MOTORCYCLING-FLAWLESS BAGNAIA KEEPS MARTIN AT BAY TO WIN DUTCH GP SPRINT, MARQUEZ CRASHES

(Reuters) - Twice MotoGP champion Francesco Bagnaia of Ducati led from lap one to the chequered flag to win the Dutch Motorcycle Grand Prix sprint as championship leader Jorge Martin finished second and Marc Marquez crashed out early on Saturday.

TT Assen pole-sitter Bagnaia continued his perfect weekend to reduce the gap in the championship standings to Martin of Prima Pramac Racing by 15 points and will have the chance to close that gap even further in Sunday's race.

Aprilia Racing's Maverick Vinales completed the top three.

Enea Bastianini, Fabio Di Giannantonio, Brad Binder, Fabio Quartararo and Alex Marquez Franco Morbidelli were the other riders who finished inside the points. Alex Marquez was given a long-lap penalty for exceeding track limits.

(Reporting by Pearl Josephine Nazare in Bengaluru; editing by Clare Fallon)

2024-06-29T14:13:06Z dg43tfdfdgfd