GRAND PRIX OF THAILAND RACE RESULTS:
1 Miguel OLIVEIRA Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 41’44.503 163.6
2 Jack MILLER Ducati Lenovo Team 41’45.233 0.730
3 Francesco BAGNAIA Ducati Lenovo Team 41’46.471 1.968
4 Johann ZARCO Prima Pramac Racing 41’46.993 2.490
5 Marc MARQUEZ Repsol Honda Team 41’47.461 2.958
6 Enea BASTIANINI Gresini Racing MotoGP 41’57.760 13.257
7 Maverick VIÑALES Aprilia Racing 41’59.069 14.566
8 Alex MARQUEZ LCR Honda CASTROL 41’59.364 14.861
9 Jorge MARTIN Prima Pramac Racing 41’59.868 15.365
10 Brad BINDER Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 42’02.600 18.097
11 Aleix ESPARGARO Aprilia Racing 42’03.544 19.041
12 Alex RINS Team SUZUKI ECSTAR 42’04.162 19.659
13 Franco MORBIDELLI Monster Energy Yamaha 42’06.942 22.439
14 Pol ESPARGARO Repsol Honda Team 42’08.149 23.646
15 Raul FERNANDEZ Tech3 KTM Factory Racing 42’14.986 30.483
16 Marco BEZZECCHI Mooney VR46 Racing Team 42’17.969 33.466
17 Fabio QUARTARARO Monster Energy Yamaha 42’18.575 34.072
18 Fabio DI GIANNANTONIO Gresini Racing MotoGP 42’20.706 36.203
19 Cal CRUTCHLOW WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP 42’21.035 36.532
20 Danilo PETRUCCI Team SUZUKI ECSTAR 42’27.011 42.508
21 Darryn BINDER WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP 42’34.495 49.992
22 Tetsuta NAGASHIMA LCR Honda IDEMITSU 42’35.849 51.346
23 Luca MARINI Mooney VR46 Racing Team 42’37.685 2 laps
Not classified:
87 Remy GARDNER Tech3 KTM Factory Racing
RIDERS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS:
1 Fabio QUARTARARO 219
2 Francesco BAGNAIA 217
3 Aleix ESPARGARO 199
4 Enea BASTIANINI 180
5 Jack MILLER 179
6 Brad BINDER 154
7 Johann ZARCO 151
8 Miguel OLIVEIRA 131
9 Jorge MARTIN 127
10 Maverick VIÑALES 122
11 Alex RINS 112
12 Luca MARINI 101
13 Marc MARQUEZ 84
14 Marco BEZZECCHI 80
15 Joan MIR 77
16 Alex MARQUEZ 50
17 Pol ESPARGARO 49
18 Takaaki NAKAGAMI 46
19 Franco MORBIDELLI 31
20 Fabio DI GIANNANTONIO 23
21 Andrea DOVIZIOSO 15
22 Darryn BINDER 10
23 Remy GARDNER 9
24 Raul FERNANDEZ 9
25 Cal CRUTCHLOW 3
26 Stefan BRADL 2
27 Michele PIRRO 0
28 Lorenzo SAVADORI 0
29 Danilo PETRUCCI 0
30 Kazuki WATANABE 0
31 Tetsuta NAGASHIMA 0
32 Takuya TSUDA 0
These just in:
MotoGP Press:
Two points in it: Buriram changes everything as Oliveira wins, Pecco takes a podium and Quartararo fails to score
The KTM rider defeats Miller to the win, with Bagnaia third, Aleix Espargaro 11th after a Long Lap penalty… and Quartararo just not taking any points
Sunday, 02 October 2022
After two mistakes in Japan looked to have changed the fabric of the title fight, an even more dramatic day at the OR Thailand Grand Prix turned everything back on its head. At the front, a stunning wet weather win from Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) saw him impress in difficult conditions once again, with Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) for close company and just seven tenths off at the flag. Behind the two came the first fully wet premier class podium for Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), and those 16 points may well be the biggest scored for some time.
Oliveira may have had flashbacks of Lombok, but Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) didn’t. That podium pace was nowhere to be found on a tough day in Thailand, with the Championship leader simply failing to score as he crossed the line in 17th place. An 18-point advantage accrued after Japan is now just two points – and Quartararo’s race was also a saving grace for Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing).
