Francesco “Pecco” Bagnaia is MotoGP world champion .
A ninth place was enough for the Piedmontese in the last Grand Prix held in Valencia, with title rival Fabio Quartararo finishing fourth.
Bagnaia, a Sardinian mother, therefore brings the World Cup back to Italy 13 years after Valentino Rossi's triumph in 2009 . Ducati hadn't won in the premier class since 2007, when it won with Casey Stoner.
Instead, we have to go back 50 years to see an Italian triumph over Ducati in the premier class, which at the time was the 500: in 1972 Giacomo Agostini won.
The Valencian GP went to Rins, ahead of Binder, Martin and Quartararo. Then Oliveira, Mir, Marini, Bastianini and Bagnaia, who wisely managed the 23 points advantage over Quartararo : he could also afford to finish 14th with a victory for the French.
“ It was the hardest race of my life , I wanted to finish in the top five today, then I started to suffer a lot during the race, but the important thing was to win the World Championship. I am very happy, it was a beautiful day ”.
(Unioneonline / L)