Bastianini’s Bold Last-Lap Overtake Secures Emilia Romagna GP Victory Amid Controversy

Enea Bastianini: Asserts Martin's Disputed Maneuver as Sole Option for Misano MotoGP Victory

"No other way was feasible"

Enea Bastianini stated that his "sole option" for clinching victory at the MotoGP Emilia Romagna Grand Prix was to execute his debated final-lap pass on Jorge Martin.

From the start of the 27-lap Misano Grand Prix, Bastianini was a key contender for the win, applying significant pressure on Martin during the final phases of the race.

In the last lap, Bastianini made a bold maneuver by steering his factory Ducati to pass Martin on the inside at Turn 4, a move that resulted in a slight collision between the two and caused the Pramac rider to veer significantly off the track.

The officials decided against pursuing additional measures regarding the event, confirming Bastianini's second win of 2024 – which also marked Ducati's 100th victory in MotoGP.

While Martin perceived the situation as having no space available, Bastianini thought his maneuver was "borderline" but considered it the sole choice for securing a victory.

"It was quite challenging to make the pass, but when there's an opportunity to clinch the race, you've got to seize it," he expressed.

"You must go for it. True, it was pushing the boundaries, but ultimately, it was the sole option available to me. Without this opportunity, I stood no chance, especially considering [Martin] was exceptionally good on the rest of the circuit, leaving me with no other viable alternative."

He stated, "It was likely my sole chance, given his strength in sector number three right after exiting Turn 10."

"For some reason, every time we reached the end of the long straight, I found myself lagging by 0.2 to 0.3 seconds. It seemed like the only chance I had to clinch the victory."

The event has sparked controversy, as Marc Marquez, who came in third, believes Bastianini should have been penalized by being moved back one place for also leaving the track at Turn 4.

Despite this, Bastianini has advanced to third place in the rankings, now trailing Martin by 59 points.

"The victory at the 100th Grand Prix for Ducati was incredibly emotional, especially since I managed to take the lead right in front of my fan club amidst the pink smoke clouds," he expressed.

"I had such a pleasant experience. Today feels wonderful to me."

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