MotoGP

Though he started every MotoGP race between his debut and that Jerez crash, Marc Marquez has hade more than his fair share of comeback races.

But the fact he qualified only ninth at a track where he’d taken every pole from 2013 to 2019 showed things were not right. He failed to keep up with the lead pack on a day when team-mate Pol Espargaro reached the podium. What happened next: Another ultimately dominant title, but by the end of 2019 Marquez was suffering with similar problems in his other shoulder and had another operation. A testament to how good modern protective gear is, we're incredibly happy to see and hear that he's OK! The four-month COVID delay to the start of racing averted that problem. He didn’t have the stamina to stay there, though. His form through his career so far had been such that he was still seen as a title contender even joining late. Injury: We’re stretching the definition of comeback race here very slightly as Marquez didn’t miss any races or tests with this one. That loss had more to do with the Ducati’s key strengths over the Honda than any shoulder discomfort. Marquez was passed fit in time for pre-season testing, though. He didn’t actually miss any races, but he did have to sit out three of Honda’s four weeks of pre-season testing. The comeback race: Those doubts were dispelled very rapidly.

Autosolar GasGas Aspar's Izan Guevara continued his stellar run on Spanish soil with a fourth Moto3 victory of 2022 at Motorland Aragon.

Muñoz finally accepted his penalty as he hit the loop down the corkscrew with two to go. A regrouped McPhee was back in the fight and running fifth with four to go as he set his sights on Öncü. The drama continuing in the mid pack as Muñoz swept through the group at the expense of McPhee with the Scot pushed wide and back outside the top ten. A seven-rider battle for fourth continued as Öncü maintained his advantage at the head of the group. The second group clash continued as Garcia lost out and fell back to 11th. Foggia continuing to fad as he found himself out of the top ten as lap three began.

The Italian, who has won the last four races to surge up the rider standings, took pole with a lap of 1min 46.069sec to lead a Ducati sweep of the front ...

The Italian, who has won the last four races to surge up the rider standings, took pole with a lap of 1min 46.069sec to lead a Ducati sweep of the front row. The Spaniard then missed the San Marino GP in early September. "I gave it my best shot," said Quartararo who has struggled to match the Ducatis for pace in recent races. And if we have to make contact, we will do it. "I'll have to make some aggressive overtaking. "This is my best lap time ever," he said. Australian Jack Miller, on the other factory bike, was second at 0.09sec with Italian Enea Bastianini on a Gresini-Ducati third at 0.154sec. "I never did a lap time like this. Bagnaia broke the course lap record of 1:46.322 he set in qualifying last year, when he went on to win from pole. Australian Jack Miller, on the other factory bike, was second at 0.09sec with Italian Enea Bastianini on a Gresini-Ducati third at 0.154sec.](https://www.news9live.com/tags/motogp)season. - Bagnaia broke the course lap record of 1:46.322 he set in qualifying last year, when he went on to win from pole - Australian Jack Miller, on the other factory bike, was second at 0.09sec with Italian Enea Bastianini on a Gresini-Ducati third at 0.154sec

EXCLUSIVE: BT Sport presenters - and former Superbike stars - Neil Hodgson and Michael Laverty spoke to Mirror Sport ahead of the Aragon Grand Prix at ...

“He’s come back so strong and focused on what he needs to do, and he’s ripping up the timesheets and getting the points. The Spaniard opted to undergo a fourth major operation on his badly broken right arm, and he qualified 13th. Pecco had the time off, reset himself and realised the onus was on him if he wanted to be world champion. He also heralded the unpredictable nature of the MotoGP world championship race following Bagnaia’s impressive return to form. Fellow BT Sport presenter and former racer Michael Laverty spoke of the might of the Ducati team on current form - particularly in qualifying. The Frenchman recently aired grievances towards the Italian team as he accused them of pitting seven riders together to help Bagnaia win his maiden world championship.

MotoGP may risk losing its Japanese Grand Prix for a third year running, this time due to complications created by typhoon Nanmadol.

