Bagnaia makes it three in a row to continue Quartararo pursuit

STATS Perform/dpaVienna Francesco Bagnaia made it three wins in a row for the first time in his MotoGP career by storming to victory at the Austrian Grand Prix to further boost his title hopes.The Ducati rider came off the five-week break 66 points behind championship leader Fabio Quartararo, but that gap now stands at 44 points with seven races to go.It could have been closed even further but Quartararo finished strongly to clinch second, while closest challenger Aleix Espargaro - 16th on Sunday - is 32 points adrift.Bagnaia was quick off the mark to take the lead from Enea Bastianini, who was starting on pole for the first time in his career but failed to finish due to a deflated front tyre.There was further drama on the opening lap as Joan Mir, starting in eighth, crashed out at turn four - his sixth abandonment of the season, and the most of any rider.Jack Miller temporarily took the lead from Bagnaia with 21 laps to go, but the Italian instantly hit back and his fifth triumph of the season - a personal record - was never in doubt.But in what could yet prove a big moment in the championship battle, Quartararo produced a late rally to climb from an early sixth into an eventual second place.The reigning world champion climbed above Miller, who held on for third, while Jorge Martin recovered slightly from a crash early on the final lap to finish 10th.Quartararo did not quite have enough left to catch Bagnaia, however, with half a second separating the pair in the end to ensure the title battle remains alive and well.Result and overall standings.Race:1. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA/Ducati) 42min 14.886sec, 2. Fabio Quartararo (FRA/Yamaha) at 0.492sec, 3. Jack Miller (AUS/Ducati) 2.163, 4. Luca Marini (ITA/Ducati-VR46) 8.348, 5. Johann Zarco (FRA/Ducati-Pramac) 8.821, 6. Aleix Espargaro (ESP/Aprilia) 11.287, 7. Brad Binder (RSA/KTM) 11.642, 8. Alex Rins (ESP/Suzuki) 11.780, 9. Marco Bezzecchi (ITA/Ducati-VR46) 16.987, 10. Jorge Martin (ESP/Ducati-Pramac) 17.144Principal retirements: Joan Mir (Suzuki), Enea Bastianini (Ducati-Gresini)Overall standings (after 13 of 20 races)1. Fabio Quartararo (FRA/Yamaha) 200 points, 2. Aleix Espargaro (ESP/Aprilia) 168, 3. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA/Ducati) 156, 4. Johann Zarco (FRA/Ducati-Pramac) 125, 5. Jack Miller (AUS/Ducati) 123, 6. Enea Bastianini (ITA/Ducati-Gresini) 118, 7. Brad Binder (RSA/KTM) 107, 8. Alex Rins (ESP/Suzuki) 92, 9. Jorge Martin (ESP/Ducati) 87, 10. Miguel Oliveira (POR/KTM) 85.