Absolute show stopper: Martin dominates as champions clash

MotoGP™ fans couldn’t take their eyes off their screens as Saturday’s Tissot Sprint shone again at the SHARK Grand Prix de France. Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) rode a perfect race to claim his first MotoGP™ sprint victory. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) fought his way through the field to storm a solitary P2 as Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) picked up solid championship points after fending off Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) in an intense battle for 3rd place.

With two world champions lining up first and second on the grid ahead of the first-ever Tissot Sprint at the Le Mans circuit, we were fully prepared for some exciting action on Saturday. The lights went out and it was Bagnaia who stormed the line to take the holeshot while Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) shot in P2. Turn 2 came and Martin made an incredible move around the outside to take 2nd from Miller.

As the riders crossed the line for the first time, it was Bagnaia who led Martin with Miller in 3rd, and Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) and Marquez in pursuit. Sector two arrived and it was a disappointment in the KTM camp as Jack Miller crashed around the corner from the museum to promote Marquez to P3. Meanwhile, the Austrian manufacturer’s morale was lifted as Binder was on the move and passed Marini to set the fastest lap and lock in the back of the top three.

There were 11 laps to go, and it was a four-way fight for Tissot Sprint glory as Bagnaia led Martin, Marquez and Binder respectively with Marini into a distant 5th place.

It didn’t last long, however, as Martin raced inside Bagnaia to take the lead from top dog Ducati. Martin then started hammering in and pulled back 0.7 seconds in a single lap, with the Spaniard taking the win by 1.8 seconds.

Marquez and Binder lined up behind the world champion and a big reshuffle at the Dunlop chicane saw Binder take full advantage to move to P2 demoting Bagnaia to P3 and Marquez to P4. Marini then took over as Bagnaia struggled to keep pace with the leaders.

Bagnaia started to drop the order as Marquez made his way to the Dunlop chicane with 8 laps to go, seeing Bagnaia drop to 5th behind Marquez and Marini. While the Italian was clearly in trouble, the world champion did his best to hang on and fired straight back at Marini.

Seven laps to go and Martin had a 1.7 second advantage over a lone Brad Binder in P2, with Marquez, Bagnaia and Marini two seconds behind the South African.

The battle for third place was brewing well between the two world champions as fans had an incredible fight brewing. Bagnaia made a move on the eight-time world champion at 200mph Turn 1 with 4 race laps remaining.

The Italian then put down the hammer, and Marquez couldn’t hold on to the Ducati factory side sills as the Spaniard fell into the clutches of Luca Marini.

Bagnaia found form as the Italian headed for 2nd Binder with laps ticking away, but it was too little too late for the Italian who consolidated 3rd 0.7s from the South- African in 2nd and 0.7s ahead of 4th place.

Martin crossed the finish line to claim his first Sprint victory as well as his first Grand Prix points at Le Mans, bouncing back in style. Binder took second place to win in the title fight, ahead of Bagnaia who finished the stage.

Not only was there an incredible battle between two champions, there was action everywhere you looked in Saturday’s Tissot Sprint. After Bagnaia pulled away from the peloton to defend his top 3 position, Marini got the better of Marquez to take 4th place. Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) trailed for 4th place, but lost ground after a crucial mistake in the closing stages halted his progress and saw the Frenchman settle for 6th place.

Meanwhile further back there was a group of riders swapping paint as Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) got the better of the Aprilia Racing riders of Aleix Espargaro and Maverick Viñales to take 7th place with the Aprilias 8th and 9th respectively.