Aleix Espargarao wins the Tissot Sprint in Barcelona with multiple leaders crashes out.

After announcing his retirement on Thursday, Aleix Espargaro started the Tissot Sprint in Barcelona on pole position ahead of Francesco Bagnaia and Trackhouse Aprilia’s Raul Fernandez. Jorge Martin started from seventh after crashing in his second run in Q2 with Marc Marquez starting in 14th after failing to get through Q1.

The lights went out and it was Pecco Bagnaia who lead into turn one ahead of birthday boy Pedro Acosta and Fernandez.

On lap two into turn one Acosta out-braked Pecco and took the lead of the sprint, Bagnaia retaliated into turn five with some caution after the amount of crashes that had taken place throughout the weekend and the Italian was back in-front.

Acosta then passed Bagnaia again into turn one and made it stick, Fernandez saw his opportunity at took second from Bagnaia at turn three then Brad Binder attacked into turn four. Fernandez then sat-up Acosta into turn five to take the lead with Binder able to move into second. Acosta then moved back into second at turn one on the following lap.

Raul Fernandez was pulling away setting the fastest lap of the race on lap four, but the Spaniard was pushing too hard and lost the front at turn ten. Acosta inherited the lead but only for four corners as Binder overtook the 20-year-old into turn one.

Binder lost the front at turn five on lap seven and all of a sudden Pecco was leading the way after dicing with Acosta throughout the first sector.

Espargaro managed to slipstream and pass Acosta into turn one with Marc Marquez in fourth ahead of Martin right behind the Tech3 GasGas rider.

On the last lap Marquez overtook Acosta at turn one and made it stick. Pecco Bagnaia lost the front at turn five! A big mistake from the reigning world champion.

Aleix Espargaro took the victory in the Tissot Sprint ahead of Marc Marquez and Pedro Acosta. Jorge Martin finished in fourth with Enea Bastianini in fifth, Fabio Di Giannantonio in sixth, Jack Miller in seventh, Maverick Vinales in eighth and Marco Bezzecchi taking the final point finish in ninth.

Jorge Martin leads the championship by 37 points over Marc Marquez with Bastianini 41 points behind and 44 points behind.

Featured Image: Joel Cooper Photography