Francesco Bagnaia won an exciting sprint race at the Emilia-Romagna MotoGP on Saturday to cut championship rival Jorge Martin's lead at the top of the riders' standings. He was 23 points behind Martin after crashing out of the Aragon MotoGP but if he wins Sunday's GP he will take the championship lead.

Michelin will not introduce its new MotoGP front tyre until 2026, a year behind its original intention, the French company confirmed on Friday. There is a widespread acknowledgement that the current front profile needs to be revised in order to deal with the greater forces being placed on it in MotoGP’s new aerodynamic age.

Italian home favourite Francesco Bagnaia has powered to a deserved pole position at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix

MISANO ADRIATICO, Italy (Reuters) -Reigning MotoGP champion Francesco Bagnaia of Ducati recovered from a poor start to win the sprint at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix on Saturday after the pole sitter capitalised on a mistake by championship rival Jorge Martin of Pramac Racing.

Italy's double MotoGP world champion Francesco Bagnaia will start Sunday's Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Misano in pole position after the Ducati factory team rider clocked the fastest time in qualifying on Saturday.

Bagnaia maintains his edge over Martin at Misano as he outguns him in qualifying

Francesco Bagnaia took pole position at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix on Saturday, breaking his own lap record at the Misano circuit as Ducati bikes locked out the front row with Jorge Martin and Enea Bastianini in the top three.