Marquez Secures San Marino MotoGP Victory,Championship Pursuit Intensifies
Misano,Italy – September 14,2024 – Marc Marquez of Ducati Lenovo Team triumphed at the San Marino MotoGP today,overtaking polesitter Marco Bezzecchi on lap 12 and holding off a relentless challenge to secure the win.The victory considerably boosts Marquez’s championship aspirations as the season progresses.
The race began with a ”superb launch” for Marquez, propelling him to second place behind Bezzecchi, while Alex Marquez was relegated to third. Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo struggled to maintain pace, engaging in a battle with KTM’s Pedro Acosta, who ultimately passed the former champion before a broken chain forced Acosta’s retirement.
Francesco Bagnaia, a twice champion, experienced another disappointing race, crashing out of seventh place – his third crash of the season – jeopardizing his championship standing.
After taking the lead, Marquez withstood intense pressure from Bezzecchi, setting the fastest lap of the race with six laps remaining. The Ducati rider responded with a strong late-race pace,keeping third-placed Alex Marquez over six seconds behind.
“Besides [missing out on] the victory, this is maybe the best race of my life, because I was super competitive all weekend - pole position, sprint win, second place,” said Bezzecchi. “I was close to Marc, who is at the moment the strongest on the grid. I’m very happy, I gave my all, I’m destroyed!”
VR46 Racing teammates Franco Morbidelli and Fabio Di Giannantonio finished fourth and fifth, respectively, with Gresini’s Fermin Aldeguer completing the top six.
