Back at the front and Bastianini’s gap was at 0.8 seconds with 17 laps to go but last week’s race winner Marini suddenly found his groove, halving that advantage in just a lap. The SKY Racing Team VR46 rider then sat in behind his compatriot with now 15 laps remaining, looking like a lion ready to pounce on its tea. In that battle for a top five finish, Navarro then crashed out at Turn 9 and threw away sixth place. It resulted in the Spaniard being forced to dejectedly walk away from Jerez with zero points.

As the laps ticked away, the pressure built on Bastianini and it looked like he’d cracked after running ever so slightly wide at Turn 8. Marini was suddenly glued to his rear wheel but wasn’t able to pounce on the slight error. 12 laps remaining and Marini had his biggest look up the inside of the number 33, showing his front wheel but not just yet managing to squeeze through. Further back and the World Championship leader Tetsuta Nagashima’s (Red Bull KTM Ajo) salvage job continued, diving past former teammate Remy Gardner to go 11th after starting 15th on the grid.

Seven laps to go and Bastianini pulled the pin suddenly moving a second clear, which then became 1.5 seconds a lap later. Was it Bastianini making one final push towards victory or was it Marini accepting 20 points after collecting 25 last week, who knows but it was enough to help Bastianini to within touching distance of a maiden victory. No issues in the closing stages and the chequered flag was Bastianini’s, eventually coming across the line 2.1 seconds ahead of Marini. And for the first time since 1998, in a race won by Valentino Rossi, Italy had a podium lock-out after Bezzecchi joined his VR46 teammate on the box but not before knocking him whilst celebrating.