Jorge Martin wins the Tissot Sprint at Valencia and applies pressure to Pecco Bagnaia in fifth

Maverick Vinales started from pole position to be the eighth pole sitter of the season. Francesco Bagnaia had to go through Q1, but used the extra 15 minutes well and qualified in second place. Prima Pramac Racing Ducati’s Johann Zarco was third. The Red Bull KTM Factory Racing bikes of Jack Miller and Brad Binder headed the second row with Jorge Martin in sixth and would have to beat Pecco Bagnaia to stand a better chance of winning the title on Sunday.

The lights went out and it was Bagnaia who took the holeshot into turn one ahead of Vinales and Martin, Vinales passed Pecco into turn two.

Martin attacked Pecco into turn 11, Martin ran wide and Binder took the pair of them with Marc Marquez passing Pecco and Martin into turn 12 with Martin also getting the better of Pecco.

Fabio Quartararo had a great start and was sixth place right behind Pecco who had been dropped by the front four.

Marco Bezzecchi passed Quartararo into turn one on lap four and the Italian made the move stick, Quartararo fought back at turn four and just held off the VR46 Mooney Ducati to stay in sixth place.

On lap five Quartararo tried to pass Pecco into turn six but ran wide and lost the front and was out of the race.

Binder made his first move on Vinales into turn four on lap six, but the South African ran wide and the Aprilia rider took the lead back. Martin was forced to take avoiding action from the battle.

On the following lap Binder tried again and this time made the move stick, Marquez then looked up the inside of Martin into turn six but Martin just held off the attack from the Repsol Honda rider.

On lap eight Martin was able to get a good run on Vinales and out-braked the Aprilia rider and moved into second, Marquez then followed suit into turn six. Binder ran wide at turn 11 and Martin took the lead for the first time.

Martin crossed the line to win his ninth Tissot Sprint of the season just holding off Binder in second with Marc Marquez finishing in third on his final weekend with Repsol Honda. Vinales finished in fourth with Pecco Bagnaia holding off Fabio Di Giannantonio for fifth place.

Heading into the final race of the season, Pecco Bagnaia leads the championship by 14 points over Jorge Martin. If Pecco finishes in the top five he will be champion. If Martin wins and Pecco is outside the top five, The Martinator would be champion.

Featured Image: Pramac Racing