Francesco Bagnaia is on a roll within the 2024 MotoGP season. Regardless of making some errors within the dash races this yr, the two-time champion has been a category aside on Sundays, the place many of the factors are awarded.
His victory in Sunday’s Austrian Grand Prix was his seventh of 2024, placing him effectively away from title rival Jorge Martin’s tally of two from the opening 11 rounds. It additionally means the Italian is again within the lead of the riders’ championship, 5 factors away from Martin.
Each Bagnaia and Ducati have equalled or surpassed a number of data at Spielberg, a observe that has all the time suited the Desmosedici.
Firstly, Bagnaia has already achieved as many wins as he did through the entirety of his title-winning campaigns in 2022 and ’23. With 9 extra rounds nonetheless to go, together with a double-header in Misano, it’s totally seemingly that he’ll be capable of notch up a couple of extra wins earlier than the top of the yr.
That is not all. Bagnaia has now claimed 25 wins within the premier class, placing him stage with Suzuki legend Kevin Schwantz within the checklist of riders with probably the most victories.
He’s now among the many 10 most profitable riders within the historical past of the collection by way of race wins, leaping Wayne Rainey (who has 24 wins) however behind Dani Pedrosa and Eddie Lawson, who’re subsequent up on 31 wins every.
Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Staff
Picture by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Photos
The Purple Bull Ring is now the fourth observe the place Bagnaia has achieved three or extra grands prix wins, together with Jerez, Mugello and Assen. In truth, he has been unbeaten at these 4 circuits prior to now three years.
Sunday’s success was additionally vital for Ducati. It was the Borgo Panigale model’s ninth victory in Austria, making the Purple Bull Ring its most profitable observe forward of Qatar, the place it has eight race wins.
Aside from that, Martin and Enea Bastianini completed second and third behind Bagnaia on their GP24s. Having already set a document of seven consecutive podium lockouts two weeks in the past at Silverstone, Ducati has now raised the quantity to eight. The Americas GP, received by Aprilia’s Maverick Vinales, stays the final race the place a non-Ducati rider completed on the podium.
Ducati now additionally has 17 triple podium finishes within the premier class, equalling Honda’s all-time document within the high class. It nonetheless has 9 alternatives left this yr to take over the only honour from the fallen Japanese big.
Whereas rival producers are working laborious for the time being to shut the hole, it is clear for a while now that Ducati is solely unbeatable for the time being in MotoGP.
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