Title turns ahead of big unknown; Miller’s ‘shitty’ end to tough weekend: Winners and losers
The European leg of the season is over, and the title fight is back on.
Since Barcelona last week Martin has taken 30 points out of his title deficit, shrinking it from 66 points down to 36. It’s remarkable Bagnaia should have been in the frame to ride in the first place following his sickening first-lap crash in Barcelona one week earlier. Though he miraculously emerged without any broken bones, the tissue damage was severe.
“We just have to be very happy with the work done,” he said. “One week ago we were struggling more. It was very difficult considering a race weekend like this, so I’m very happy, very proud of my people. We did something incredible, I think.” Qualifying 18th was always going to mean a tough weekend, but the races were even worse. His front ride-height device was stuck in the locked position in the sprint for most of the first sector, which cost him time and position, and while he was making some progress on Sunday, he was punted out of the race by Ducati wildcard Michele Pirro.
“The fast and flowing corners where you have to let the brakes off and go, I just didn’t have the confidence in it. But at a real Ducati track — and a circuit around which both Bagnaia and Bezzecchi have bucketloads of experience via Valentino Rossi’s nearby academy — the South African had to really push himself to keep up.