With the current part of the championship the least suited to his Yamaha M1, the Motegi race should in theory tip the advantage back towards Quartararo’s favour if it does take place. There have been a series of extreme weather warnings issued for the island nation as it braces itself to be hit by super typhoon Nanmadol, a tropical storm predicted to be one of the most intense on record. With only another four days separating Japan from the next round in Thailand, it seems that a decision will be made in conjunction with the series’ freight specialists on Sunday afternoon following the conclusion of the Aragon race on whether to continue to Japan or potentially risk losing out on holding the race for the third year in a row.

MotoGP: The alert in the Southwest of the country is currently at its highest level and four million people have already been evacuated.

The teams are currently waiting for certain news that should arrive in the afternoon. Dorna and IRTA, at this moment, are trying to understand how the situation will evolve. It is called Typhoon Nanmadol and it has already forced four million people to be evacuated in Kyushu, a region in Southwestern Japan.

Red Bull KTM Ajo's Pedro Acosta bounced back from injury to claim his second Moto2 victory of his rookie season at Motorland Aragon.

Canet was up to second as Ogura struck at Arbolino, the top five battle intensifying in the closing two laps as Acosta maintained his three-second lead. Acosta holding a near two-second lead with five laps to go as Canet reeled in Fernandez in the battle for second. Fernandez losing out to his younger teammate down the straight as Arbolino scalped Canet for the final podium position. Fernandez held a half-second lead as lap two kicked off, Dixon and Canet in hot pursuit with the second KTM of Acosta through on Arenas. The Brit instantly dropped from second to fourth as Canet emulated the move at turn 14 before Elf Marc VDS’ Tony Arbolino did likewise down the back straight. Launching from sixth, the reigning Moto3 Champion was quickly in the fight before dispatching teammate Augusto Fernandez and Flexbox HP40’s Aron Canet to carve out a three-second lead.

The Japanese MotoGP could be cancelled just days before it gets underway due to travel disruption expected from the arrival of Typhoon Nanmadol - Visordown ...

Such is the ‘risk to life’ concern, four million people have already been evacuated. For now, Shinkansen bullet train services have already been cancelled but MotoGP is anticipating flight issues too. However, Dorna and IRTA is bracing for the impact of Typhoon Nanmadol, which is due to sweep through Kyushu, the southernmost of Japan’s four islands.

Pedro Acosta dominated the Moto2 race while Izan Guevara strengthened his Moto3 title hopes with victory at the MotoGP Aragon Grand Prix.

With Suzuki quitting, Honda struggling to get near the podium and Yamaha only enjoying success courtesy of Fabio Quartararo, Japanese manufacturers have been left in the dust by their European counterparts. Prior to the summer break, the 2022 MotoGP title looked like it was Fabio Quartararo’s to lose. OPINION: Honda is in the midst of a second winless season in the space of three years.

World champion Fabio Quartararo crashed out in first lap mayhem at the Aragon MotoGP on Sunday.

I had a piece of, Fabio's bike attached to mine." World champion Fabio Quartararo crashed out in first lap mayhem at the Aragon MotoGP on Sunday. World Champion Quartararo Crashes Out At Aragon MotoGP

2022 Aragon MotoGP, MotorLand Circuit - Race Results ; Marc Marquez · Fabio Quartararo · Takaaki Nakagami ; SPA · FRA · JPN ...

With Andrea Dovizioso hanging up his leathers after Misano, triple MotoGP race winner and current Yamaha test rider Cal Crutchlow is taking over the RNF seat for the final six rounds of this season. Binder brilliantly held the final podium place for KTM until being caught by Aleix Espargaro in the closing stages. Bagnaia soaked up the pressure from his fellow Ducati rider but couldn't shake off The Beast, who briefly took the lead. "After the contact, I felt something in Turn 5, but it was acceptable. "In Turn 3 I had a moment, I just lost the rear and then Fabio was really close behind, like normal in the first lap. SPA

Enea Bastianini beat Francesco Bagnaia in a thrilling Aragon Grand Prix as a collision between Fabio Quartararo and Marc Marquez has blown the MotoGP title ...

