- Ukraine says nine killed in Russian strikes on hospital
- Clarke's two tries help All Blacks to 33-13 win over Wallabies
- Israel says it 'eliminated' Hezbollah chief in Beirut strike
- FIFA ban Argentina goalkeeper Martinez for 'offensive behaviour'
- Bagnaia halves Martin's MotoGP lead with Indonesia sprint win
- WADA appeals after tennis No.1 Sinner cleared in doping case
- Jayasuriya takes 6-42 as New Zealand collapse to 88 all out
- Thousands bid farewell to Tokyo zoo pandas before return to China
- Austria Greens leave transport pass as legacy ahead of vote
- Paul stunned by Machac as Japan Open upsets keep coming
- Abortion rights worldwide: a snapshot
- Martin claims Indonesia MotoGP pole by smashing lap record
- Belgian exorcist offers 'healing' -- and combats cliches
- Boeing strike grinds on as latest talks fail to reach agreement
- Israeli strikes pound southern Beirut suburbs
- No choice: Braving the Darien jungle to flee Maduro's Venezuela
- Iran 'news' sites, hackers target Trump ahead of US election
- US ports brace for potential dockworkers strike
- China's 'red collectors' cherish bygone Maoist era
- Japan's speedy, spotless Shinkansen bullet trains turn 60
- US hurricane deaths rise to 44, fears of more 'catastrophic' flooding
- Brazil judge says will lift Musk's X ban if $1.8 mn fine paid
- White Sox break MLB record for defeats in a season
- Jasmine Suwannapura grabs LPGA NW Arkansas lead
- Chappell Roan axes gigs after backlash over US election stance
- Harris visits border to neutralize weak spot against Trump
- Aussie Scott revels in Presidents Cup rally for global golfers
- Milei moves to privatize flag carrier in standoff with unions
- Ethiopian actions 'flagrantly violate' Somali territorial integrity: Somali PM
- Blinken questions China peace push over Russia help
- Internationals sweep foursomes to equal USA at Presidents Cup
- Brook says return to form 'a matter of time' as England hammer Australia
- Clark takes aim at 'trolls' in WNBA racism storm
- Israel, Hezbollah must both 'stop firing': Blinken
- Barcola leads PSG to win over Rennes
- Why South America is burning
- AC Milan join Torino at Serie A summit by thumping Lecce
- Maduro's hold on power 'unsustainable': Venezuelan opposition leader to AFP
- Guinea's Guirassy sparks Dortmund comeback win over plucky Bochum
- Brazil coach urges patience over Neymar return
- Hurricane John causes at least five deaths, floods in Mexico's Acapulco
- Trump vows to prosecute Google for showing 'bad' stories on him
- Europe en route for Moon with new simulator, says astronaut Pesquet
- Livingstone stars as England thrash Australia to square ODI series
- Hezbollah's Nasrallah: powerful leader living in hiding
- Austria far right eyes historic victory in tight polls
- Fireworks forecast if comet survives risky Sun flypast
- New York mayor pleads not guilty to shock corruption charges
- Livingstone runs riot as England make 312-5 against Australia
- Hurricane triggers 'catastrophic' US floods, 17 dead
Bagnaia halves Martin's MotoGP lead with Indonesia sprint win
Francesco Bagnaia won a dramatic Indonesia MotoGP sprint race on Saturday, capitalising on an early crash by championship leader Jorge Martin to halve the Spaniard's lead to 12 points at the top of the standings.
Pramac rider Martin slid off on the first lap to gift reigning champion Bagnaia the race lead in a blow to his championship hopes with Sunday's grand prix and five race weekends to go.
"Everybody knows how important it was to gain points, we gained 12 (points). So thanks to the mistake of Jorge, we are close again," Bagnaia told reporters.
Bagnaia's teammate Enea Bastianini finished second, while six-time MotoGP champion Marc Marquez of Gresini completed the podium in third.
Martin had secured pole position at the sweltering Mandalika track on Lombok island with a lap record in qualifying but could only claw his way back to 10th place after the costly incident.
A win in the sprint would have guaranteed Martin the championship lead leaving heading into next week's Japan MotoGP, the first of five remaining race weekends in the 2024 season.
Bagnaia can now overtake Martin in the championship depending on results in Sunday's GP.
Bastianini battled with Marquez for second place but held on to finish behind his teammate.
The Italian rider, who will be replaced by Marquez at Ducati's factory team next season, is 50 points behind Martin ahead of Sunday's GP.
"I am happy. After I bring my pace and levelled up, I was a bit faster. In the last lap I tried to catch Pecco (Bagnaia) but the gap was important. The second position is okay," Bastianini told reporters.
- Marquez surge -
Marquez, who has pulled himself back into the title picture in recent weeks, made an incredible early surge from 12th to finish third after crashing twice in final qualifying earlier in the day and failing to register a lap time.
He is now 53 points behind Martin in the championship standings.
"The Q2 is a nightmare for me at the moment. But still we keep working and try to understand what is going on," the Spaniard told reporters.
Marco Bezzecchi, who survived a crash in qualifying to secure a front-row place on the grid, finished fourth.
Red Bull GasGas rider Pedro Acosta completed the front-row line-up but could only finish sixth.
Aprilia's Miguel Oliveira however was ruled out of the race weekend and left a doubt for next week's Japan MotoGP after fracturing his right wrist in Friday morning's free practice session.
MotoGP returned to Indonesia in 2022 for the first time since 1997, at a new venue on the resort island of Lombok.
X.M.Francisco--PC