Francesco Bagnaia as he explains last lap “risk” that cost him Japan MotoGP sprint win: ” Pedro was doing a good job,When I saw him crash I just said to myself, you have to…”

Francesco Bagnaia faced a dramatic finale during the MotoGP Japanese Grand Prix sprint, where unpredictable weather nearly derailed his victory. The reigning world champion, starting from second on the grid, initially led the race but was overtaken by poleman Pedro Acosta on the third lap. Bagnaia seemed poised to secure a solid second-place finish until fate intervened with a crash from Acosta on lap nine.

As Bagnaia regained the lead, he entered the final lap with a comfortable 1.3-second gap over his nearest rival, Enea Bastianini. However, the emergence of rain in the closing moments of the race prompted Bagnaia to exercise caution.

“I took a risk on the last lap by maybe slowing down a bit too much,” he explained to TNT Sport. “But everything was under control. So, very happy.”

This calculated slowdown almost cost him dearly, as he crossed the finish line just 0.181 seconds ahead of Bastianini.

Bagnaia acknowledged that the rain affected his approach: “When I saw I was with a 1.3s gap starting the last lap, I said, ‘Ok, I have margin, I can slow down by a second.’ And I did it.”

Bagnaia’s victory marked his third consecutive sprint win of the season, narrowing his championship points deficit to just 15. His success was not without its challenges; he also revealed he had to race on a lower power map to conserve fuel after burning more than expected during the sighting lap.

“We had to sacrifice a bit of performance during the race to understand better the conditions,” he noted, emphasizing the need for caution in the tricky weather.

Reflecting on the overall weekend, Bagnaia expressed satisfaction with his performance, particularly in contrast to previous outings. “From the start of the weekend in FP1, I felt much better,” he stated, highlighting the significance of adapting to varying track conditions.

Despite Acosta’s crash gifting Bagnaia crucial points, he remains aware of the challenges ahead, particularly with Acosta as a formidable rival in the upcoming grand prix. “We have to expect him in the race tomorrow,” Bagnaia remarked, acknowledging the threat posed by the young Spaniard.

As the MotoGP series progresses, Bagnaia’s ability to navigate adversity and adapt to changing conditions will be pivotal in his pursuit of the championship title. The combination of skill, strategy, and a bit of luck has him in a strong position as the season continues.