SPIELBERG: World champion Francesco Bagnaia dominated the sprint race at the Austrian MotoGP on Saturday to increase his lead in the world championship.
Brad Binder (KTM) came in second with Jorge Martin (Ducati-Pramac) completing the podium at Spielberg’s Red Bull Ring circuit.
Bagnaia’s fourth sprint win of the season lifted him 46 points clear of Martin ahead of Sunday’s main event, the 10th round of the 20-race season.
Bagnaia set off from pole, with Maverick Vinales and Binder for company on the front row for the 14-lap dash.
Bagnaia led into turn one as Vinales got a terrible start, plummeting down the pack and triggering a multi-rider smash at the rear with Marco Bezzecchi forced to drop out.
Up front Bagnaia and Binder had opened up a gap from the chasing pack led by Jack Miller.
MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi had his head in his hands as he watched both the riders of his VR46 Ducati-satellite team crash out - Luca Marini following Bezzecci retiring to the pits after a touch with Martin’s Ducati-Pramac at the halfway stage. Agencies
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