Let's talk MotoGP: It was the best race of the year

Every year the question arises: what was the best MotoGP race? And in 2024, answering this question is more difficult than it seems, particularly because no round of this exercise was memorable. Are you ready? Here we go!

Some great races

What is striking, when studying this campaign, is the proportion of average races compared to good ones. Indeed, many were totally crushed by this year's four main players, namely, Jorge Martin, Pecco Bagnaia, Marc Marquez and Enea Bastianini. The domination of Ducati coupled with the drop in speed suffered by Aprilia after the first third of the season did not help in the creation of lasting memories. As I've said before, I don't think 2024 will go down in history.

Let's mention some nice games, but which were not retained by me. Please note that I am only talking about Sunday shopping here. Chronologically, the Grand Prix of the Americas was not bad, quite lively at first. The fall of Marc Marquez contributed to the dramatic dimension, it should be noted. But in the end, Vinales won by more than two seconds, it wasn't very close. The French GP was okay, with the battle for second place between Marquez and Bagnaia, but again Martin was never really worried, even in the final moments. I really liked the Sachsenring, with the fall of the “Martinator” which made me get up from my seat, but the previous twenty-odd laps were hardly lively.
The British Grand Prix, with Bastianini's victory, was also quite tasty.

The scenario of the first Grand Prix contested at Misano was appreciable; the rain helps create great moments of tension. The problem is that the outcome was decided quite early,
in retrospect. I could have included the Malaysian GP in my top 2, yes, but the huge battle between the two main leaders of the championship did not last long enough to be significant. It was very beautiful nonetheless.

The two elected

My criteria, although subjective, are quite precise. For a race to please me, there must be a close battle, and above all, tension. It must involve major players, and not drivers who usually play fifteenth place. In short, I like when something happens, a moment is created, and, sometimes, this involves falls.

So I isolated two sleeves. The first, which is not my favorite, is none other than the Australian Grand Prix. Phillip Island is always magical, as it forces our heroes to surpass themselves. In a sumptuous setting, it is easier to mark memories. This clash between Jorge Martin and
Marc Marquez, thanks to the latter, was beautiful because he was also symbolic. It was not Marquez's first victory of 2024 – it might have moved him into first place – but certainly his least circumstantial triumph. Martin, in the middle of a fight for the title, should not make any mistakes on a track which had nevertheless betrayed him the year before.

The only problem is that Bagnaia, the other protagonist, was never in the picture. He rode on the defensive, without any real ability to impose himself. The Italian still finished ten seconds behind.
Then, Marquez's overtaking of Martin didn't shock me.

An anthology race

My election, you may have guessed, took place on Spanish soil, in Jerez de la Frontera. This clash of titans between Marc Marquez and Pecco Bagnaiatwo of the most frequently crowned drivers of the 21st century, was as symbolic as it was grandiose. I liked it because the context added tension; the two had clashed in Portugal two races earlier! Bagnaia, always clinical and very clean – remember that double overtake at the end of the home straight – did not let himself be intimidated. Marquez, at home, had for the first time the opportunity to play for victory over Ducati. Jorge Martin seemed very fast, but he crashed. It's a shame, but it added spice.

It was unbreathable, on a MotoGP track no less legendary than Phillip Island. Bagnaia won the race by just three tenths, less than what separated Marquez from Martin in Australia.

In my opinion, she was still not at the level of
2023 Thai Grand Prix or 2022 San Marino Grand Prixmy favorite races of those respective years. It nonetheless remains a great vintage.

I'm curious to have your opinion on the matter. Which race impacted you the most in 2024? Tell me in the comments!

As a reminder, this article only reflects the thoughts of its author, and not of the entire editorial staff.

Cover photo: Michelin Motorsport