The 2024 Catalan Grand Prix, renamed the “Solidarity Grand Prix”, promises to be an exceptional season finale. The floods that hit the Valencia region disrupted the initial schedule, forcing organizers to move the event to Barcelona.
Barcelona hosts the final race of MotoGP 2024, an event that was originally scheduled to be held in Valencia. The storm “Dana”, which devastated Spain in recent days, hit the Valencian Community particularly hard, leaving more than 200 victims and many missing. Due to the serious damage and human impact, the Spanish authorities took the decision to move the final to Montmelò. This Grand Prix, now titled “ Barcelona Solidarity Grand Prix », will highlight various initiatives to raise funds in support of the Valencia region.
It is in this particular context that
Jorge Martin tops the world championship with 24 points in advance on
Pecco Bagnaia. The latter, to hope to win the title, will not only have to win the race, but also count on an error of Martin. If this scenario does not materialize, Martin will become MotoGP world champion for the first time before joining
Aprilia.
Other battles will also be on the program, notably for third place in the championship.
Marc Marquezin his last race with Gresini Racing before his departure to Ducatiet
Enea Bastianiniwhich will take the path of
KTM next year, are currently fighting for this position, with Marquez in the lead, two points ahead Bastianini. In parallel, Marco Bezzecchi (who will leave VR46 Racing Team to join Aprilia) and Franco Morbidelli (who will move to VR46 Racing Team) could also sneak into the top 5.
The coming weekend will also be special for
Apriliawho will see Maverick Viñales et Aleix Espargaró on the RS-GP for the last time. If Vinales changes course by joining KTM alongside
Bastianinipour Espargarothis will be the end of his competitive career, since he will become a test pilot for Honda next year. Only a few wild cards will allow him to get back on the track.
Chez KTM, Pedro Acostarookie of the year, will look to conclude his brilliant season before joining the official team, alongside Brad
Binder. This will also be the last race for
Jack Miller on the RC16 before its transfer to
Yamaha in 2025, just as for Augusto Fernandez.
After the presentations, what will this start of the last meeting of the season have in store for us? Before you know it, here is the table that summarizes the facts known so far.
| MotoGP™ Barcelona, Spain | 5-2024 | 11-2024 |
| FP1 | 1’39.579 Jorge Martin (See here) | |
| Practice | 1’38.562 Aleix Espargaro (See here) | |
| FP2 | 1’39.294 Aleix Espargaro (See here) | |
| Q1 | 1'38.208 Fabio Di Giannantonio (See here) | |
| Q2 | 1’38.190 Aleix Espargaro (See here) | |
| Sprint | Espargaro, Marc Marquez, Acosta (See here) | |
| Warm Up | 1'39.505 Enea Bastianini (See here) | |
| Grand Prix | Bagnaia, Martin, Marc Marquez (See here) | |
| Record | 1’38.190 Aleix Espargaro (See here) |
Barcelona here we come!!!
The last of the last awaits us this long weekend, a grand finale which will see a driver become world champion…a happy one…and his runner-up…a little less happy…
Here we go!!!
FP1 MotoGP standings for the 2024 Barcelona Grand Prix:
Classification credit: Motogp.com
