Enea Bastianini delivered a spectacular performance at the Malaysian Grand Prix in Sepang, securing a sensational victory in the factory colors of the Ducati Lenovo Team. This triumph marks Bastianini’s first win with the team, his fifth MotoGP career victory, and a significant milestone since his last win at Aragon in 2022. The Ducati Lenovo Team celebrated a double podium, with Francesco Bagnaia claiming the third position.

Bastianini’s Dominance from Start to Finish
From turn 1 to the chequered flag, Enea Bastianini asserted his dominance, leading the 20-lap race with unwavering control. This victory not only showcased his skill but also marked a remarkable comeback to top form. The win was particularly sweet for Bastianini, representing his first podium since the Malaysian Grand Prix last year.

Top Positions Unchanged
The top four positions in the race remained constant, with Bastianini setting the pace and finishing 1.5 seconds ahead of Alex Marquez from Gresini Racing. The battle for the final podium place unfolded between Bagnaia and Jorge Martin from Pramac Racing. Despite early skirmishes, Bagnaia managed to pull away, securing a comfortable 3.5-second gap between himself and Martin at the checkered flag.

Championship Implications
With Bagnaia securing the third position, his lead over Jorge Martin in the championship has now extended to 14 points. This strategic advantage becomes crucial as the championship heads into its final two rounds, with 74 points still up for grabs. The result underscores Ducati’s dominance, marking the seventh time this year that the Italian manufacturer has placed three bikes on the podium.

Conclusion and Looking Ahead
Enea Bastianini’s triumph in Sepang adds another layer of excitement to the MotoGP season, showcasing the prowess of the Ducati Lenovo Team. As the championship unfolds with two rounds remaining, the battle between Bagnaia and Martin intensifies. Ducati’s consistent podium presence reaffirms their competitiveness in the world of MotoGP, setting the stage for thrilling showdowns in the upcoming races..

Enea Bastianini (#23 Ducati Lenovo Team) – 1st
“It’s fantastic and emotional to get back to winning after a difficult period. Today I didn’t want anything else, I just wanted to win, I didn’t care about the rest, and I knew I could do it. In the race I pushed from the start as in qualifying, maintaining the gap, but I was totally at the limit, and couldn’t give anything more but in the end, the victory came. I think that something exploded inside me this weekend and I went back to having fun. Certainly, one of the keys is that we modified the engine braking strategy, coming into line with what we saw from Thailand. What changed also was that I am not continually making mistakes when braking, which until recently happened every lap. I’ve always said that when you get back to having fun, you also go a lot faster.”

Francesco Bagnaia (#1 Ducati Lenovo Team) – 3rd
“For sure it was very important to finish in front of my rival today. It wasn’t easy because after our battle I tried to catch the other two guys, but it was very risky because as soon as I was close to Alex, I struggled with too much tyre movement at the front, and it was better to finish the race and take the points. I’m very happy with everything, we managed to be competitive from the start of the weekend and I was in pole for the first time since Barcelona. Now we move on to Qatar which is another track where I go fast normally. There it will be the same situation and it will be important to fight back like we did today and give the maximum.”

Luigi Dall’Igna (Ducati Corse General Manager)
“It was a great weekend for the Ducati Lenovo Team. Both riders with our Desmosedici GP bikes were competitive and I really want to thank all the guys who work here and at home because they are doing a fantastic job and we are truly having a superlative season. Having said this, I am also really happy for Enea. After all the misfortunes he had this year, he finally managed to achieve a very important result which I believe boosts the morale and confidence for him and the whole team. Congratulations also to Pecco that with his third place after a strong weekend has made the day even more beautiful for us!”

The nineteenth round of the MotoGP World Championship – the Grand Prix of Qatar – will be held in one week’s time at the Losail International Circuit from 17-19 November.