Bagnaia scorches to Czech MotoGP sprint victory, Bezzecchi suspended / Photo: Michal Cizek - AFP
-
Rare Philippine school shooting kills three teens, wounds seven
-
Kenya labour minister accused over Russian forced recruitment
-
Crude prices drop after 'positive' US-Iran talks
-
Some France schools closed for day of searing heat
-
Tuchel's England face defensive questions despite flying start at World Cup
-
Frankfurt to All Blacks: New Zealand pick first German-born player
-
Not just a hideout: Sahel forests provide base for jihadists
-
Ageless Messi has World Cup scoring record in his sights
-
Africa faces child surgery crisis as key anaesthesia runs out
-
Trump-backed populist wins razor-tight Colombia vote, sparking protests
-
J-Bay: S.Africa's surf mecca missing out on the global tour
-
'Progress', say mediators, after Iran-US talks towards ending war
-
Key points from the first round of Iran-US talks
-
European countries close schools, cancel trains as heatwave set to intensify
-
Crude prices drop, most stocks rise on 'positive' US-Iran talks
-
Slimy beans: Japanese natto disgusts and delights the world
-
Clark wins despite hecklers but hopes not to be 'heel of the PGA'
-
Cape Verde targeting World Cup knockout rounds after Uruguay draw: coach
-
Father's Day near-miss at US Open brings Burns to tears
-
New coach Rennie names Savea as All Blacks captain
-
Scheffler praises Clark's resolve in gutsy US Open triumph
-
Yamal kickstarts Spain World Cup bid as Cape Verde stun Uruguay
-
Cape Verde fight back for second World Cup draw against Uruguay
-
Apex Drills 14.9 m of 5.09 % REO and 12.3 m of 5.63 % REO with > 2.50 % REO Intercept Over 191.9 m in the Trinity Zone at the Rift Rare Earth Project
-
Bear Robotics to Acquire Kinisi Robotics, Completing Its End-to-End Physical AI Robotics Platform
-
Introduces POS Ready for FWA12 to Help Retailers and Restaurants Protect Payment Traffic
-
Empire Metals Limited Announces Massive High-Grade Core Confirmed at Thomas
-
Guardian Metal Resources PLC Announces Holding(s) in Company
-
Genflow Biosciences PLC Announces Participation at BIO International Convention 2026
-
InterContinental Hotels Group PLC Announces Transaction in Own Shares - June 22
-
Best Gold IRA Companies for a 401(k) Rollover in 2026: Expert Rankings Released
-
Mexican fans rally behind Iran as 'our second team' at World Cup
-
Trump-backed candidate wins razor-tight Colombia presidential election
-
Clark edges Burns by one stroke for second US Open title
-
Iran coach hails 'great achievement' after second World Cup draw
-
Curacao firmly on the map after World Cup heroics
-
Pro-Trump presidential hopeful takes early lead as Colombia counts votes
-
Trump say repairs to begin 'immediately' for Washington pool renovation
-
Yamal off the mark at World Cup in Spain rout as Iran hold Belgium
-
Rune 'not ready' to put a date on tennis return
-
Argentina weaknesses? Austria's World Cup coach can't find any
-
Polls close in Colombia runoff pitting pro-Trump hardliner against leftist
-
A nation divided over Team Melli as Iran faces Belgium
-
McIlroy races for exit after weekend US Open fade
-
Belgium held 0-0 by Iran as Ngoy sent off
-
Mbappe ready for 'special' 100th cap for France at World Cup
-
Watkins ready for England super-sub role at World Cup
-
Yamashita tops Woad in playoff to win Meijer LPGA Classic
-
Clark leads Burns by one as US Open back-nine drama begins
-
Syria president denies wanting to intervene in Lebanon after Trump remarks
Bagnaia scorches to Czech MotoGP sprint victory, Bezzecchi suspended
Italy's Francesco Bagnaia scorched to victory in the Czech MotoGP sprint in Brno on Saturday, while championship leader Marco Bezzechi was suspended for Sunday's race for striking a steward.
Bagnaia pipped pole sitter Ai Ogura, on an Aprilia, to the victory, with Ducati teammate Marc Marquez finishing third.
Bezzecchi started from fourth on the grid but failed to hold on to the spot and crashed out with two laps to go.
His afternoon got worse after race organisers penalised him for his altercation with a race steward.
"Following a crash you pushed and struck circuit Marshals who were trying to recover your machine," organisers said in a statement.
Television footage of the incident showed him striking a steward twice in the face as the marshall grabbed his handlebars following the crash.
He now runs the risk of losing his championship lead to Aprilia Racing teammate Jorge Martin if he finishes on the podium.
Bezzechi leads with 180 points, Martin has 165 and Fabio Di Giannantonio, on a VR46 Ducati, has 144.
The 29-year-old Bagnaia started from third on the grid and capitalised from a rocket start that saw him top the pack into turn one.
He hailed Ducati's decision to use soft rear tyres on the burning hot tarmac.
"Luckily it was the correct one," he said.
"The first two laps made everything. I started well, I tried to push, open the gap and then I tried to control a bit," he added.
Ogura settled for second and never got close enough to attack the Italian in the lead.
"I thought that I could have something more at the end of the race," said Ogura, riding on medium tyres both at the front and the rear.
The 25-year-old Japanese rider topped Friday's practice and then also dominated Saturday's qualifying to clinch his first-ever MotoGP pole position.
Seven-time world champion Marquez in turn did not find the pace to try to overtake Ogura, but he safely held off Di Giannantonio in the fourth spot.
Marquez won the last GP in Hungary two weeks ago and also dominated both the sprint and the race in Brno in 2025.
Brazil's Diogo Moreira got off to a great start from sixth on the grid, settling in third place until turn 12 of the first lap when he crashed out.
Pedro Acosta, fourth overall, also crashed out of the sprint on lap five.
F.Pedersen--AMWN