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Bagnaia’s Struggles in Mandalika Sprint Race
Bagnaia, who had been leading the world championship since the Spanish GP in April, faced a setback during Saturday’s sprint race at Mandalika. His title rival, Jorge Martin, claimed victory while Bagnaia struggled to an eighth-place finish.
A Day Filled with Challenges
It was not just the sprint race where Bagnaia faced difficulties. Earlier in the day, he failed to advance from Q1 and had to settle for a 13th-place starting position. Throughout qualifying, Bagnaia battled rear grip issues on the Michelin soft rubber.
Teammate Troubles
During the race, Bagnaia found himself running closely behind his teammate, Bastianini, for a significant portion of the event. The duo worked together, hoping to make progress through the field and overcome their respective challenges.