- 2024-11-18
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SPORTS
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MotoGP Barcelona GP: Jorge Martin Wins First MotoGP World Championship, Francesco Bagnaia Wins Finale
The finale of MotoGP 2024, Motul Solidarity Grand Prix of Barcelona took place at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Montmeló on November 17, 2024.
Pole sitter Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo) led from start to finish in the 24-lap race and completed a double victory, following the sprint race. This made him the first rider to achieve 11 wins in a season.
Marc Marquez (Gresini Ducati) was 2nd behind Francesco Bagnaia by 1.474s.
Jorge Martin (Pramac Ducati) finished 3rd, claiming his first MotoGP world championship title by 10 points over Francesco Bagnaia.
He becomes the 30th different premier class World Champion and only the fifth different Spanish rider to clinch a premier class world title.
Alex Marquez (Gresini Ducati) finished 4th, passing Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing), who had been running in 4th place, with 2 laps to go.
Aleix Espargaro finished 5th in the final race of his career.
Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM) moved up from 18th on the grid and finished 6th, overtaking Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo) on the final lap.
Franco Morbidelli (Pramac Ducati), Marco Bezzecchi (VR46 Ducati) and a rookie Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS) rounded out the top 10.- Francesco Bagnaia said, “This weekend we did everything possible. Winning 11 races, I’m speechless [compared to] what happened in the past. It’s been many years since anyone has done that. Not many have done that, I think we missed a bit of luck in the season. In terms of [races where we recorded no points] we did a bit too much, but we were absolutely the strongest all the season. Winning all those races and constantly being fast, it’s good, but today is for Jorge, who had a very good season. Jorge did a very good job. I think he understood that it was good enough to finish second many times. I think he finished second 17 times, me just twice. That can make a difference in a championship where points make you champion. He’s great. This kind of rivalry, he’s a very fair guy. It was very nice to see from the outside, and I enjoyed the season. I would like to be the champion, but sometimes it doesn’t happen. This day is for him. I want to say thanks to my team. They did an incredible job. Congratulations to Jorge.”
- Jorge Martin said, “I still can't believe it, I'm in shock! Emotions are high, I’ve cried a lot! Now I just want to celebrate with my team, family and friends. It's been a long journey. My career wasn't easy. For sure, I had good opportunities but I think I built them. I worked quite hard. I made a lot of sacrifices. Last season I had the opportunity, but I think I wasn't prepared to sign [complete the deal] let's say. But this year I felt it was my year. Thanks to Pramac, thanks to Ducati for giving me the opportunity to have an amazing bike these four years and giving me the opportunity to fight until the end with an amazing Pecco. Today the conditions were difficult, so the tyre choice wasn't easy. There were some riders on hards, some softs, some mediums. So I was really scared. I was looking at the opponents and I was like, ‘wow, they're all good’, I mean, it's really easy to be tenth if they do a good race. All the top ten had the potential to do well. I was scared, but finally I thought that the medium was the most conservative tyre choice. It wasn't easy, maybe the soft was a bit more competitive, but I did it. I just trusted in myself. I had a lot of confidence in myself that even with the ‘worst’ tyre I could be in the top nine and I was really focused. Today I enjoyed the race, I was touching the elbow, touching the shoulder like if I was training in supermoto, just training with a MotoGP! I'm so, so happy that I enjoyed the moment. I think even if it was a normal race, like in May here, I would finish third because Marc and Pecco were stronger. I did my best. But for sure the last 7 laps were a bit more difficult. I started to remember a lot of moments. I think all my career was coming through my mind. I remember my Dad, all the weekends after work training, my Mum cooking when I was racing in pocket bikes. My Grandfather that is not here and he's watching from the sky. But then I was refocusing a lot, trying to be in the moment: ‘Jorge, you need to finish the job. Nothing is done until you cross the finish line’. Already on the last lap I felt I was starting to cry, it was so emotional. I was really struggling with my mental health. Last season was great. Even after finishing second, I was quite happy. But in January I started to have a lot of fears, I was really scared. Like ‘I will never be champion in MotoGP’. So thanks to my coach I improved a lot. I was more focused on the hope of winning, than the fear of losing. If I lose, it’s OK, I'm not dying. Life is not ending. But I was with a lot of hope of winning. Not only for me, but for my team, for my people, for my family. So this helped me a lot. I think whatever comes in my future, it will be a present [after this]. For sure, I will try to be my best version. I will try to win with Aprilia, but I will enjoy now in this moment.”
Motul Solidarity Grand Prix of Barcelona Race Results- Francesco Bagnaia / Ducati Lenovo / 40m 24.74s
- Marc Marquez / Gresini Ducati / +1.474s
- Jorge Martin / Pramac Ducati / +3.810s
- Alex Marquez / Gresini Ducati / +5.322s
- Aleix Espargaro / Aprilia Racing / +5.753s
- Brad Binder / Red Bull KTM / +7.081s
- Enea Bastianini / Ducati Lenovo / +7.393s
- Franco Morbidelli / Pramac Ducati / +8.709s
- Marco Bezzecchi / VR46 Ducati / +10.484s
- Pedro Acosta / Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 / +10.618s
- Fabio Quartararo / Monster Yamaha / +10.756s
- Miguel Oliveira / Trackhouse Aprilia / +13.464s
- Jack Miller / Red Bull KTM / +14.560s
- Johann Zarco / LCR Honda / +19.469s
- Maverick Viñales / Aprilia Racing / +22.195s
- Luca Marini / Repsol Honda / +23.890s
- Takaaki Nakagami / LCR Honda / +23.960s
- Raul Fernandez / Trackhouse Aprilia / +29.001s
- Augusto Fernandez / Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 / +29.145s
- Michele Pirro / VR46 Ducati / +37.295s
- Alex Rins / Monster Yamaha / +39.138s
- Stefan Bradl / HRC Test Team / +47.654s
Photo by MotoGP - source : MotoGP
