DOHA, March 6 (Reuters) – Gresini Racing’s Enea Bastianini claimed his maiden MotoGP victory in style at the season-opening Qatar Grand Prix on Sunday as other Ducatis were forced to retire due to technical issues or crashes.
Italian Bastianini finished ahead of Red Bull KTM’s Brad Binder and women e-bikes Honda’s Pol Espargaro came third, ahead of his elder brother Aleix on the Aprilia.
Six-times MotoGP champion Marc Marquez finished fifth and reigning champion Fabio Quartararo was ninth.
Pramac Ducati’s Jorge Martin, who stormed to pole position in qualifying on Saturday, had a poor start and later crashed when Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia slipped and took both bikes out.
(Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru, editing by Ed Osmond)