A tough qualifying made way for a tough start to the race, and then the number 41 also made contact with Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and sent the number 33 well wide. For his trouble, Espargaro was given a Long Lap, compounding a tougher Sunday afternoon as he managed to come back to 11th. Still, with Quartararo’s struggles, the number 41 is closer – it’s only 20 points covering the top three riders.
The race itself saw polesitter Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) start well from pole and then head wide with Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing), and from there on it became the Miller show for some time. Slowly but surely, however, Oliveira was making progress – and around half distance the Portuguese rider struck and made it stick.
Miller wasn’t dropped, but the Australian couldn’t quite find a way back through and was forced to settle for second as Bagnaia dug deep just behind. First holding off Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) and then a late-charging Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing), Pecco’s first fully wet podium couldn’t have come at a better time.
Zarco played it safe with the factory’s fate in mind and took less risk to take fourth, with Marquez completing the top five. Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) was next up but a little way back from the breakaway top five, with Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) taking seventh ahead of a solid Sunday for Alex Marquez (LCR Honda Castrol). Martin faded back to ninth, with Brad Binder completing the top ten after that early excursion, and finishing just ahead of Aleix Espargaro.
Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) is classified ahead of Franco Morbidelli (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) after the latter was given a +3 second penalty for track limits without the time to take the Long Lap, with Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) and Raul Fernandez (Tech3 KTM Factory Racing) completing the points. Bezzecchi faded from a fabulous start to miss out on scoring by the end of play, coming home just ahead of Quartararo.
And so a dramatic, pivotal and adjective-heavy day at Buriram comes to a close, and with it the triple-header. With only three races to go there are two riders in two points, three riders within 20 and five within 40 points… the last of those being Miller as the man in form heads back onto home turf. What will Phillip Island bring? We’ll find out in just under two weeks as the paddock heads Down Under!
KTM
KTM victorious in MotoGP™ again as Oliveira wins second Grand Prix of the season
MotoGP 2022 – Round 17 of 20, Chang International Circuit – Race
A hot, wet and demanding OR Thailand Grand Prix was the scene for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Miguel Oliveira to take his KTM RC16 to the top step of the podium for the second time in 2022 and for the fifth time in his career in the premier class.
Oliveira bursts forth from 10th to lead 12 laps and win at a rain-hit Chang International Circuit
The Portuguese earns his fifth MotoGP victory since 2020 – all with the KTM RC16 – and KTM’s seventh in six years.
The feat is Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s second success after claiming the Indonesian Grand Prix earlier this year and they are now 3rd in the Team’s championship
Brad Binder rides to 10th place after blameless early race contact causes the South African to lose positions
Raul Fernandez is the highest classified for Tech3 KTM Factory Racing in 15th as Remy Gardner falls
After three weekends of competition in a row MotoGP takes a brief respite before the Australian and Malaysian double-header
MotoGP worked its way through 26 wet laps at the Chang International Circuit for the first Thai Grand Prix since 2019. As well as the physical and mental challenge, riders had to search for optimum grip after torrential showers had dowsed the track and even caused the Moto2 race to be shortened and then curtailed.
Oliveira, already a winner in wet conditions this year, was able to shine. His superior feel and speed through the final sector of the Chang layout enabled him to overtake Jack Miller and lead from the fourteenth circulation all the way to the flag.
Brad Binder, making his first MotoGP appearance on the KTM RC16 in Thailand, launched from the fourth row of the grid and from a slot next to his teammate. He was hit inside the first two laps by Aleix Espargaro and forced off the track. From that point he fought his way back to 10th.
Raul Fernandez took his Tech3 KTM Factory Racing machine to 15th and the final points-scoring berth. The Spaniard had started to feel poorly on Thursday night in Buriram but produced an admirable performance to last the distance in Thailand. Remy Gardner crashed out through the first sector at mid-race distance.
Binder, 6th, is 25 points behind Jack Miller for 5th in the world championship. Oliveira is 8th while Red Bull KTM Factory Racing is now the 3rd best team in the series and KTM are 4th in the Constructor’s standings.