Prior to the summer break, the 2022 MotoGP title looked like it was Fabio Quartararo’s to lose. Franco Morbidelli was long overdue a promotion to factory machinery when it finally came late last year, having finished runner-up in the 2020 standings on an old Yamaha package. OPINION: Honda is in the midst of a second winless season in the space of three years.

MotoGP leader Fabio Quartararo's misfortune on Sunday at Aragon wasn't limited to his DNF - as he was also a passenger in another crash.

and I think maybe podium, 3-4-5-6, the group where was Jack, was something that was possible. I don’t remember exactly the situation but it’s a shame, just in the third corner.” “I think fighting for the top five would’ve been a great result. But I think for 3-4-5-6 we could’ve fought for.” “Because it’s the first time I felt good in Aragon for many years. “I had a second crash.

Enea Bastianini beat Ducati's main title hope Pecco Bagnaia to win the MotoGP race at Aragon, as Fabio Quartararo crashed with Marc Marquez.

0 8 Ducati Ducati Lenovo Team 1 Laps Led Laps “I lost the rear in Turn 3 and Fabio made contact. When I engaged the holeshot device later in the lap, the bike locked and moved to the left because there was a piece of Fabio’s bike in the rear.

MotoGP championship leader Fabio Quartararo revealed he was involved in a scooter crash on his way back to pitlane after his Aragon Grand Prix collision ...

Franco Morbidelli was long overdue a promotion to factory machinery when it finally came late last year, having finished runner-up in the 2020 standings on an old Yamaha package. Prior to the summer break, the 2022 MotoGP title looked like it was Fabio Quartararo’s to lose. OPINION: Honda is in the midst of a second winless season in the space of three years.

Enea Bastianini beat Francesco Bagnaia in a thrilling Aragon Grand Prix as a collision between Fabio Quartararo and Marc Marquez blew the MotoGP title race ...

With Suzuki quitting, Honda struggling to get near the podium and Yamaha only enjoying success courtesy of Fabio Quartararo, Japanese manufacturers have been left in the dust by their European counterparts. Prior to the summer break, the 2022 MotoGP title looked like it was Fabio Quartararo’s to lose. OPINION: Honda is in the midst of a second winless season in the space of three years.

MotoGP: “After the crash, the marshal then hit another scooter, and we crashed. Luckily, I hadn't taken off my helmet. In three days, everything will be OK"

I feel Japan can be a good track for us because even if there is a lot of acceleration, there is also a lot of braking. I think fighting for the top five would have been a great result.” The marshal I think is a little bit sore also.” So, apart from the race it was a positive weekend and I’m really looking forward to going to tracks where we have not been for a long time. But everything I have is from the first crash. “I’m sore and burned – said the Frenchman - but it’s a shame because it’s the first time I feel good in Aragon in many years and crashing in the third corner was not the best.

Enea Bastianini won the Aragon MotoGP with a last lap overtake after drama at the start as world champion Fabio Quartararo crashed out.

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Bastianini shaded Francesco Bagnaia following a nerve-jangling duel over the closing laps to deny the factory Ducati rider a fifth straight win by ...

“Fabio (Quartararo) was unlucky. “I made some mistakes but on the last lap I was in a position to attack this time to win. I tried to do my best, but on the last lap I didn’t feel I was able to retake Enea as these 10 points are important so I did okay.”

Enea Bastianini beat Francesco Bagnaia in a MotoGP™ classic at MotorLand Aragón as the rider's championship battle heats up.

Behind the top two, it was the Aprilia of Espargaró that completed the podium, with a resurgent Binder being forced to settle for fourth place ahead of Miller, with The Honda rider made a surprise return to competitive action after a fourth round of surgery on his broken arm, sustained at the [opening round](/my-en/motogp-of-spain-2020-race-report)of the 2020 MotoGP™ campaign. As the final lap approached, Bastianini heaped the pressure on Bagnaia.

