Francesco Bagnaia is MotoGP World Champion
Francesco “Pecco” Bagnaia has been crowned 2022 MotoGP World Champion – the first Italian to do so since Valentino Rossi.
Ducati Corse and Bagnaia finished the perfect season in Valencia.
The manufacturer not only has their first title since 2007 but has won everything this year: the Constructors’ Championship, Rookie of the Year, satellite championship and now the World Championship.
For Italians Ducati, winning with an Italian atop their bike will be a source of extra pride. It is exactly 50 years since this feat was last achieved: Giacomo Agostini winning on an Augusta in 1972.
Last year’s winner, Yamaha’s rider Fabio Quartararo, had limited chances of renewing his world title. Quartararo had to finish first and hope that Bagnaia came 15th or worse.
The Frenchman dropped several positions at the start of the race but he dug in, and the fight between both contenders was intense during the first few laps – Quartararo was ahead of Bagnaia most of the way.
There was an early in-race battle between Quartararo and Bagnaia which kept things exciting. This led to significant contact between the drivers at a corner which caused the damage in the front-right wing of the Ducati.
Thereafter, it was difficult for Bagnaia to keep pace with the leaders and he was soon passed by two satellite Ducati’s Luca Marini, and his soon-to-be Ducati teammate Bastianini.
Yamaha’s pace allowed Fabio Quartararo to get within range of the top three drivers, however, he was unable to break through. His fourth-placed finish left him with no chance of winning the championship.
Enea Bastianini, Gresini Racing, rounded off an impressive season in eighth which was enough to seal a bronze medal in the championship overall, and Rookie of the Year.
Suzuki’s Alex Rins finished first in Valencia. It was a nice way for them to end the campaign due to the manufacturer not continuing in MotoGP next season.
Brad Binder enjoyed an excellent race for KTM and finished the race in 2nd place. The South African finished sixth in the overall rankings.
Both Aprilia drivers, Maverick Viñales and Aleix Espargaró, were retired which meant the latter had to settle for fourth in the season’s rankings.
Jack Miller, Johann Zarco, Marc Márquez, and Darren Binder also exited the race early.
In Moto2 Augusto Fernández of Red Bull KTM Ajo was crowned champion.
