Pecco Bagnaia wins the Sprint ahead of Jorge Martin as Marc Marquez crashes out

Championship leader Jorge Martin broke the lap record by just under eight tenths of a second to take pole position ahead of Francesco Bagnaia in second with Marc Marquez starting on the front row for the first time since Mugello. Track temperatures were very hot and tyre choice was very important.

The lights went out and it was Pecco Bagnaia who took the holeshot into turn one ahead of Martin and Marquez, Alex Marquez went down at turn two-a. Martin attacked Bagnaia into turn three and took the lead. Pecco went up the inside at turn nine but Martin got the cutback and retook the lead.

On lap two Bagnaia got a fantastic drive out of turn one and was on the outside of Martin, the Prima Pramac Ducati rider out-braked himself into turn two-a and had to take the short cut and Bagnaia inherited the lead, Martin rejoined in second ahead of Marquez.

Aleix Espargaro was in fourth place and was 0.8 seconds behind Marquez and trying to hold onto the tow. Jack Miller was having his best weekend of the season in fifth place with Franky Morbidelli in sixth.

On lap six Martin was given a long lap penalty for his shortcut at turn two and not losing one second. Martin took his penalty on lap eight and slotted into third place ahead of Aleix Espargaro.

Enea Bastianini was recovering from a poor start and made an aggressive pass on Morbidelli into turn one and forced the Pramac Racing Ducati rider off track.

Marc Marquez lost the front at turn three on lap ten! He had closed the gap to 1.4 seconds on Bagnaia. The Italian had a 4.4 second lead of Martin.

Bastianini passed Miller at turn nine move into fourth place, the Australian had Morbidelli and team-mate Brad Binder for company.

Bagnaia crossed the line to win his third sprint race of the season by over four seconds ahead of Martin, Aleix Espargaro finished in third place. Bastianini finished in fourth with Miller holding off Morbidelli and Binder for fifth. Marco Bezzecchi finished in eighth and Red Bull KTM test rider and wildcard Pol Espargaro took the final points paying position in ninth.

Bagnaia and Martin are level on 250 points at the top of the championship with Bagnaia leading on countback.

Featured Image: Joel Cooper Photography