The reigning world champion Francesco Bagnaia holds his nerve and wins the Solidarity GP Sprint race with some assistance from his teammate Enea Bastianini. The Factory Ducati rider started very well for him same as Jorge Martin but his teammate charged on the championship leader taking all the fight for Pecco. Bastianini constantly put pressure on Martin as Pecco extended the lead with his title challenger.
ALSO WATCH: High-octane crashes of Pedro Acosta and Francesco Bagnaia in MotoGP Barcelona FP1
Pecco shows Class in Sprint
🥇 @PeccoBagnaia wins the #TissotSprint as #TheRematch rolls on to Sunday!
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) November 16, 2024
A last-lap overtake from @Bestia23 relegated @88jorgemartin in 3rd ⚔️#SolidarityGP 🏁 pic.twitter.com/LQ6Re7mr2L
The Italian rider was leading the race without any pressure and won comfortably. With this sprint win the reigning world champion pushed the championship fight to tomorrow's main race. His teammate finished second after a late charge on Martin and the Spaniard settled for third place.
19 POINTS APART.
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) November 16, 2024
It all comes down to TOMORROW! 🏆#SolidarityGP 🏁 | #TheRematch pic.twitter.com/f2D63ra0IC
As far as Jorge Martin is concerned he needs to finish at least 9th to win this year's world title. So more or less we will see a new world champion emerging after tomorrow's main race unless he doesn't finish the race and Bagnaia wins it tomorrow. Martin has a very good chance to complete the race as the world champion and carry the No.1 status to his next team Aprilia racing next year.
7 points 📌
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) November 16, 2024
That's all @88jorgemartin needs to win the title tomorrow! 👀#SolidarityGP 🏁 | #TheRematch pic.twitter.com/HbTpyNwxba
The outgoing Aprilia racing rider Aleix Espargaro finished fourth after a slight mistake made by the Gresini Racing rider Alex Marquez who ended up in fifth. Prima Pramac racing rider Morbidelli Dropped to sixth after trying to help his teammate Martin on the front end. Marc Marquez completed the sprint at seventh ahead of VR 46 team rider Marco Bezzecchi at eighth and KTM Factory rider Brad Binder in Ninth. The factory Yamaha rider Fabio Quartararo was very good as he moved place up to eighth but lately dropped to the 10th position.
The other riders are Johann Zarco and Maverick Vinales on the 11th and 12th. Joan Mir and R. Fernandez at 13th and 14th places. L. Marini and Alex Rins finished in 15th and 16th places. T.Nakagaami and M. Oliveira finished at 17th and 18th places. Jack Miller and A. Fernandez were 19th and 20th. The last three riders are M.Pirro, S.Bradl and Pedro Acosta who didn't complete the race due to a collision at the start of the race which damaged his entire fairing completely.