Subscribe to our Telegram channel for instant updates!
In a thrilling season finale at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Cheste, history repeated itself. Francesco Bagnaia secured the 2023 MotoGP World Championship with a spectacular win in the Valencia Grand Prix. The Ducati Lenovo Team rider, who made history last year as the first Italian to win in MotoGP with an Italian motorcycle, added another significant chapter to his legacy. Bagnaia captured his second world title in the premier class aboard the Desmosedici GP.
In the 2023 season, Bagnaia’s emotional journey included seven victories in 20 Grand Prix races and four triumphs in the newly introduced Saturday Sprint races. From his first win at Portimão to memorable successes in Jerez, at Mugello in front of his home crowd, and impressive wins in the Netherlands and Austria, Bagnaia’s dominance seemed unstoppable until a dramatic accident at Barcelona briefly halted his ascent.
The championship battle intensified as Bagnaia’s teammate, Jorge Martín, hit his stride with the Pramac Racing team and their Desmosedici GP. The Ducati duo engaged in a head-to-head contest for the title. Martín was aiming to disrupt Bagnaia’s quest for a second consecutive championship. Bagnaia, however, responded resoundingly with a spectacular victory in Indonesia. He stormed back from thirteenth on the grid and reaffirmed his determination to reclaim the top spot in the World Championship standings.
The tension escalated when Martín attempted a late-braking move to take the lead at Turn 1 of lap 2, resulting in contact that sent the Spaniard wide. Martín’s crash on lap 6 ultimately ended the head-to-head battle for the championship.
Bagnaia’s path to victory was solidified on lap 19 when Miller crashed at Turn 11. This enabled him to seize the lead and clinch his second MotoGP World Championship title in style.
Unfortunately, Enea Bastianini, Bagnaia’s teammate, experienced a challenging race at Valencia, tempering the celebration. Starting 14th on the grid, Bastianini’s race lasted only 9 laps before he crashed out at Turn 1.
In the aftermath of the Valencia Grand Prix, Francesco Bagnaia stands tall as the 2023 MotoGP World Champion. His victory etched his name once again in the annals of motorcycle racing history.
“I’m super happy, more than this is impossible, also because we won the race so it’s fantastic. I want to say a big thanks to all the team. They did an amazing job, from Barcelona. It was quite tough for us, but we deserved this title more than anyone. I didn’t see anything behind me. Jorge was still in the race, and I was quite scared about that. I just was thinking of winning the race because it was the best way to finish the season,” says Bagnaia.
His remarkable season, marked by resilience, skill, and determination, reaffirms Bagnaia’s dominance in the premier class of motorcycle racing. As the Ducati Lenovo Team celebrates, fans worldwide eagerly await the future of this dynamic MotoGP duo.