MANDALIKA — Francesco Bagnaia of Ducati Lenovo secured a triumphant victory in the Sprint Race at the Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia held on Saturday (28/9/2024). Bagnaia delivered an impressive performance throughout the 13-laps race at the Pertamina Mandalika International Circuit, despite starting from fourth position.
In the previous qualifying session, Jorge Martin from Prima Pramac Ducati recorded the fastest time, securing pole position. He was followed by Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) in second place and Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) in third. Bagnaia started from fourth position, with his teammate Enea Bastianini in fifth, and Marc Marquez in twelfth.
However, during the Sprint Race, Bagnaia showcased a stellar performance, battling at the front of the pack. Despite Jorge Martins early race incident, which saw him crash but manage to continue, Bagnaia, Bezzecchi, Marc Marquez, and Bastianini all impressed on the track, drawing applause from the spectators who watched their every move.
The checkered flag waved to conclude the Sprint Race, with Francesco Bagnaia taking first place, followed by Enea Bastianini in second and Marc Marquez in third. The podium finish was particularly special for Marquez, who had to start from twelfth after a fall in Q2. His appearance was eagerly anticipated by fans, especially following his two podium finishes at Misano.(red)