Was the MotoGP 2022 title won by Bagnaia or lost by Quartararo?

Reigning MotoGP world champion Fabio Quartararo had a 91-point lead over rival Francesco Bagnaia after the German Grand Prix, a seemingly impregnable gap to overcome in the remaining 10 races. But as the Frenchman struggled for pace with his Yamaha, Bagnaia stormed back into contention and swept to Ducati's first riders' title since 2007

Updated Nov 25, 2022, 12:52 PM

It’s 10 rounds into the 2022 MotoGP season, and Francesco Bagnaia has retired from a grand prix for the fourth time this year. While running second, he has slid out of the German Grand Prix at the Sachsenring before chief title rival Fabio Quartararo goes on to register the third – and final – win of his campaign.

He’s crashed out of the season-opener in Qatar while racing Pramac Ducati counterpart Jorge Martin; he’s gone out while battling Gresini’s Enea Bastianini for victory in France; and he’s been wiped out by Takaaki Nakagami at the first corner of the Catalan GP. After Germany, it seems that Bagnaia’s title hopes are already gone.

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Author Lewis Duncan

Lewis Duncan is Autosport's International Editor and primary motorcycle racing reporter. A motorsport fan from a young age, Lewis became interested in journalism when he won the star letter competition in the February 2012 issue of F1 Racing Magazine. A member of the Autosport Academy from 2017, Lewis became a freelance motorcycle racing correspondent for Autosport in 2019 before becoming a full-time staffer in 2020 as International Editor.

While MotoGP coverage is his priority, Lewis also covers World Superbikes and road racing across the Motorsport Network, and hosts the Tank Slappers Podcast. He has also occasionally commentated on 750 Motor Club meetings. Away from motorsport, Lewis is a keen record collector with a collection unashamedly largely featuring Iron Maiden and Rush and an avid guitar player.