MotoGP gathers again at the scenic and flowing Phillip Island circuit for a long overdue visit to the popular venue. The Animoca Brands Australian Grand Prix will take place on October 15-16.
Miguel Oliveira: “For sure that was a long race! But I cannot complain, every time we get a chance to go for it in the wet then I am super-fast. When I saw the weather I was having flashbacks to Indonesia and was trying to keep my feet on the ground. I wanted to make a good start and keep the mistakes to a minimum. I’m really satisfied with this end of season win. Yeah, it’s in the wet but I’ll take a win in any condition!”
Brad Binder: “I was really looking forward to the wet race today. I didn’t get a great start but passed a few riders and then on lap two someone hit me on the inside and I went off the track. When I rejoined deep in the pack I couldn’t see anything! When I went down the straight it was like someone had a blanket over my eyes because of the spray. Luckily, I pulled back a few positions and managed 10th place. It’s frustrating because I know I could have done a much better job today. Next stop Phillip Island.”
Raul Fernandez: “I had wished for the rain to come because I was not at my maximum physically, so I was pretty happy. I felt good at the beginning of the race but then our pace started to drop and I started losing confidence lap after lap. For this I am frustrated because I think that I could have finished in the Top 10. The track was getting worse so I had to analyze and decide how to at least finish in the points. Anyway, it was good having some battles with Brad Binder, Aprilia riders and we grabbed one point, which is very positive.”
Remy Gardner: “I enjoyed the first few laps of the race although it was difficult to have visibility on the straights with all the water. I felt really good at the start and was registering good lap times. Unfortunately, I ended up crashing, which is a shame because I think that we could have finished in the top 10. Next, Australia, so I am looking forward to racing there, and hopefully we can have a good result at home.”
Francesco Guidotti, Red Bull KTM Team Manager: “Miguel did an incredible job. He was 10th on the first lap but the visibility was low but he recovered and was very clever and fast with his moves. He was on a mission and we know how good he is in these conditions. Once he was in the lead he could make his pace: fast and safe. Let’s not forget that Miguel was also fast in the dry and so was Brad. He was unlucky that Aleix put him out of the track because it was difficult to recover from there. We also improved our position in the teams and recovered some ground in the Constructors standings. Three rounds to go!”
Results MotoGP OR Thailand Grand Prix
1. Miguel Oliveira (POR), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 41:44.503
2. Jack Miller (AUS), Ducati +0.730
3. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA) Ducati +1.968
4. Johann Zarco (FRA) Ducati +2.490
5. Marc Marquez (ESP), Honda +2.958
10. Brad Binder (RSA), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing +18.097
15. Raul Fernandez (ESP), Tech3 KTM Factory Racing +30.483
DNF. Remy Gardner (AUS), Tech3 KTM Factory Racing
Repsol Honda
Constructive fifth for Marquez as Espargaro takes points in soaking Buriram
A dramatic day at the Thai GP yielded more points for the Repsol Honda Team as Marc Marquez and Pol Espargaro dodged puddles and chased improvements.
What had looked set to be a straightforward race day in Thailand was interrupted by a torrential downpour during the Moto2 race, leaving the Chang International Circuit soaking wet. Subsequent on and off showers saw the premier class race delayed by almost a full hour as race organizers waited for a clear window of weather.
All eyes were on Marc Marquez when the racing did get underway as he shot off the line, disappearing behind a wall of spray as the field charged into Turn 1. Emerging from the wall of water, Marquez found himself firmly inside the top five and settled in for the long 25-lap race. Steady at the start, the eight-time World Champion picked up the pace as the race went on as he used his incredible riding ability and mixed-weather skills to guide his Honda RC213V around the Thai circuit. In the closing laps, Marquez smelled a potential podium and launched his attack on Francesco Bagnaia but was unable to make a move stick.
Ultimately settling for a fighting fifth place, Marquez moves up two positions in the overall MotoGP World Championship to 13th.
On the other side of the Repsol Honda Team garage, Pol Espargaro put together a strong recovery ride from 19th on the grid. Cautious in the early laps as his tyres got up to temperature, Espargaro found his speed towards the end of the race and steadily picked off the competition as the laps went on. Crossing the line in 14th, the #44 adds a further two points to his haul but remains disappointed with his overall Thai GP.
