With three successes in his pocket and 91 points ahead of Francesco Bagnaia last June, Fabio Quartararo seemed to be heading straight for a second world title in Moto GP. It is however the Italian Ducati rider who officially became world champion this Sunday in Valencia (Spain). For the first time in his career, he obtained this consecration at the age of 25 after a final Grand Prix won by Alex Rins (Suzuki). On the Ricardo Tormo circuit, Francesco Bagnaia finished 9th in the race, behind his last championship rival Fabio Quartararo (4th).
But the Frenchman from Yamaha absolutely had to win the Valencia Grand Prix to hope to retain his world crown. Starting 8th on the grid, Bagnaia limited the risks in the race despite a slight collision with Quartararo at the start of the GP, where he lost a piece of fairing. With this title, “Pecco” becomes the first Italian champion since the legend Valentino Rossi (in 2009), with whom he trained, and the first Ducati titled rider since Australian Casey Stoner in 2007.
Biggest comeback in the premier class
Bagnaia is therefore coming back from afar this season: after a start to the year marred by several errors (falls in Qatar, Le Mans, Catalonia and Germany), the Turinese reversed the trend in the middle of the season and won the title at the price of an incredible turnaround in the championship. At its lowest after the German GP in June, he even admitted that it was “almost impossible” for him to fight for the title.
But with confidence restored, “Pecco” began the biggest comeback in the premier class since the introduction of the current points system in 1993. All while winning four consecutive victories and eight podiums in ten GPs.