Heartbreak for Carlos Sainz as Pecco Bagnaia Denies Marc Marquez Spanish MotoGP Win; Presents Trophy to Ducati Team

Marc Marquez made the switch from the struggling Honda to the informed Italian team Ducati and came ever so close to winning the Spanish MotoGP race at Jerez. What’s surprising is that many are considering Lewis Hamilton’s move from the downbeat Mercedes to Ferrari a similar one. And now, after Ferrari sacked him, Carlos Sainz’s heart was broken by another Italian, Pecco Bagnaia, who denied Marc Marquez the victory.

Carlos Sainz was spotted at the Spanish MotoGP race at Circuito de Jerez with his father, Carlos Sainz Sr. Even Rebecca Donaldson was seen at the circuit with the Ferrari driver. A couple of hours before the main event, the father-son duo were spotted in the Gresini garage getting photos clicked with Marq Marquez and Alex Marquez. Sainz Jr. was also seen getting on the Gresini Team’s Ducati, as Marquez explained to him how the machine functions. 

Just before the race started, Carlos Sainz was on the grid, getting a feel for the event. The Spaniard was then interviewed on the grid and asked about how he got into MotoGP and his love for the sport. Carlos Sainz explained how he started watching MotoGP when he was 5–6 years old and has since then been in love with the sport. He further added that, because of the busy F1 calendar, he was not able to make it to most of the other MotoGP races. When asked about his favorite driver, Sainz suggested that it’s very difficult to pick since there are so many Spanish drivers on the grid, and he ended up confessing that he supports all of them. 

The race started with Marc Marquez on the pole and Pecco Bagnaia in the P7. However, the Italian driver had a great start and was on the back of Marquez at the start of Lap 2. He then swiftly overtook the Spaniard, who fell to P3 in an attempt to get back to Bagnaia. Jorge Martin took the lead after Bagnaia made an error but later crashed out of the race after an unforced error. Towards the end, Marquez had a late change and even got past Bagnaia on a couple of occasions, only for the Italian to switch back and take the lead. In the end, the 2023 champ took the win, with Marquez only whiskers away in P2.

Carlos Sainz, who was supporting the Spanish drivers, had two heartbreaks. The first was Jorge Martin crashing out of the race, and the second was Marc Marquez not being able to convert his pole into a win. Nonetheless, the Ferrari driver was then invited to the podium celebrations and presented the Constructors trophy along with his dad to the Ducati Team. However, he didn’t only present a trophy but indeed received one as well.

Carlos Sainz Jr. and Sr. were presented with the City of Jerez Motor Award.

Carlos Sainz Sr. and his son, Sainz Jr., have achieved a lot in the world of motorsports. Sainz Sr. won the Dakar this year, whereas Sainz Jr. has been performing at its peak since last year, being the only non-Red Bull driver to beat Max Verstappen. While many assumed Sainz was in Jerez to attend the Spanish MotoGP race, they were also awarded the City of Jerez Motor Award.

The award was presented to them by the Mayor of Jerez, María José García-Pelayo, and was accompanied by the counselor of the Presidency, Antonio Sanz, the CEO of Dorna Sport, Carmelo Ezpeleta, and the citizen vice president of the Local Motor Council, Pepe Hermosín. According to lavozdelsur.es, “the honorary award is given to those people, groups, or companies that have excelled in the local, national, and international dissemination and projection of the different activities related to the motor world.”

Did you watch the Spanish MotoGP race? What did you make of Pecco Bagnaia’s amazing performance?