The MotoGP World Championship now enjoy a one-week break before the Australian Grand Prix and the final three races of the year begin.
Marc Marquez
Fifth
“I am happy with the race overall; I was again able to do a solid race – avoiding mistakes and staying calm at the start. Wet races are always very long so you need to be careful. Then I was feeling better, and I gained time on the group ahead, but it was impossible to overtake Bagnaia. The acceleration of the Ducati is very strong. We keep on working and trying to improve everything, it has been a good weekend where we were competitive in the wet and the dry. Now we have a week off to recover a bit and keep on training to be strong for the final three races of the year.”
Marc Marquez
Pol Espargaro
14th
“It was a long and tricky race in the wet. It’s clear the Honda has more potential in it because you can see what Marc is doing. He’s maybe riding in a different way but I am still struggling a lot with edge grip. We were able to make up some places in the wet and score some more points, but this is not what I am aiming for and we need to improve for the final races.”
LCR Honda
IMPRESSIVE TOP-10 FOR ÁLEX MÁRQUEZ
AT WET THAI GP
2 October 2022 | ThaiGP Race
LCR Honda CASTROL rider Álex Márquez produced a superb ride in wet conditions to take 8th position at Sunday’s Grand Prix of Thailand. The race was delayed by an hour due to a deluge of rain at Buriram and, when the action finally got underway, it was on a sodden track at the Chang International Circuit.
Álex made the most of his prowess in wet conditions to storm through the field in the opening stages, moving up into tenth by the end of the first lap. On lap six he had climbed into 5th and was chasing down brother Marc Márquez, but as the track dried out, he struggled to maintain his early rhythm and eventually settled for eighth after 25 tough laps.
Álex Márquez – 8th
“We were really lucky because it started to rain during the Moto2 race. We knew at that moment we had an opportunity to do a good job and we did that. In the first few laps I was feeling really good, unfortunately the rain didn’t continue, because on a wet track we were really, really fast and I felt comfortable. As the track started to dry out, I suffered a lot and the race was a little bit too long. I’m happy for the team for this result, and we’ll keep going. We have three (races) to go and need to keep believing we can make a good result. Big thank you to all of them.”
Yamaha
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP‘s Franco Morbidelli enjoyed battling for a spot inside the top 10 at the very wet Chang International Circuit. Following a three-second penalty after the chequered flag, he holds 13th place in the Thailand Grand Prix race results. A nightmarish first lap evaporated Fabio Quartararo‘s hopes for a strong result in Buriram. He ended the race in 17th place.
Morbidelli had a solid opening lap. There was little to no visibility due to the spray, but he defended his P14 starting place well and held his position crossing the finish line for the first time. The Italian found a good balance between pushing hard and not going over the limit. While other riders got caught out by the tricky conditions and bumped into each other in the busy pack, he made strides, moving up to 12th in lap 5.
The Yamaha man kept riding a feisty race, climbing up as far as ninth place by lap 12. He was aiming to reel in Enea Bastianini ahead of him but had to switch from offense to defense in the final five laps because of a charging rider. Morbido lost a few positions due to tyre degradation and the track conditions getting more mixed as a drying line started to form. He took the chequered flag in 12th place but was handed a three-second penalty after the race, that saw him drop to 13th, 22.439s from first.
Quartararo had to endure a long wait before the start of the 25-lap race because of the extremely wet track conditions, and another delay was added due to a medical emergency on the starting grid happening closely beside the Yamaha man. Once the race got under way, he had a solid start from P4, but was pushed wide by Jack Miller in Turn 1. He tried to regain his composure, but a wobble in Turn 4 cost him additional places. He completed the first lap in 17th position.
The Frenchman kept his head down but didn’t find a good feeling. Though he managed to get in a few overtaking manoeuvres, he wasn’t able to climbed higher than 17th place in the end, crossing the finish line 34.072s from first.
After today‘s race, Quartararo‘s lead in the championship standings is now 2 points, with a 219 points total, while Morbidelli remains in 19th, this time with 31 points. After Round 17, Yamaha are third with 224 points in the Constructor championship, and Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP place fifth in the Team championship with 250 points.
