Following an inch-perfect weekend at the Cathedral of Speed, Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) has closed his deficit to Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) to 10 points ahead of a date with the Sachsenring – a venue where in 2023 the duo treated us to a pulsating duel for victory.
But there was more to Sunday’s Motul TT Assen win than an important 25-point collection. Bagnaia’s 23rd win in Ducati’s famous red saw him draw level with a MotoGP™ Legend in Ducati’s premier class win tally table – the one and only Casey Stoner.
Pecco also now sits just one podium behind the Australian’s Ducati podium record of 42, so a top three on Sunday in Germany will see him draw level with Stoner. In addition, Bagnaia’s third Sunday win on the spin in Assen meant he was the first rider to achieve the feat at the legendary Dutch venue since Mick Doohan won five Assen races on the bounce between 1994 and 1998. The three-time World Champion continues to etch his name alongside the sport’s all-time greats.
His 2023 Dutch TT triumph saw him surpass another MotoGP™ Legend in Ducati’s win tally table – Andrea Dovizioso. Since then, Pecco has claimed another premier class title and has added eight more Sunday wins to his roster as he climbs to 23.
Understandably, Pecco was very proud to rub shoulders with “these kinds of legends”, but it won’t be until he retires that these accolades and milestones will properly sink in. One more of those achievements could be matching – or surpassing – Stoner’s incredible 10 wins in a season for Ducati that was achieved in the #27’s dream 2007 season.
Five have been secured already, with 12 rounds – including this weekend in Germany – still to come. Keeping up his current form will see the #1 hit 10 wins with ease. But it’ll be anything but easy.
As we approach the Sachsenring and the summer break, Bagnaia is in red hot form. However, it’s Martin who still leads the 2024 Championship chase. Throw Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) into the equation, as well as Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team), and we have ourselves a cracking title race. Which way will the pendulum swing before the summer break?