RACE REPORT | MotoGP Thailand 2023

The Thailand Grand Prix produced a spectacular show, culminating in a thrilling battle that kept the fans on their feet. The race lead was constantly changing as Jorge Martin, Brad Binder and Francesco Bagnaia fought a fierce battle. The most intense battle was between Martin and Binder, with Martin eventually emerging as the winner, while Bagnaia secured third place. This result significantly reduced Martin's points deficit to Bagnaia, which now stands at just 13 points.

Jorge Martin's exceptional strategic performance earned him victory in the Thai Grand Prix, reducing the gap between him and championship leader Francesco Bagnaia to just 13 points. The Pramac Ducati rider expertly dictated the pace of the race and eventually won the decisive battle with Brad Binder. Showing his gritty nature, Martin took the lead from the start and held it as he led the group into the first corner. Behind Martin, meanwhile, a fierce battle for position between his rivals was taking place. There were a few exchanges in second place before the lead eventually fell into the hands of Brad Binder, who would become Martin's closest challenger on lap 4. Bagnaia, on the other hand, struggled in the early stages of the race and found himself at the back on several occasions. The defending champion dropped down to seventh place and had to put up a tough fight as Martin and Binder dictated the pace at the front of the race.

Bagnaia gradually climbed back and eventually took third place on lap 13 when Alex Marquez crashed in turn 10. From that point on, the top three riders gradually pulled away from the rest of the pack. Martin executed a well-calculated race plan, keeping control of the pace, staying out of trouble and, most importantly, saving the rear tyre. Binder, on the other hand, continued to chase the Ducati closely. On lap 20, Binder made his first overtaking attempt and briefly took the lead. However, Martin quickly regained track position and maintained the status quo. The same sequence played out a lap later, but on lap 22 Binder managed to make a decisive overtake. With Martin and Bagnaia now occupying the first and third positions, questions were raised as to whether the two title contenders were only focused on each other and not on winning the race. Martin, however, had other intentions.

The Spanish driver pressed Binder relentlessly on the penultimate lap, regaining the lead and adopting a defensive driving strategy. Bagnaia had no choice but to attack to minimise the damage. He attempted a spectacular manoeuvre on the outside of Turn 12, with Binder standing between him and his title rival. However, the move failed to materialise and with the tyres' grip diminishing, Bagnaia settled for third place. At the front, Martin fought tenaciously with the tireless Binder and eventually secured his fourth win of the season, with Binder crossing the line in second place. However, Binder's position was short-lived as he was penalised for exceeding the track limits on the last lap and dropped to third place. Bagnaia therefore inherited second place, limiting the damage to his title defence ambitions.

While the top three drivers provided an exciting spectacle and produced one of the closest podium finishes in Premier Class history, a gap began to form between them and the rest of the field. Marco Bezzecchi made an impressive comeback to take fourth place, leading a group of chasers. Aleix Espargaro, one of the early leaders, secured fifth place, followed by Fabio Quartara and Marc Marquez. Luca Marini, who had looked promising for most of the race, eventually succumbed to tyre degradation and finished eighth. Fabio Di Giannantonio and Johann Zarco rounded out the top ten.