The team will enjoy one week off before travelling to Australia for Round 18, held at the Phillip Island Circuit from 14-16 October.
MASSIMO MEREGALLI
TEAM DIRECTOR
When we arrived here, we expected all sessions to be wet, but unfortunately it started raining at the wrong moment. The race became a complete gamble, because the riders didn‘t have any wet track time beforehand to prepare themselves and their bikes. It ended up badly for us, especially for Fabio. Franco rode a decent race in tricky conditions until the front tyre dropped in the final stages. Having exceeded track limits on five occasions, he also received a three-second penalty that puts him in 13th place. Even the track was against us today. It became dryer lap by lap, making the mixed conditions more difficult for us. We need to understand why in Indonesia we fight for the win in rainy conditions and here it‘s the total opposite. We are leaving Thailand feeling disappointed.
FRANCO MORBIDELLI
“The first ten laps of the race were probably the scariest experience of my life. The visibility was none. But thankfully everybody was wise enough to not do any crazy moves or try crazy stuff in the areas where visibility was zero. The first ten laps went through with nothing much going on. That was really surprising, but also a relief. After that, the real race started. I could extract some pace from my package, and I was quite fast actually. But when I reached other bikes, I couldn’t overtake or do much more, so I needed to step back and bring the bike home.
FABIO QUARTARARO
“Rain fell at the worst possible time for us. We had not much wet track time before the race started – just a few minutes. The first laps of the race were really tricky. I was pushed wide by Jack in Turn 1 and it only got worse from there. I was trying to find a good feeling, but in Turn 4 I had a moment, and the visibility was really bad. I’m sorry for the Thai fans. I had hoped to do a better race in front of them. We have an idea why we struggled that much, but we will investigate more to improve for the future. We’ll try to come back stronger in Australia.
Tech 3
A Weekend to Forget for Red Bull KTM Tech3 in Thailand
Set to start the OR Grand Prix of Thailand from seventeenth and nineteenth, Deniz Oncu and Adrian Fernandez were both looking forward to grabbing a good result before the first week off after three weeks in a row away.
Still disturbed by his little fingers injured just a week ago in Japan, Deniz Oncu continued to struggle today on his bike, starting with the warm up at the end of which he finished twenty-seventh. When the Moto3 race’s lights went out, the Turkish rider took a rather good start from his P17 and powered himself to the top 10 with some wild overtakes. Unfortunately, he was given two long lap penalties due to exceeding track limit, which stopped his efforts as he lost the positions gained. As he pushed until the final lap to make it back for the lost time, he passed the checkered flag in P16, but was demoted to P17 for exceeding track limits again. This is the first time of the season that the Turkish rider heads home without any points.
Teammate Adrian Fernandez did not have the Sunday hoped for neither. After finishing the warm up in nineteenth, he was hoping that the race would be another story. When the race started, the Spaniard tried to make a place for himself within the usual Moto3 traffic, but a late braking caused him to crash, bringing another rider down too. Adrian Fernandez has received a double long lap penalty for the next round in Phillip Island. It is now time to head home after three races in a row, get some rest and reset, and we will be back in two weeks time with the determination to be back in the points in Australia.
Deniz Oncu – 2022
Deniz Oncu
Position: 17th
Championship: 6th
Points: 154
“It is the first time this season that I could not be in the points. Unfortunately, I have been struggling a lot this week with my finger injured last week in Japan. Today, I tried my best. I was doing well at the start, overtaking, but then the long lap penalties cut my efforts and I lost the group. This is the end of three races in a row, so I am looking forward to going home and rest, and we’ll be back in Phillip Island in two weeks, very motivated.”
Adrian Fernandez
Position: DNF
Championship: 20th
Points: 40
“It was not an easy race. The start of the race was typical Moto3 chaos. I started well but in the first lap I had to brake later than the other rider which caused a crash with Sergio Garcia. I have already apologised to him, but I would like to say again that I am sorry for today. We will now get some rest and come back stronger in Australia.”
