The Battle for Fifth: Marquez and Bagnaia Collide in Portugal GP

The MotoGP race in Portugal on Sunday was filled with excitement and drama, but one incident in particular caught the attention of fans and experts alike. The collision between factory Ducati rider Marc Marquez and his Gresini counterpart Francesco Bagnaia on lap 23 left both riders on the ground and sparked a heated debate about racing etiquette.

As the two riders battled for fifth place, Marquez made a daring move up the inside of Bagnaia, but ran slightly wide and lost the position. In an attempt to defend his position, Bagnaia came back up the inside and the two collided, resulting in both riders crashing out of the race.

The incident was reviewed by the MotoGP Stewards Panel, but ultimately deemed a racing incident with no punishment given. However, this collision has raised questions about how Ducati will manage its roster now that Marquez has signed with Gresini.

What makes this situation even trickier is the fact that Marquez is not directly contracted to Ducati. This incident serves as the first test for the manufacturer in how they handle their riders’ actions on the track.

For Bagnaia, this collision was a costly one as he retired from the race and now sits 23 points behind his Pramac Ducati teammate Jorge Martin, who took the win in Portugal. This comes after Bagnaia’s mistake in the sprint race on Saturday, where he threw away a potential victory.

As for Marquez, this incident has also affected his position in the championship standings. He now sits 27 points behind the leader, but his first podium finish on the Ducati in the sprint race on Saturday helped soften the blow.

The collision between Marquez and Bagnaia has sparked a lot of discussion and will surely be a topic of conversation in the coming days. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.

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