
3.
Monster
Energy
Yamaha
237
4.
Pramac
Racing
237
5.
Red
Bull
KTM
223