MOTOGP
PHILLIP ISLAND (AUS)
16 OCTOBER
ROUND 18/20
That Francesco Bagnaia has surged from 91 points adrift of the championship lead eight rounds ago to now leading it by 14 is as much a testament to the strength of the 2022 Ducati as it is to the failings of its Yamaha equivalent.
Since MotoGP returned from its summer break, reigning champion Fabio Quartararo has faced an uphill struggle on the Japanese bike, scoring just one podium from the past seven races and 47 points to the 127 of Bagnaia, who has scored three wins and three other podiums in that same period.