MotoGP championship leader Fabio Quartararo revealed he was involved in a scooter crash on his way back to pitlane after his Aragon Grand Prix collision ...

With Suzuki quitting, Honda struggling to get near the podium and Yamaha only enjoying success courtesy of Fabio Quartararo, Japanese manufacturers have been left in the dust by their European counterparts. Prior to the summer break, the 2022 MotoGP title looked like it was Fabio Quartararo’s to lose. OPINION: Honda is in the midst of a second winless season in the space of three years.

Among the riders who have contributed to this achievement, with six victories in 2022, is undoubtedly Pecco Bagnaia, who finished second in the Aragon GP.

Now we can focus exclusively on the riders' title: we are 10 points from the top of the standings, and with five races remaining, the fight in the Championship is open more than ever". Jack now occupies fifth place in the overall standings, while the Ducati Lenovo Team leads the team standings, 37 points ahead of the second-placed team. Thanks to today's second place and following Quartararo's crash on the first lap, Bagnaia brings his gap from the French rider to just 10 points.

Marc Marquez has explained what happened in his two “unlucky” collisions with Fabio Quartararo and Takaaki Nakagami in the MotoGP Aragon Grand Prix.

With Suzuki quitting, Honda struggling to get near the podium and Yamaha only enjoying success courtesy of Fabio Quartararo, Japanese manufacturers have been left in the dust by their European counterparts. Prior to the summer break, the 2022 MotoGP title looked like it was Fabio Quartararo’s to lose. OPINION: Honda is in the midst of a second winless season in the space of three years.

Enea Bastianini won the Aragon MotoGP with a last lap overtake after mayhem at the start as world champion Fabio Quartararo crashed out to put a severe dent ...

I had a piece of, Fabio’s bike attached to mine.” “I made some mistakes but on the last lap I was in a position to attack this time to win. But I think the marshal is a little bit sore.” “It was really unlucky,” Marquez told motoGP.com of his disastrous opening lap. “I had a second crash. Quartararo, whose miserable day ended with another fall from a scooter leaving the track, said: “I feel bad.

Before all that, Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) hit some serious bad luck, as he made contact with Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) after a ...

As Q2 got underway, it was Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing MotoGP) who bolted out of the blocks with a 1:46.580 on his initial flying lap, and that would still be the benchmark when the first runs came to an end. But it’s more all the elbow and especially on the shoulder and on the back.” The Californian was expected to renew for a third season in the Moto2 category but has decided to return to the Moto America Superbike Championship, a series he won five times. Bagnaia did give chase and when he got a better run off the final corner, it was still in the balance, but the finish line was close enough to the exit of Turn 17 that Bastianini was just able to cling on by a margin of just 0.042 seconds. Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) earned 11th, with the rest of the points finishers being Alex Marquez (LCR Honda Castrol) – who dusted himself off after a Warm Up crash – Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing), Cal Crutchlow (WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP team), and Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team). Quartararo was only 10th when the chequered flag came out and dug ever so deep with his final attempt, but the 1:46.802 was only able to move him up to sixth. As for the other podium position, that went to Espargaro, but it was a late attack as Binder held station for much of the race. Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) took sixth after a late battle with fellow Ducati rider Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team), who got home in seventh ahead of Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing), Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar), and Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team). Instead, he outbraked himself half a lap later at Turn 12 and went very deep, handing the lead back to Bagnaia and barely holding off Binder through the chicane. In the blink of an eye, Miller was all the way back to fifth as Espargaro also got through, at Turn 7. Miller then overtook the South African on Lap 3 at Turn 1 and Bastianini did likewise exactly a lap later, putting the KTM back to fourth, but he wasn’t done yet. The Championship leader crashed out, Marquez continued and then suffered a technical problem from the prior contact that saw Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) caught in the crossfire.

Round 16 of the MotoGP which is due to take place in Japan is most likely to be cancelled due to alarming weather warnings.

Flights are also expected to be disrupted once typhoon Nanmadol hits. The typhoon has delivered unprecedented waves and storms in many parts of Japan. The Japanese government thus has stopped the ‘bullet train’ (shinkasen) service.