Adrian Fernandez – Buriram 2022
Adrian Fernandez – Buriram 2022
Hervé Poncharal
Team Manager
“Today’s results are a great shame for the Red Bull KTM Tech3 team. We were looking forward to coming to Thailand, especially with Deniz Oncu having won twice here in the Asia Talent Cup. When you see today’s outcome, this is not at all what we aimed for.
It feels like we did everything that we should not be doing. Getting three long lap penalties in one race is way too much for me. Racing is our passion, our life and we all put 100% of our hearts into it, and to end up on a weekend like this is very frustrating, for myself, and for the team who works so hard. We have to digest it, and luckily we now have a week off to reset and come back to Australia fully motivated.
Sometimes, when they are riding, riders should think more about how big is the effort coming from KTM, Red Bull, Tech3 and all the people involved everyday to make sure they are able to race on Sundays. I am hoping that this will be a lesson to all, and we will be able to start at Phillip Island in a good shape, straight from the FP1.”
Suzuki
ALEX AND DANILO GET THROUGH THE DELUGE IN TRICKY THAILAND
Team Suzuki Press Office – October 2.
Alex Rins: 12th (+ 19.659)
Danilo Petrucci: 20th (+ 42.508)
MotoGP’s return to Buriram was a brutal one, with the passionate fans packing the grandstands but extreme weather blighting the big race. A huge thunder storm swept through the circuit ahead of the start, delaying the off by almost an hour.
Visibility and spray were a big issue as the 25-lap race finally got underway, making it particularly tough for those further back on the grid, like Suzuki’s Alex Rins and Danilo Petrucci who started from 10th and 24th respectively. Rins ran wide a few times on the early laps as he tried to get to grips with conditions, but by the fifth lap he had climbed up into the points with 15th place. He spent the remainder of the race keeping close to the battle in front of him, carefully holding position and staying mindful of the track limits warning he’d picked up. He crossed the finish line in 13th, fractions of a second behind Franco Morbidelli, but the Italian later picked up a penalty which promoted Rins to 12th.
Petrucci’s favoured conditions are ‘the wetter the better’, but he faced a big struggle from the back of the grid. However, the stand-in rider managed to finish the race in 20th place, and he certainly enjoyed the experience.
Alex Rins:
“The race was a bit tricky and hard to manage. There was a lot of standing water on the track, and when you’re in a group with many riders it was so difficult to see with the spray, so I just tried to stay clean and stay safe. It’s not a great result, but my feeling on the bike was actually not bad, especially given we haven’t had much wet track time this year. I’m looking forward to going to Australia next, Philip Island is a cool track to ride and I hope for a better result there.”
Danilo Petrucci:
“First off, I would like to thank the entire team for their help and the big effort they put in. It’s been a huge source of pride for me to ride this bike in this team, they are a really amazing group and they gave everything to find the best setup for me. I struggled today because I didn’t have any wet track time and I found it hard to suddenly ride in the wet, but I relaxed into the race and tried to get into the points. It wasn’t possible and I finished 20th, but I’m still really happy to have been here and able to race with Suzuki.”
Livio Suppo – Team Manager:
“It’s really hard when you’ve only had dry track time and then suddenly you’re faced with a very wet track like we had. Nobody had done laps in the wet, so it’s a case of trying to find the best setup on the spot and taking a gamble. Alex managed the race well considering everything, and he persevered to score some points in 12th position. Danilo did a good job, and his pace was decent considering he’s never ridden our bike in the wet. It’s been a pleasure to have him with us, and we wish him all the best for the future. Now we have a short break to recharge our batteries, and we hope to return with Joan in Australia.”
Ken Kawauchi – Technical Manager:
“We were prepared for a dry race, but the heavy rain changed everything drastically. The wet conditions weren’t easy and we had a hard race. Alex tried to make a good start, but he lost a few positions, after that his pace wasn’t bad but he struggled to make up positions. However, he still got 12th. Danilo found it very hard to ride the bike in the rain for the first time, but he did a very great and professional job and we enjoyed working with him. Now we have three races left to recover some good results.”
Ducati
Double podium for the Ducati Lenovo Team in the Thai GP, with Jack Miller second and Pecco Bagnaia third in Buriram. The Italian rider is now -2 points off leader Quartararo
The Grand Prix of Thailand, held this weekend at the Chang International Circuit in Buriram, ended with a double podium for the Ducati Lenovo Team. In fact, Jack Miller and Pecco Bagnaia finished second and third, respectively, in the race held this afternoon in the wet, which started with an hour delay after continuous postponements due to heavy downpours.
