Francesco Bagnaia took his third successive pole position, his sixth of the season, as he booked his place on Saturday at the head of the grid for this weekend's Barcelona MotoGP. The Italian, who goes into the final weekend of the season 24 points behind championship leader Jorge Martin, did all he could to lay the pressure on the Spaniard who will start on the second row in fourth. Bagnaia needs to win the sprint later on Saturday to have any realistic hopes in Sunday's grand prix of overhaul
Championship leader Jorge Martin suggested on Thursday that his nearest rival and close friend Francesco Bagnaia should give him some advice on how to close out his first title at this weekend's Grand Prix of Barcelona. After two successive world titles, Bagnaia has had another superb season, racking up 10 grand prix wins in 19 races, seven more than Martin.
For the second season running, MotoGP is serving up a nail-biting finale as Jorge Martin and Francesco Bagnaia head into the last race of the season this weekend battling it out for the world championship title. The Italian slid off leaving the "Kentucky Kid" a free run to the podium and his only world title.
The two-times defending champion cut the gap to his rival to 10 points after adding Sunday’s grand prix to sprint race glory on Saturday