Comprehensive round up from the MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3 races at Aragon complete with race reports, results and championship points.

Sixth went to Fermin Aldeguer (CAG Speed Up), from Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia), Jorge Navarro (Flexbox HP40), Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team), and Celestino Vietti (Mooney VR46 Racing Team), the latter of whom inherited 10th as a result of Dixon’s late spill. On Lap 10, Acosta blazed past his team-mate Fernandez as they ran up the back straight, while it was Arbolino’s Turn to get into a battle with Canet over third . Hopes of a fightback were dashed just half a lap later when Arenas crashed at Turn 12 – with both Manuel Gonzalez (Yamaha VR46 Master Camp Team) and Jeremy Alcoba (Liqui Moly Intact GP) joining him on the floor there just moments later in a separate incident. San Marino GP winner Alonso Lopez (CAG Speed Up) launched well, but then drama hit as he crashed out and mayhem unfolded behind as Marcel Schrötter (Liqui Moly Intact GP) hit the deck as well, with a number of other riders forced into avoiding action too. DNF The dust will take some time to settle but it’s a quick turnaround for the paddock heading into the Motul Grand Prix of Japan, and there’s not too much time to catch your breath before actions gets back underway next weekend. A total of 20 riders made the chequered flag with Marc Marquez, Quartararo, and Nakagami the only retirements. As for the other podium position, that went to Espargaro but it was a late attack as Binder held station for much of the race. Instead, he outbraked himself half a lap later at Turn 12 and went very deep, handing the lead back to Bagnaia and barely holding off Binder through the chicane. In the blink of an eye, Miller was all the way back to fifth as Espargaro also got through, at Turn 7. From 13th on the grid, Marquez was already up to sixth when he had a rear slide exiting Turn 3 and closed the throttle, leaving Quartararo with nowhere to go. Quartararo crashed out, Marquez continued and then suffered a technical problem from the prior contact that saw Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) caught in the crossfire.

Marc Marquez's first MotoGP race since May proved short but dramatic, bolting from 13th to sixth in the opening corners before separate clashes with.

“Because it was completely a racing incident like we saw many times in the past. But I didn't retire because of the Taka incident, I retired because of the Fabio incident. “As soon as I engaged the holeshot, I felt like the rear wheel was locking. So then I was inside of him, already a little bit in front, and I engaged the holeshot [ride-height device, on the exit]. I checked very carefully the images, and you can see that a piece [of bodywork] is going out from the fairing. “The start was amazing, but just instinct.

By the flag, Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) had served some Misano-flavoured revenge on Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) as the two duelled it ...

Guevara now leads the field to Motegi with a 33-point lead as Garcia and Foggia are left licking their wounds after a tough start to the triple-header. Off the line it was as-you-were at the front, with Guevara leading Sasaki and Holgado away and the trio building a gap, too. I decided to stay calm behind and wait for his tyre to drop and then in the last laps when I saw his pace started to drop I decided to overtake. I have 200 points because on bad days I was able to get really good results, so now I’m just trying to enjoy it and do the same in the next races. Sixth went to Fermin Aldeguer (CAG Speed Up), from Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia), Jorge Navarro (Flexbox HP40), Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team), and Celestino Vietti (Mooney VR46 Racing Team), the latter of whom inherited 10th as a result of Dixon’s late spill. It’s not just a single thing, it’s not that they just have the best bike, it’s a mix and a package. My start was difficult, when Aleix overtook me I went a bit long and lost some positions compared to where I started but on Lap 9 I was back on top and then made a mistake at turn 10 and went off, but I thought ‘ok, now I have to stay clam to close the gap to Pecco’. Aleix Espargaro: “Expectations were high arriving to Aragon because I knew that it was one of the bets tracks of the last pat of the championship so maybe I started a bit hot, crashed twice on Friday and lost my confidence. But I’m sure we can be competitive and I’ll try to work like we are doing and finish the races like we know to do.” Bagnaia did give chase and when he got a better run off the final corner, it was still in the balance, but the finish line was close enough to the exit of Turn 17 that Bastianini was just able to cling on by a margin of just 0.042 seconds. As for the other podium position, that went to Espargaro but it was a late attack as Binder held station for much of the race. Miller then overtook the South African on Lap 3 at Turn 1 and Bastianini did likewise exactly a lap later, putting the KTM back to fourth, but he wasn’t done yet.

