Francesco Bagnaia has delivered a commanding performance to win the sprint race at the Czech Grand Prix, leading from the start to secure his first victory of the MotoGP season.
Pole-sitter Ai Ogura, who had set a lap record in qualifying, finished 0.241 seconds behind the Italian in Brno as double world champ 'Pecco' Bagnaia celebrated his first win since Sepang last season.
"It was incredible. I am very happy. The first two laps made everything," Ducati rider Bagnaia told reporters.
Back on top 🔥@PeccoBagnaia returns to winning ways with Sprint victory in Brno 🥇#CzechGP 🇨🇿 pic.twitter.com/joa92uwxYA
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) June 20, 2026
"I started when I tried to push open the gap and when I tried to control a bit because the rear degree was not that bad but vibration was huge. So I need to slow down a bit and try to control in the last two gaps."
Starting from third on the grid, Bagnaia was flawless and took the lead straight away and never relinquished it, despite pressure from Ogura in the closing stages.
The Japanese rider never managed to close the gap enough to pose a real threat to the former champion.
"The performance of the rear tyre was really good, but the limitation for me was at the front," Ogura said.
"But we will have another chance tomorrow, so we will try again."
Bagnaia's Ducati teammate Marc Marquez climbed from fifth on the grid to complete the podium in third, while VR46 Racing Team's Fabio Di Giannantonio took fourth place.
Aprilia's world championship leader Marco Bezzecchi crashed out of a late fifth place, his fourth sprint retirement of the season, as reducing his points advantage, with Jorge Martin, who finished in fifth, now just 15 points behind.
Australian Jack Miller was 14th on his Pramac Yamaha, 16 seconds behind.
