Double world champion Francesco Bagnaia has won a third successive Austrian MotoGP to complete a dream sprint-race weekend double and take the outright lead in the world championship.

Jorge Martin, who went into the weekend atop the riders’ standings, had to settle for second with Enea Bastianini completing the podium at the Red Bull Ring circuit in Spielberg, Austria on Sunday.

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Bagnaia’s seventh race win of the season on the factory Ducati bike matches his tally from last season with nine races remaining.

Martin had secured the pole position for Sunday’s race and took the holeshot after the start.

By lap two, Bagnaia had taken over the lead from Martin – and despite the Spaniard’s best efforts to stay close, he was never able to challenge for the top spot.

Bagnaia eventually crossed the finish line of the 28-lap race more than three seconds ahead of his main title rival, Martin.

The Italian’s victory at the Austrian MotoGP now moves him five points clear of Martin in the riders’ championship – 275 to 270. Bagnaia’s Ducati teammate Bastianini is in third place in the standings with 214 points.

Next up is the Aragon MotoGP in Spain in a fortnight’s time.

Ducati Lenovo Team’s Italian rider Francesco Bagnaia (left) leads Prima Pramac Racing’s Spanish rider Jorge Martin as they compete in the Austrian MotoGP race at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria on August 18, 2024 [Jure Makovec/AFP]