When the lights went out, both Ducati Lenovo Team riders made a good start. Jack Miller, who departed from seventh on the grid, made up ground immediately in the frantic early stages of the race, taking the first position after only three laps. Towards the second part of the race, however, the Australian rider was overtaken by Miguel Oliveira, who eventually took victory in the Thai GP. After today’s Grand Prix, Jack remains fifth in the overall standings but reduces the distance to Championship leader Fabio Quartararo to 40 points, keeping himself mathematically in the fight for the World Title.
On the other hand, Pecco Bagnaia closed the gap to the French rider to just two points thanks to his third-place finish today. Already third after six laps, the Italian rider had to contend with a fierce Marc Marquez until five laps to go, when Johann Zarco, Ducati rider of the Pramac Racing team, moved up behind him, relegating the Spanish rider to fifth.
Jack Miller (#43 Ducati Lenovo Team) – 2nd
“With these conditions, the race felt really long, and in addition to managing my pace, I also had to be very careful not to make any mistakes. When Oliveira passed me, I kept pushing hard to catch and pass him. I wanted to try on the last lap, but I made a small mistake with four corners to go, and he was really strong in the last sector. Anyway, I am happy to be on the podium again: the bike is working better and better, and the team is doing an incredible job. In addition, Pecco is now only 2 points behind the leader in the standings, and the fight for the title is getting more and more open. It was a really good day for the whole team, and I would be thrilled if we could bring the title back to Bologna. Now I can’t wait to finally return home to race in front of my family in Phillip Island.”
Francesco Bagnaia (#63 Ducati Lenovo Team) – 3rd
“I am thrilled with this third place. It was a long and very intense race. I knew my potential in the wet was this and not the one shown in Japan. From the beginning, I tried to push, trying to lose as little ground as possible, but it was not easy. By the end, the front tyre was gone, and the riders behind were getting closer and closer, but in the end, we made it. We are two points behind Quartararo in the Championship, so the next three races will be really decisive.”
The Ducati Lenovo Team riders will now have a week off before returning to the track from 14th-16th October at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit near Melbourne for the Australian GP, Jack Miller’s home race.
Gresini
ENEA CLOSING IN ON THIRD OVERALL AFTER SIXTH PLACE IN RAINY BURIRAM
#ThaiGP race. With three races left to be contested, today’s sixth place by Enea Bastianini leaves many scenarios open for the championship standings. The rider #23 is defending fourth place from Miller (who trails him by only one point), but looks ahead to Aleix Espargaró’s third place, which is now 19 points away.
The Thai race was a very complicated one, with Oliveira the surprising winner (probably not even that much) and Quartararo incredibly empty handed. This 17th round was scary at times in some laps – as Enea himself claimed – due to pouring rain at times even ‘terrifying’.
The encounter was a very challenging one for Fabio Di Giannantonio, who was hoping for rain to put together a comeback, but ultimately was unable to capitalise due to the poor feeling with his Ducati machine, especially on corner exit.
Now a deserved week of break before the final stretch with Phillip Island being the first venue that the series will visit.
6th – ENEA BASTIANINI (4th in the championship standings with 180 points)
“I’m quite happy. Too bad for the start as my mapping was inadequate and I couldn’t push as hard as I could have during the first lap. I was able to change it and stayed with the same settings for the whole race. The first ten laps were quite difficult, and I can’t deny I was scared… you couldn’t see a thing. Then the rain lowered its intensity and I think sixth today was our real goal. We got it and it’s good. Now we need to keep believing in the last three races, the classification is very tight at the top with many potential winners.”
18th – FABIO DI GIANNANTONIO (20 th in the championship standings with 23 points)
“So far we always had a good feeling in wet conditions, but that wasn’t the case today. I was losing a lot of ground on corner exit and despite being very strong under braking, I was then unable to make ground when accelerating. I lost many places in the first three laps. Too bad, because it was another race in which we could have done well, but we weren’t in the right place set-up wise.”
