Marco Bezzecchi of the Mooney VR46 Racing Team showcased his incredible racing prowess as he dominated the field at the IndianOil MotoGP of India. The Italian rider delivered a flawless performance, securing victory with a commanding lead of 8.649 seconds. The race unfolded with breathtaking battles on the circuit, with Jorge Martin (Primac Pramac Racing) ultimately claiming second place, while Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) returned to the podium in third place.

The Race

From the moment the lights went out, the trio of Bezzecchi, Martin, and Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) set the pace. Martin and Bagnaia got lightning-quick starts, surging ahead of the polesitter, Bezzecchi. Bagnaia aggressively pursued Martin, attempting to prevent the Spaniard from pulling away. In an intense braking maneuver, Bagnaia attempted to overtake Martin, but the reigning world champion’s skills proved too much to handle. Martin briefly lost control and fell to fourth place, gifting the lead to Bagnaia. Bezzecchi seized the opportunity to challenge Bagnaia, with Martin now in third place.

With the fastest laps coming from Bezzecchi, the Italian began to stretch his lead, leaving Bagnaia trailing by a second. Meanwhile, Martin kept the pressure on Bagnaia, looking to regain the lead. Martin made a daring move with 17 laps remaining, closing in on Bezzecchi, who was now two seconds ahead.

In the midst of this intense battle, Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) attempted to join the frontrunners but found the pace too hot to handle. Marquez’s front end folded at Turn 1, causing him to slip down the ranks. Remarkably, Marquez rejoined the race, narrowly missing out on points while losing only 10 seconds during his fall.

Key moments

The pivotal moment of the race came when Bagnaia, under intense pressure, made a small mistake. That caused the front end of his Ducati to wash out from beneath him. This unfortunate incident dealt a significant blow to Bagnaia’s championship hopes, elevating Bezzecchi and Martin to first and second positions, respectively. Fabio Quartararo, who had been closely following the Ducati battle, capitalized on Bagnaia’s mishap, securing a podium position.

As the race leader, Marco Bezzecchi maintained his dominant position, securing an impressive victory and earning 25 crucial points in the championship race. Martin faced increasing difficulty in the closing stages. Due to the scorching Indian heat, resulting in a costly mistake as Quartararo overtook him. However, Martin quickly counterattacked and reclaimed second place, holding off Quartararo’s determined efforts.

Further down the field, Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) engaged in a thrilling battle with Joan Mir (Repsol Honda Team) for fourth place. Binder’s skill and determination allowed him to best the Spaniard, advancing from 13th place on the grid.

Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) secured sixth place. Followed by Franco Morbidelli (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) and Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing). Marc Marquez made a remarkable recovery to finish ninth. Further, with Raul Fernandez (CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP™ Team) rounding out the top 10.

Conclusion

The outcome of the IndianOil MotoGP of India has dramatically reshaped the MotoGP™ Championship. Fans can now look forward to the Motul Grand Prix of Japan. Which will take place from September 29th to October 1st at the Mobility Resort Motegi in Japan. Stay updated with all the action on motogp.com as the championship race continues to unfold.