Qatar, a weekend of contrasting fortunes for the Suomy Riders: Bagnaia forced to withdraw after a Sprint crash, while Ivan Ortolá claims a superb second place in Moto2.
A weekend of contrasting fortunes, featuring both an important result and a major disappointment. That is how the Qatar Grand Prix comes to an end for our Suomy Riders, who experienced very different emotions at the Lusail circuit. For Francesco Bagnaia, the weekend came to an abrupt end during Saturday’s Sprint Race following a crash that resulted in fractures to the fourth and fifth metatarsals in his right foot, forcing him to miss Sunday’s race. A particularly bitter outcome for the Ducati rider, who had started the weekend with encouraging feelings and a strong desire to return to competitive form. Ivan Ortolá’s Moto2 weekend, on the other hand, had a decidedly positive outcome. Our rider secured a superb second place after a race that remained fiercely contested right down to the final metres. Starting from 14th on the grid, the Spaniard produced an impressive comeback, working his way into the battle for the podium before securing second place with a decisive overtake right on the finish line. A performance showcasing determination and fighting spirit, confirming Ortolá‘s competitiveness and delivering a hugely valuable result for our Suomy Rider.
SPRINT RACE
Francesco Bagnaia‘s Saturday came to a difficult end with a crash on the opening lap of the Qatar Grand Prix Sprint Race. Our Ducati rider was involved in an incident during the early stages of the race when, at the final corner of the Lusail circuit, he was hit from behind by Fermín Aldeguer, who lost control of his bike and collided with the number 63 Ducati. The impact threw Bagnaia from his bike, causing a particularly heavy crash and forcing race direction to red-flag the session to allow medical assistance. Taken to the circuit’s medical centre for initial examinations, the Italian rider was diagnosed with fractures to the fourth and fifth metatarsals in his right foot. Subsequent medical assessments confirmed that he would be unable to take part in Sunday’s race, bringing his Qatar Grand Prix to an early end. An unfortunate incident that cut short a weekend in which Pecco had hoped to gather positive feedback and confirmation of the progress made with his team. The focus now shifts to his physical recovery and the medical assessments required to plan his return to racing.
RACE
Francesco Bagnaia was absent from the starting grid on Sunday for the Qatar Grand Prix. Following Saturday’s Sprint crash and the diagnosis of two fractures in his right foot, the Ducati rider was forced to withdraw from the main race. An unavoidable decision, allowing our Suomy Rider to focus on his recovery after an accident that brought considerable disappointment to what had looked like a promising weekend. Bagnaia subsequently reassured his fans about his condition, expressing confidence and determination ahead of his return to competition. The rider is scheduled to undergo surgery in Italy to treat the fractures. His recovery process and the possibility of returning to the track for the upcoming rounds of the World Championship will now be assessed. The Portuguese Grand Prix, scheduled to take place in Portimão from 20 to 22 November, is the next round on the calendar. However, Pecco’s priority will naturally be to make a full physical recovery. We send our full support to our rider and look forward to seeing him back on track and fighting at the front as soon as possible.
MOTO 2
A second place secured through determination, talent and an impressive comeback. Ivan Ortolá was one of the standout performers of the Qatar Grand Prix in Moto2, with our Suomy Rider finishing on the podium after an intense race that remained fiercely contested right down to the final corner. Starting from 14th on the grid, the Spaniard built his race through a steady and consistent progression, gaining ground lap after lap and gradually working his way into contention for the top positions. After overtaking several rivals, Ortolá managed to reach the leading group, demonstrating excellent pace and effective race management. In the second half of the race, our rider showed great patience, staying in touch with the leaders and preparing for his decisive move. The turning point came in the closing metres: thanks to an excellent exit from the final corner, Ortolá was able to take advantage of the slipstream and overtake Escrig on the finishing straight, securing second place by just two tenths of a second. A photo-finish that rewarded a strong performance and a comeback built on patience and determination. This is an important result for our Suomy Rider, particularly considering that he started from the fifth row and managed to gain no fewer than twelve positions during the race. The Moto2 World Championship now heads towards its next round, where Ivan will have the opportunity to build on this result and further establish himself among the leading contenders in the category.
Click the button below to find out all the images of the #SuomyCrew during the weekend in Qatar.
