Francesco Bagnaia won an exciting sprint race at the Emilia-Romagna MotoGP on Saturday to cut championship rival Jorge Martin's lead at the top of the riders' standings. He was 23 points behind Martin after crashing out of the Aragon MotoGP but if he wins Sunday's GP he will take the championship lead.

Francesco Bagnaia says he “needed this mistake” from Jorge Martin in the MotoGP Emilia Romagna Grand Prix sprint race as overtaking him “was very difficult”. The reigning world champion set a new lap record to claim pole on Saturday at Misano, but once again found himself jumped by Pramac rider Martin off the line in the sprint.

Jorge Martin was left to rue a costly mistake in the Emilia Romagna Sprint, as championship rival Francesco Bagnaia stole victory late on in Misano.

Reigning MotoGP champion Francesco Bagnaia of Ducati recovered from a poor start to win the sprint at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix on Saturday after the pole sitter capitalised on a mistake by championship rival Jorge Martin of Pramac Racing.

MotoGP: "The crash in qualifying? Life is like that, you try and you fail. Even if I had started on the front row I would have finished the Sprint in 4th place anyway. I struggle with the new tires, I have to figure out why.

Francesco Bagania captured pole position during MotoGP World Championship qualifying Saturday at Misano World Circuit - Marco Simoncelli.

Francesco Bagnaia took pole position at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix on Saturday, breaking his own lap record at the Misano circuit as Ducati bikes locked out the front row with Jorge Martin and Enea Bastianini in the top three.

Francesco Bagnaia, reigning MotoGP champion, won the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix sprint. Bagnaia capitalized on a mistake by competitor Jorge Martin. Following intense pressure, he secured victory, with Martin and Enea Bastianini finishing second and third respectively.

Italy's double MotoGP world champion Francesco Bagnaia won the sprint race at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at the Misano track on Saturday. The Ducati factory team rider took the chequered flag ahead of championship leader Jorge Martin of the Ducati Pramac team.

MISANO ADRIATICO, Italy (Reuters) -Reigning MotoGP champion Francesco Bagnaia of Ducati recovered from a poor start to win the sprint at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix on Saturday after the pole sitter capitalised on a mistake by championship rival Jorge Martin of Pramac Racing.