WATCH: Throwback to Francesco Bagnaia’s masterclass at Austrian MotoGP 2023

Francesco "Pecco" Bagnaia, riding for Ducati, delivered a performance for the ages at the Austrian MotoGP 2023, securing his fifth victory of the season. The Italian rider not only led the Grand Prix from start to finish, but he also completed a rare sprint and race double for the third time that year.

Bagnaia’s dominance was clear from the start, as he secured pole position and maintained his lead throughout the race. This victory marked his 50th podium in MotoGP, solidifying his reputation as one of the sport's elite competitors. With this win, Bagnaia extended his lead in the championship standings, pulling 62 points clear of his nearest rival, Jorge Martin.

Here is the video:

Leading from the first corner until the checkered flag 🏁@PeccoBagnaia was unstoppable last year 🔥#AustrianGP 🇦🇹 pic.twitter.com/zyyJyboMNf

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) August 15, 2024

The race was held at the iconic Red Bull Ring, home to KTM, where Brad Binder delivered a strong performance to finish second. Binder's KTM showed great promise, especially in the early stages, as he remained close to Bagnaia and even attempted to challenge for the lead using the Ducati rider’s slipstream. However, Bagnaia’s consistent pace and strategic racing kept Binder at bay, allowing him to gradually extend his lead as the race progressed.

Jorge Martin failed to put up a show!

Marco Bezzecchi, racing for VR46, claimed the third spot on the podium, a fitting reward after a challenging weekend. Bezzecchi had been involved in a dramatic first-corner pile-up during the sprint race on Saturday, which forced him to retire early. However, he bounced back impressively on Sunday, making decisive moves in the final laps to secure his podium finish.

Jorge Martin, who had made an impressive charge from ninth to third in the sprint race on Saturday, faced difficulties during the main race. After being penalized with a long-lap penalty for his role in the sprint race pile-up, Martin struggled to replicate his earlier performance and eventually finished in seventh place.

Reflecting on his performance, Bagnaia expressed satisfaction with the weekend, noting the challenging conditions and the team’s ability to adapt and succeed. “We demonstrated our potential from yesterday and we’re very happy,” Bagnaia said, highlighting the team's strategy and execution.