DPA
Madrid
Spaniard Aleix Espargaro’s MotoGP victory on home tarmac was overshadowed by two big crashes at the Catalan Grand Prix on Sunday.
A mass crash on the first corner in motorbike racing’s premier class left Ducati’s Enea Bastianini unable to join the restart while team-mate and championship leader Francesco Bagnaia then had his lower leg run over by a rival.
"Bastianini has suffered a non-displaced fracture of the medial malleolus in the left ankle as well as a fracture to the second metacarpal on his left hand,” a MotoGP statement said.
Fellow Italian Bagnaia had to be taken to the medical centre and later to a hospital in Barcelona.
"The examination revealed that Bagnaia has sustained multiple contusions, but no fractures,” MotoGP said.
Espargaro’s Aprilia teammate Maverick Vinales took second with Jorge Martin completed the podium at the Montmelo circuit.
As Espargaro celebrated a dream double at his home race after also winning Saturday’s sprint, Bagnaia was receiving medical attention in a local hospital.
The Italian Ducati star had set off from pole. He avoided a multi-bike pile up at turn one but at the next corner lost control. Bagnaia as thrown violently into the air in front of the chasing pack.
Brad Binder’s KTM then ran over Bagnaia’s leg.
The runaway series leader was conscious, and taken away to the track’s medical centre in an ambulance, with the crowd clapping him. He was later transferred to the local hospital.
Back on the track, the race restarted for 23 of the scheduled 24 laps.
Vinales led early on from Martin and Espargaro, born a couple of kilometres from the track.
Espargaro was soon into second, chasing his factory Aprilia teammate, with the second Aprilia of Miguel Oliveira racing third.
Binder had to pull out with tyre issues and the first thing the South African did was to go and check on Bagnaia’s condition in the medical centre.
At the halfway stage Vinales had put daylight between himself and Espargaro as Martin took over third from Oliveira.
Espargaro threw everything at the leader setting up a thrilling conclusion to this 11th race of the season.
With four laps remaining Espargaro edged past his teammate and fellow Catalan.
In the world championship, Martin cut his deficit to Bagnaia to 50 points ahead of next weekend’s San Marino MotoGP.
While Bagnaia was unable to score any points, he remains the overall leader.
Both riders (Bagnaia and Bastianini) will now fly back to Italy. The 12th race of the season will take place next weekend at Italy’s Misano, with Bagnaia’s attendance uncertain.
Results
1. Aleix Espargaro (ESP/Aprilia) 38min 56.159sec, 2. Maverick Vinales (ESP/Aprilia) at 0.377sec, 3. Jorge Martin (ESP/Ducati-Pramac) 2.831, 4. Johann Zarco (FRA/Ducati-Pramac) 4.867, 5. Miguel Oliveira (POR/Aprilia-RNF) 7.529, 6. Alex Marquez (ESP/Ducati-Gresini) 10.590, 7. Fabio Quartararo (FRA/Yamaha) 10.821, 8. Jack Miller (AUS/Red Bull) 10.880, 9. Augusto Fernandez (ESP/GasGas-Tech3) 12.889, 10. Fabio Di Giannantonio (ITA/Ducati-Gresini) 13.280, 11. Luca Marini (Ducati-VR46) 16.491, 12. Marco Bezzecchi (ITA/Ducati-VR46) 16.561, 13. Marc Marquez (ESP/Honda) 21.616
World championship standings
1. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA/Ducati) 260 pts, 2. Jorge Martin (ESP/Ducati-Pramac) 210, 3. Marco Bezzecchi (ITA/Ducati-VR46) 189, 4. Brad Binder (RSA/KTM) 166, 5. Aleix Espargaro (ESP/Aprilia) 154, 6. Johann Zarco (FRA/Ducati-Pramac) 141, 7. Luca Marini (ITA/Ducati-VR46) 125, 8. Maverick Vinales (ESP/Aprilia) 113, 8. Jack Miller (AUS/KTM) 104, 10. Alex Marquez (ESP/Ducati-Gresini) 102, 11. Fabio Quartararo (FRA/Yamaha) 82
Selected: 19. Marc Marquez (ESP/Honda) 22.