MotoGP: Bagnaia wins Italy Grand Prix sprint race

Rome: Ducati’s world champion Francesco Bagnaia won the sprint race at the Italian Grand Prix at Mugello in rainy conditions this week to remain top of the championship standings.

He headed an all-Ducati podium, with Marco Bezzecchi of the VR46 satellite team set up by Valentino Rossi coming second and Team Gresini’s Jorge Martin third.

Bagnaia leads the standings with 106 points, four more than second-placed Bezzecchi.

It was a good day for Bagnaia as he also took pole position for Sunday’s main event with a track record time of 1:44.855 in qualifying.

The Ducati factory team rider came in ahead of Marc Marquez (Honda) and the Spaniard’s brother Alex (Ducati team Gresini).

Ducati team manager Davide Tardozzi asked the race stewards to look at whether Marquez’s sought to disrupt Bagnaia on his flying lap, by coming out on the pits as the latter was about to hit the first corner and then riding on his rear-wheel.

The move prompted Bagnaia to direct some hand gestures at Marc Marquez.