After the Barcelona Grand Prix, Ducati rider Enea Bastianini expressed his frustration with Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro, accusing him of spending the entire race supporting his friend, Jorge Martin, in the latter’s title bid. Espargaro, who had started second on the grid, initially struggled but found himself in fourth place, where he effectively acted as a rear-gunner for Martin, a key championship contender. Martin was in a crucial title fight with Francesco Bagnaia and could not afford to lose too many positions, which made Espargaro’s support particularly important for Martin’s bid.
Bastianini, who was involved in a battle with Espargaro during the early stages of the race, was unable to make significant progress due to Espargaro’s defensive tactics. Every time Bastianini attempted to pass Espargaro, the Aprilia rider responded, slowing Bastianini’s pace and allowing Martin to maintain a strong position in the race. This forced Bastianini into a prolonged struggle behind Espargaro, costing him valuable time and, ultimately, affecting his performance.
Things took a turn for the worse when Bastianini made a mistake at the exit of Turn 1, forcing him to take the escape road. This error left him fighting for a spot in the lower end of the top 10, and he lost the battle for third place in the standings to Marc Marquez, who finished ahead of him. Despite the disappointment, Bastianini’s frustration was evident when he addressed Espargaro’s actions post-race, calling them unprofessional.
“I lost a lot of time with Aleix today, and it was impossible to do more than my result. I’m not happy with what he did because for me, it’s not correct,” Bastianini said. “Without the fight with Aleix, I could have done something more for myself, but he did the whole race for Martin.” He went on to express his displeasure, emphasizing that Espargaro’s actions were detrimental to other riders in the championship. “I understand that he has a great friendship with Jorge, but he destroyed the race for other riders. There are things that should not happen in a championship like ours,” Bastianini added.
Martin, meanwhile, had a strong race and finished in third place, which helped him secure valuable points in his championship battle. With his podium finish, Martin closed the gap to Bagnaia, making it clear that his pursuit of the title was still alive. Martin's result also made history, as he became the first rider to win a title on a satellite bike in the MotoGP era. He also became the first rider to win the championship in the premier class since Valentino Rossi’s victory on a satellite Honda in 2001.
Espargaro, in his final race as a full-time MotoGP rider, admitted that he wanted to help Martin in his bid for the championship. He referred to Martin as his “little brother” and explained his actions: “We both had a feeling that it was all the Ducatis against him, which is completely normal. They tried to retain the title, and I felt I was the only one to protect my little brother and his title.” Espargaro’s support of Martin, while understandable from a personal standpoint, clearly caused friction with other riders like Bastianini, who felt that Espargaro had interfered with the natural flow of the race and the championship standings.
Ultimately, while Espargaro’s actions were driven by loyalty to his friend, Bastianini’s race was adversely affected, and the championship picture became more complicated, with Martin continuing his pursuit of the title. The incident highlighted the personal dynamics at play within the championship race, but also underlined the tension that can arise when riders prioritize friendship over competition on the track.
