The Ducati factory rider went into the race with a 14-point lead over his only remaining championship rival, Spaniard Jorge Martin, meaning fifth place or better would suffice for him to be sure of a second consecutive title.
He effectively sealed the deal on the sixth lap, when Pramac-Ducati’s Martin crashed out, ending what had been a thrilling title race.
Bagnaia also had a stroke of luck later in the race when KTM’s Jack Miller fell while at the head of the pack, handing the 26-year-old the lead.
Gresini’s Fabio Di Giannantonio and Pramac Johan Zarco, both on Ducatis, came second and third respectively.
“Amazing, I don’t have many words now. It was a long race, 27 laps of struggle because I didn’t feel good in the front,” Bagnaia said.
“I let the KTM riders past and then the feeling became better, maybe because the pressure or the temperature changed.
“From that moment I was able to push, but in the last few laps I was completely without tyres, but we did it.
“It was quite tough, but we did it. We won the title, we won the race, it’s impossible to get any better than this.”
ANSA & AAP
