{"id":24009,"date":"2023-11-13T02:05:07","date_gmt":"2023-11-13T02:05:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/bagnaia-extends-motogp-lead-the-express-tribune\/"},"modified":"2023-11-13T02:05:07","modified_gmt":"2023-11-13T02:05:07","slug":"bagnaia-extends-motogp-lead-the-express-tribune","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/bagnaia-extends-motogp-lead-the-express-tribune\/","title":{"rendered":"Bagnaia extends MotoGP lead | The Express Tribune"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\nSEPANG:
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Ducati’s Enea Bastianini won the Malaysian MotoGP on Sunday as Francesco Bagnaia<\/a> came third ahead of title rival Jorge Martin to extend his world championship lead with two races left.<\/p>\n

The Italian Bastianini cruised home at Sepang more than 1.5 seconds ahead of Alex Marquez in second, with Bagnaia third and Martin a distant fourth.<\/p>\n

Reigning world title-holder Bagnaia of Italy now has a 14-point lead on Spain’s Martin.<\/p>\n

Bagnaia made a sluggish start from pole and was swallowed up right away by Martin, who had begun second on the grid, and Bagnaia’s factory Ducati team-mate Bastianini.<\/p>\n

But Pramac’s Martin<\/a> immediately ran wide and the Italian Bastianini, who started third on the grid, emerged at the front.<\/p>\n

Bastianini led Malaysian MotoGP sprint winner Marquez through a third of the 20 laps, with Martin and Bagnaia squabbling over third.<\/p>\n

In fierce heat, the race settled into a groove from there as Bastianini pulled out into a lead of nearly a second on Gresini Racing’s Marquez, with Bagnaia third and Martin struggling for pace in fourth.<\/p>\n

It was to remain that way to the end.<\/p>\n

Bastianini has suffered an injury-hampered campaign but the Italian nicknamed “The Beast” held his nerve at the front to cruise home for an ultimately comfortable victory, his first of the season.<\/p>\n

Marco Bezzecchi came into Sepang in third place in the championship and still mathematically in contention for the world title.<\/p>\n

But his unlikely hopes of winning the title evaporated as he rode home in sixth.<\/p>\n

A thrilling campaign goes to Qatar next weekend before the season-ending race in Valencia on November 26.<\/p>\n

Earlier, MotoGP-bound Pedro Acosta was crowned the Moto2 world champion after the Spaniard finished the race in Sepang second behind compatriot Fermin Aldeguer.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n