With five races left in the 2022 MotoGP season, Ducati has won the MotoGP Constructors' Championship. Following the Ducati one-two win in France at the ...

Bastianini, who heads to the Ducati factory team in 2023 joining Bagnaia, had a long fought battle for first place with his future team mate. Action moves to Motegi, Japan on September 25, kicking off the Asia-Pacific leg of the 2023 MotoGP season with the Petronas Grand Prix of Malaysia taking place October 23. [Ducati](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwir1K-ylKD6AhX9SGwGHamRBG0QFnoECC4QAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fpaultan.org%2F2021%2F11%2F08%2F2021-motogp-ducati-win-constructors-championship%2F&usg=AOvVaw0K4jFPxHS349lGdpTFLUcs) has won the MotoGP Constructors’ Championship.

MotoGP: “According to him, it was the lowering device? He needs to find some excuse for not taking the blame, which I think is his.

The accident was really bad, and I had to slow down to avoid Fabio. I had a bit more to make a difference in the race, but that’s how it went.” I struggle to fight in the group, because I have different trajectories compared to the others. “It’s a way of finding an excuse for the accident, so he doesn’t get blamed for it. In short, we’ll have to wait at least until the next Grand Prix to get to see his famous back flip again. According to him, the cause of the accident was the Spanish rider’s reckless behavior.

Enea Bastianini made a dramatic last-lap pass on Francesco Bagnaia in the Aragon MotoGP and snapped Bagnaia's four-race winning streak.

Bagnaia pounced and retook the top spot, but was unable to shake the rider who will be his 2023 teammate at Ducati. Bastianini stalked Bagnaia for most of the race, but knew the pass had to be squeaky clean. It was already known that he and Fabio were the fastest – and Fabio had an unlucky crash on the first lap. The need for points was even more important because the championship leader, Fabio Quartararo, suffered a Lap 1 crash and failed to earn any at all. “It was really unlucky,” Marquez said on NBC Sports’ coverage. “I was able to win this race and now we go onto Japan.”

Behind the duo fighting for victory, chaos raged as early contact between Marc Marquez and defending champion Fabio Quartararo took the points leader out of the ...

Started 11th Finished 11th It simply wasn’t the Gresini rookie’s weekend. Sunday’s race was another hard-charging (if ultimately non-scoring) ride. It’s all part of year one in the premier class. Solid points in the bag on a weekend where a mistake would have been easy to make. Started 13th Finished DNF He even set the fastest lap of the race (a new record). Started 6th Finished DNF Started 9th Finished 9th Started 12th Finished DNF Nonetheless, it remains a successful day out for the South African. In the end, he got one shot and it worked.

A poor qualifying, technical issues and misunderstandings with Aprilia left Maverick Vinales 'disappointed' after missing out on another potential.

I need to be in the front fighting and help Aleix as much as I can. "Now I need to be in the front. "I will not say comeback because when I see the lap times I am there," added Vinales when asked if he needs to make a ‘comeback’ from Aragon. For me, seeing that I was there on the lap times, equal to Aleix, it makes me feel very strong as this is his best track. I think like in Misano I was able to follow them until mid-race and then drop again. "Well, I’m a little bit disappointed because this weekend it was very important.

The factory Yamaha rider was positive of a good result on Sunday at Aragon having qualified sixth, the Frenchman having shown race pace in practice that was as ...

“I will do my best to try and be at 100% for Japan and fight for the victory.” “Luckily it was nothing heavy just that I burned the front (chest), nothing broken just some burns. “Many riders lost the rear and cut the line, but I just hit Marc (Marquez) in the back and that was it.

