Written by Owen Bradley
Sprint Race
Aleix Espargaro Won the MotoGP Sprint at Catalunya, just days after announcing his retirement from MotoGP.
A thrilling sprint race which saw multiple riders crash out from the lead of the race - the MotoGP Sprint at Catalunya did not disappoint fans, especially the Spanish fans who saw a fully Spanish podium.
Espargaro would initially lose the lead of the race to Francesco Bagnaia, who got the holeshot and took the early lead of the race, with GasGas KTM's Pedro Acosta riding just behind the reigning champion. Acosta would eventually make a move for the lead of the race on Bagnaia, with Raul Fernandez closely following behind and overtaking Bagnaia at Turn 3.
Brad Binder would follow Fernandez through for the podium positions, with Fernandez eventually overtaking Acosta for the lead of the race. Just a couple of laps later, Fernandez' Trackhouse Aprilia would give way from underneath him at Turn 9's difficult left-hand hairpin.
With Binder making his way through on Acosta, it looked like a great points haul for KTM. But several laps later, Binder would also crash out from the lead at Turn 5's tight left-hander. Bagnaia re-took the lead of the race, as Acosta fell further down the field.
Elsewhere, Johann Zarco and Alex Marquez would make contact in the final sector, sending Zarco to the canvas and rolling into the gravel. Marc Marquez would make extremely impressive inroads, starting from 14th on the grid and climbing to inside the Top 5 at his home circuit.
Marc Marquez would challenge Acosta for the final spot on the podium, on the final lap overtaking his fellow spaniard at Turn 1. However, Bagnaia would dramatically crash from the lead of the race on the final lap at Turn 5, in the same way that Binder had done a few laps before. Aleix Espargaro would seize the lead of the race, bringing his Aprilia home to take a historic sprint victory at home.
Marquez would claim an incredible second place finish after starting from 14th, with Acosta just behind him. Marquez lost a winglet early on into the race after contact with Jack Miller, making the result even more impressive.
Jorge Martin finished in fourth, extending his lead in the championship marginally. Enea Bastianini and Fabio DI Giannantonio finished in fifth and sixth, holding a quieter race.
MotoGP Catalunya Sprint Race - Results
1st Aleix Espargaro, Aprilia
2nd Marc Marquez, Gresini Ducati
3rd Pedro Acosta, GasGas KTM
4th Jorge Martin, Pramac Ducati
5th Enea Bastianini, Ducati
6th Fabio Di Giannantonio, VR46 Ducati
7th Jack Miller, Red Bull KTM
8th Maverick Vinales, Aprilia
9th Marco Bezzecchi, VR46 Ducati
10th Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha
11th Franco Morbidelli, Pramac Ducati
12th Alex Rins, Yamaha
13th Takaaki Nakagami, LCR Honda
14th Alex Marquez, Gresini Ducati
15th Joan Mir, Repsol Honda
16th Luca Marini, Repsol Honda
17th Augusto Fernandez, GasGas KTM
18th Stefan Bradl, HRC Test Team
DNF Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati
DNF Brad Binder, Red Bull KTM
DNF Raul Fernandez, Trackhouse Aprilia
DNF Miguel Oliveira, Trackhouse Aprilia
DNF Johann Zarco, LCR Honda
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