The Grand Prix of Catalunya had barely got underway when drama of the highest order struck at the first corner. Espargaro and Quartararo got away cleanly from the front row of the grid, with Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) aiming to settle in third spot. Behind him, LCR Honda Idemitsu’s Takaaki Nakagami was trying to edge past his sparring partner from one week ago, Alex Rins, before the Japanese rider’s front-end folded and he wiped out the Team Suzuki Ecstar man. Nakagami’s head collided with the rear wheel of Bagnaia, which sent the Italian tumbling into the gravel trap as well. From the delight of Mugello to the despair of Catalunya, Bagnaia’s title bid had taken a huge dent.