MotoGP: “The aerodynamics improved the Ducati in entering corners. Even Enea is getting good with the 2021 bike and has been in the MotoGP for less time ...

“I think having the opportunity to do some laps is important for a rider. The introduction of sprint races in 2023 will reduce the time allowed for riders in the pre-race warm-up. Some riders have a slightly better pace but, generally, I have the ability to always bring out something more in the race. “I worked a lot on the race pace in the FP4. Surely, the bike is very competitive, and all the Ducati riders are among the best and are riding really well. But the desire to erase a recent bad memory, Misano, may have also played a key role in this result, and one wonders if the exploits of the Australian rider in this second phase of the championship aren’t giving the Ducatis second thoughts, since they’ll have the experience of “Thriller Miller” at the service of their opponents in the KTM ...

Aragon Grand Prix winner Enea Bastianini says being an outside bet for the 2022 MotoGP title at 48 points from the championship lead is “not a pressure”.

Prior to the summer break, the 2022 MotoGP title looked like it was Fabio Quartararo’s to lose. OPINION: Honda is in the midst of a second winless season in the space of three years. The drama of the Aragon Grand Prix has thrust Francesco Bagnaia well and truly into title contention with five races to go, and Ducati must now consider utilising a unique strength it has so far been reticent to embrace

Although his MotoGP title aspirations seemed to be slipping away prior to Aragon, Aleix Espargaro never felt out of the championship fight 'even on.

"This is MotoGP, Ducati, Enea and Pecco are doing a great job and the results are there. "It's not easy what they are doing and what they are achieving," added Espargaro. "Step by step we're growing together and we're always faster. Enea for sure is motivated like me to win races and be in front, and we're pushing each other because I know if he's fast, I can be. "I always believed, even on the most difficult weekends like Silverstone and Austria. This is what makes me proud of the championship I'm doing.

Across the last two MotoGP rounds at Misano and last weekend at Aragon, Enea Bastianini and Francesco Bagnaia have been split by just 0.038 seconds on average ...

Prior to the summer break, the 2022 MotoGP title looked like it was Fabio Quartararo’s to lose. [but also wary](https://www.autosport.com/motogp/news/bagnaia-quartararos-aragon-motogp-crash-didnt-change-my-strategy/10371211/) – to do anything, and though he emerged from the final two turns right on the Gresini Ducati’s rear wheel, his streak of four-successive victories was shattered by just 0.042s. The drama of the Aragon Grand Prix has thrust Francesco Bagnaia well and truly into title contention with five races to go, and Ducati must now consider utilising a unique strength it has so far been reticent to embrace

There are now just 17 points between the top three in the MotoGP standings after a thrilling race at MotorLand Aragon on Sunday afternoon.

Watch the rest of the MotoGP season on BT Sport. BT Sport is the home of MotoGP. Quartararo is now just ten points clear of Bagnaia at the top of the standings, with Espargaro a further seven points back. Espargaro has been a little off of the boil recently compared to the start of the year but a podium finish and seeing the points gap reduce for himself may well rejuvenate him and his challenge too. The race already looked like one that would require Fabio Quartararo to produce a performance of damage limitation with Pecco Bagnaia starting from pole and several of the other Ducatis looking strong in qualifying, but things took a turn for the worse in dramatic style for the defending champion after just a handful of corners. The MotoGP season is embarking on a triple header with Japan and Thailand to come this weekend and next, and if they replicate the drama and excitement shown in Spain on Sunday then we’re in for an exciting couple of weeks.

MotoGP: “My pace was astounding. I was the best Ducati in braking. During that phase, overtaking other bikes is easier. The world championship?

It’s difficult to overtake other Ducatis, because the bike is fantastic. I could have passed Martin, but the race is over. I was the strongest of the Ducatis at this stage. I did the fast lap, which is also the record in the race. I didn’t expect it, because Aragon is not a track I feel great on, but we found something good this morning, so I have to thank David and the Ohlins guys and the electronics analysts. I thought I was going to run over his head or his body and, in turn, also fall.”