Francesco Bagnaia and the Ducati Lenovo Team clinched a crucial victory in the 26-lap Thai Grand Prix, held in wet conditions at the Chang International Circuit. Enea Bastianini, after an early crash, fought back to cross the line in fourteenth place.
Starting from pole, Bagnaia maintained his lead, ultimately overtaking the initial frontrunner, Jorge Martín, on lap five after Martín went wide. Bagnaia then defended his position against Marc Márquez, who eventually crashed with thirteen laps remaining. From there, the reigning world champion expertly managed his gap over the competition, claiming a decisive solo victory.
Bastianini faced challenges from the outset, losing several positions after a collision at turn one that placed him outside the top ten. He worked his way up to sixth before losing control at turn eight on lap nine. Despite the setback, Bastianini rejoined the race and fought his way back into the top 15, finishing in fourteenth.
With the eighteenth Grand Prix of the season now complete, Bagnaia remains in second place in the championship standings, trailing Martín by 17 points. Bastianini holds fourth, now mathematically out of the title race. Ducati, having secured the Constructors’ Championship, has also captured the 2024 Team World Championship title.
The Ducati Lenovo Team now prepares for the penultimate event of the season at Malaysia’s Sepang International Circuit.
Francesco Bagnaia
Reflecting on the race, Bagnaia shared, “After the warm-up, I wasn’t entirely satisfied, though I knew we could perform well. We made some tweaks to the bike’s braking, which improved my confidence. I held back early on, seeing that Jorge was taking significant risks. The battle with Marc was thrilling; our pace was phenomenal until his crash. I dedicate this win to the team, who once again did a fantastic job.”
Enea Bastianini
“We were in a position to achieve a strong result. Unfortunately, I was forced wide at turn one and lost valuable ground due to low visibility in the initial laps. Gradually, I regained my rhythm and made up positions but ultimately lost control at turn eight. Thankfully, I was able to rejoin the race and salvage a few points.”
Luigi Dall’Igna – Ducati Corse General Manager
Dall’Igna acknowledged the race’s difficulty, stating, “Racing in these conditions is always risky. Pecco and Jorge delivered an outstanding performance. With only two contenders left for the title, our focus remains on providing the data needed for optimal bike setups. We expect this season finale to be intense and thrilling for all our fans.”
