Italian rider Francesco Bagnaia, known as Pecco, clinched victory this Sunday at Silverstone to secure his second straight win in the MotoGP season. The British Grand Prix marked the twelfth round of the Motorcycle World Championship and followed the summer break. The field featured Maverick Viñales on an Aprilia in a strong podium position, with Alex Espargaro also contending and remaining within reach of the championship lead held by Fabio Quartararo on a Yamaha after a dramatic race.
In a tight contest where the gap from first to tenth was contained within six seconds, Pecco seized the initiative in the later stages, taking the lead with nine laps remaining and maintaining it to the end. This victory built on his earlier success at Assen, the race immediately preceding the summer pause. Viñales earned a second-place finish, narrowly edging out Jack Miller on a Ducati who finished on the podium as well.
Bagnaia edges Viñales in a fierce Silverstone duel
Throughout the event, Aleix Espargaró battled through discomfort from a difficult practice week, yet still charged to a strong showing that culminated in a solid ninth place. Quartararo, who faced some challenges and issues involving setup, remained close in the standings but could only climb to the eighth position on the day. After this round, the championship leaders extended their advantage, with Quartararo maintaining a lead over his nearest rivals and Bagnaia staying within striking distance as the season progresses.
Returning from a 42-day layoff, Johann Zarco once again started from pole and briefly moved Quartararo to second, but the Frenchman faced a tough ride, slipping to fifth. Zarco received a long-lap penalty for an incident involving Aleix Espargaró at Assen, which affected his attack on the field.
From the front of the pack, Zarco faced a setback when a crash at Turn 8 on lap five shuffled the order. That moment briefly handed leadership to Jack Miller, who then gave way to Alex Rins, who rose to the top after climbing from behind the field. The race then evolved into a test of strategy and stamina as riders pushed toward the limit on a demanding circuit.
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The Catalan rider found himself at the fore alongside Pecco Bagnaia and Jorge Martín on a Ducati lineup, with Maverick Viñales on the Aprilia close behind as the fight for victory intensified. With nine laps remaining, Pecco put himself in front and defended the lead against Viñales in the closing stages, while Joan Mir, racing a Suzuki, was forced to retire after a crash that ended his challenge mid-race.
As the race moved into its second half, Bagnaia maintained momentum and used his experience to hold off Viñales, finishing with a final flourish that underscored his consistent form as the season rolled on. Among the Spaniards, Martín finished in fifth, Rins in seventh, Espargaró in fourteenth, and the Márquez brothers, Alex and Raul, saw mixed results with positions at the tail end of the points and near the back of the field respectively.