Red Bull Motorsports
MotoGP
Bastianini beats Binder and is a MotoGP™ winner under the lights in Qatar
Enea Bastianini wins a memorable 2022 MotoGP™ season-opener in Qatar ahead of a brilliant Brad Binder and a rejuvenated Pol Espargaró.
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The wait is over, MotoGP™ is back. In a scintillating start to the 2022 season, history was made with a new winner – a stunning result for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, and a return to form for Pol Espargaró.
Starting from second place on the grid, Gresini Racing MotoGP™ rider Enea Bastianini executed a textbook race to take an emotional and historic first-ever premier class victory in only his second MotoGP™ campaign.
The fight to first was not easy for the Italian, who was under serious pressure from Red Bull KTM Factory Racing's Brad Binder, who was simply superb under the floodlights at the Losail International Circuit. Repsol Honda racer Espargaró looked set to take a first premier class victory himself, but Bastianini’s pace and tyre management proved too strong for the Spanish rider, who ended up third ahead of brother Aleix Espargaró.
Enea Bastianini leads KTM's Brad Binder in Qatar
© Gold & Goose/Red Bull Content Pool
In a hotly contested qualifying session, it was the Pramac Ducati of Jorge Martín topping the timesheets with his fifth premier class career pole position, ahead of fellow Ducati rider Bastianini. When the 24-bike pack emerged from the first sequence of corners, it was Honda’s Pol Espargaró leading team-mate Marc Márquez.
A poor start relegated Martín from first to seventh by the end of lap one, and as he fell back, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider Binder went from a best-ever qualifying position of seventh to a stellar third. Behind Binder, Suzuki’s Joan Mir sat in fourth ahead of Bastianini, who proved to be the fastest rider in the opening three laps.
Lap six saw Binder slip past Márquez to claim second as Bastianini followed suit, passing Mir to snatch fourth. From here, the Italian wasted no time securing his Ducati onto the rear wheel of Márquez. One lap later, Bastianini was up into third ahead of the six-time premier class champion.
Honda's Pol Espargaró looked strong for a maiden premier class win in Qatar
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Five manufacturers made up the top six bikes with 15 laps to run. Honda’s Pol Espargaró held a relatively generous lead of half a second over Binder, with Mir dovetailing the leading sextet before drama further down the field as the two Ducati bikes of Martín and Francesco Bagnaia collided at turn one.
Pol Espargaró stretched his advantage with 10 laps remaining to almost a second over Binder. Behind the 2013 Moto2™ champion, Bastianini was back to where he qualified, passing Binder under braking for turn one and looking to reel in the leading Honda.
With five laps remaining, Bastianini had closed the gap on the leader, setting another fastest lap as Aleix Espargaró grabbed fourth place from Márquez. Bastianini caught the leader, snatching the lead from Pol Espargaró a lap later, as the Honda rider ran wide at turn one, enabling Binder to second.
Enea Bastianini beats Brad Binder to the line in Qatar
© Gold & Goose/Red Bull Content Pool
As the chequered flag approached, Bastianini bolted and made a break for his first premier class win and Gresini Racing MotoGP™'s first since 2006. By the time all was said and done, the 24-year-old took the win in Qatar just ahead of a hard-charging Binder, with long-time race leader Pol Espargaró rounding out the podium in third place.
Márquez bagged strong points in fifth, whilst further back, Johann Zarco took eighth place ahead of reigning world champion Fabio Quartararo, with Honda rider Takaaki Nakagami rounding out the top 10.
The 2022 Qatar MotoGP™ podium
© Gold & Goose/Red Bull Content Pool
MotoGP™ of Qatar results
- Enea Bastianini (ITA) – Ducati
- Brad Binder (SA) – KTM
- Pol Espargaró (ESP) – Honda
- Aleix Espargaró (ESP) – Aprilia
- Marc Márquez (ESP) – Honda
- Joan Mir (ESP) – Suzuki
- Álex Rins (ESP) – Suzuki
- Johann Zarco (FRA) – Ducati
- Fabio Quartararo (FRA) – Yamaha
- Takaaki Nakagami (JPN) – Honda
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