Di Giannantonio wins Qatar MotoGP as Bagnaia closes in on title / Photo: © AFP
-
US leads fresh Ukraine peace push with Miami talks
-
Brazil election offers Jair Bolsonaro a shot at revenge
-
Verstappen continues resurgence with pole for Singapore sprint
-
Man Utd boss Carrick 'personally' affected by Man City verdict
-
Cuban ration book, symbol of the revolution, gathers dust
-
Evolution Metals & Technologies Corp. Raises Fiscal 2026 Revenue Guidance 62% at Midpoint to $10–$11 Million and Reaffirms $400–$460 Million Fiscal 2027 Outlook
-
Stocks advance, oil retreats as Trump rules out pre-vote Iran attack
-
Red Bull's Verstappen takes pole position for Singapore GP sprint race
-
Man City case causing 'uncertainty' for whole Premier League, says Iraola
-
Chelsea star Palmer 'committed' to England insists Alonso
-
Talks with Iran can only succeed without threats, president says
-
OpenAI denies firing researchers over AI safety warnings
-
Home hope Zheng sets up Mertens clash in China Open semis
-
Turkey warns opposition, press over investment fund crisis
-
Lombardia promises gripping end to season in Pogacar absence
-
Hurricane Isaias now major storm as it heads to US Gulf Coast
-
Barca skipper Raphinha out against Getafe and Galatasaray
-
Djokovic crashes out of Shanghai Masters in his first match
-
MEXC and Payward Highlight Collaboration as Crypto and TradFi Converge at TOKEN2049
-
EU says Turkey's crackdown on rights hampers membership bid
-
EU states agree beefed-up European financial markets watchdog
-
Two Renoir paintings stolen in France recovered: mayor
-
Eritrea, Ethiopia trade barbs as Tigray rebels retreat
-
German leader outraged at Schroeder birthday visit to Putin
-
Kompany 'proud' of Man City success despite guilty verdict
-
Stocks up, oil retreats as Trump rules out pre-vote Iran attack
-
Man City will win appeal over financial charges, says Maresca
-
South African judge Navi Pillay wins Nobel Peace Prize
-
Fernandez logs record lap at Indonesia MotoGP practice
-
'I completely trust the club,' says Man City boss Maresca
-
Navi Pillay: S.Africa's global rights activist and Nobel winner
-
'10 out of 10' Quintana reminisces over dream Vuelta win
-
Ufunded Launches “Spotlight” Series, Documenting the Minds Shaping Modern Trading
-
Maddinson given shock recall but fails to score
-
Russell goes fastest in practice for smoggy Singapore GP
-
Navi Pillay, South African rights champion, wins Nobel Peace Prize
-
For exiled Russian director Zvyagintsev, triumph without belonging
-
Saudi Arabia says three killed at airport as Yemen war expands
-
Home hope Zheng storms into China Open semi-finals
-
Everton's US owners mull sale of club two years after takeover
-
Zverev churns out win in Shanghai Masters opener
-
Ukraine takes Russia fight to 'scorching sands' of Sahel
-
Hurricane Isaias strengthens en route to US Gulf Coast
-
Chinese AI tool pulled to prevent 'misuse' after South Korea hacks
-
US activists deploy poll volunteers over Trump intimidation fears
-
Asian stocks mostly up as traders weigh AI, oil dips after surge
-
Saint Laurent designer Vaccarello leaves after glittering decade
-
Walking through flames: orangutans rescued in Indonesia fires
-
'Tough to stay here': Nepal flood survivors wait for homes
-
LeBron shines in pre-season debut for re-tooled 76ers
Di Giannantonio wins Qatar MotoGP as Bagnaia closes in on title
Fabio Di Giannantonio took his first MotoGP victory in Qatar, and some 'revenge' on Sunday as Francesco Bagnaia survived a late scare to finish second while his only title rival Jorge Martin limped home 10th.
Defending champion Bagnaia leads Martin by 21 points with one weekend left in Valencia where the maximum haul for a rider who wins both the sprint and the main race is 37 points.
"We managed to do a great start. I was alone in the front. I tried to push but Digi today was incredible," said Bagnaia.
Bagnaia swept into the lead from the start on his Ducati with only fellow Italian Di Giannantonio able to keep up. Bagnaia went off the track after the Ducati Gresini rider overtook with four laps to go, but recovered to finish second.
"Unluckily, I got sucked by his slipstream on the braking and I went totally wide," said Bagnaia.
Luca Marini was third on a VR46 Ducati.
Di Giannantonio was delighted by his first win.
"In the middle of the race I was struggling a little bit but I saw he was making little mistakes and I thought 'hey maybe this is my opportunity," he said.
Martin had cut Bagnaia's lead in the standings to seven points by winning the sprint the day before. But in the main race, the Spaniard slipped to ninth after a bad start and struggled for pace throughout on his Ducati Pramac, eventually coming home 10th.
Bagnaia said he as pleasantly surprised by the result.
"Honestly, I was expecting (the race) from yesterday would be the same as today," he said. "We managed to open a lot the gap on Jorge."
There is one event left this season, at Valencia next weekend, where Bagnaia could wrap up a second title in Saturday's sprint race.
"Valencia is very important," said Bagnaia
Di Giannantonio also finished second in Saturday's sprint race.
"Man, I don’t know what to say been incredible weekend," he said at the finish.
The 25-year-old is being replaced by six-time world champion March Marquez at Gresini and does not have a ride for next season, with few saddles still available.
"This is a real redemption today," he said. "A real revenge for myself but also for everybody who doubted me. We did it guys we are a MotoGP winner."
E.Schubert--BTB
