Martin walks the tightrope towards glory, Bagnaia goes all out: #TheRematch reaches its conclusion in Catalonia. and it all comes down to this. After 19 Grands Prix around the world, the paddock returns to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for the Barcelona Motul Solidarity Grand Prix – an event with a purpose beyond the purely sporting, and where the highest sporting distinction in MotoGP will be in game.
At the end of Sunday, we know we will have a World Champion, and it could even be sooner. We also know that it will be Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) or Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) lifting the crown. But which one? That remains to be decided as #TheRematch reaches its conclusion.
The suitors
Betting against Martin – with his 24-point advantage and his impressive pace throughout the schedule and conditions – is a risky bet. #89 has rarely made a mistake in recent weeks and appears to be a different choice compared to this time last year. All the little details add up to a picture of a pilot about to close the deal. But his pace in the previous Catalan GP was no match for key rival Bagnaia, and it’s not really over until it’s over. Millimeters separate glory from gravel in MotoGP and that line is even harder to cross when the moment actually arrives.
For Bagnaia, in the meantime, the tightrope is purely on the track. There’s no mental arithmetic to do and no questioning about what to put on the table. It’s a binary choice: all or nothing. And in these situations, something seems to unlock in the reigning Champion. “I must, so I will.” Even during the Sprint at Sepang, the must was not to win, the must was to take the risk. And he did it. Then it didn’t pay off. Another Saturday and another location, maybe it will work. With a different pace to the rivals around them, maybe it will work. With the tightrope for the driver he’s chasing now giving Martin a direct line of sight to the trophy, maybe it will work.
‘It’s complicated’
There are two usual suspects that Martin and Bagnaia will be keeping an eye on this weekend. In the purple corner, Martin will hope that Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP) et Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) are unable to keep up with the duo in the fight for the title. A repeat of Malaysia. Bastianini finished the race a little short of victory and Marquez also admitted that he simply didn’t have the pace to get involved in the fascinating battle. And then #93 also fell.
Having Marquez and Bastianini out of the equation in both the Sprint and the race is the dream scenario for Martin. On the other hand, it would be a nightmare for Bagnaia. “I need Enea,” was the fact, confirmed by Pecco at the post-race press conference in Malaysia. Not for team orders, simply to take points from Martin. #1 could also benefit from Marquez doing the same. But unlike Bastianini, a fast and fit #93 could also play against Pecco. This dynamic between the top four in May’s Catalan GP will be fascinating to watch on Friday afternoon and during qualifying before even arriving at the show…
The face-off for fifth place
There could be many more protagonists to face too. Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) finished on the Sprint podium in Barcelona and the rookie will be eager to return to the podium before the end of the year. In addition, there is a great inter-manufacturer fight for the P5 between the Spaniard and Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing). It’s 209 points to 206 in favor of Acosta, so the South African – who hasn’t been on a Sunday podium since Qatar – will be looking for podium form after a difficult end to his Malaysian GP .
There is another driver in the P5 image too. Although it was an outside chance, the last weekend of Maverick Viñales as an Aprilia Racing rider could see Top Gun finish the year with the ‘best of the rest’ title before switching allegiances to the machines he hopes to beat this weekend. 20 points separate Acosta, Binder and Viñales, so this is a secondary battle to keep an eye on.
Loyalties tested
Elsewhere, Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP) will look to confirm its strong performance at Sepang with a strong end-of-season race on its home turf. His GP23 compatriot, Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team), did not have the same success at Sepang and will hope that his last race under the aegis of VR46 and Ducati will bring him better results. Time will tell. And we know that Ducati’s trusted test rider, Michele Pirrowill take the reins from Fabio Di Giannantonio for the last round of the season, which can sometimes cause a bit of stress in Q2 for the others.
You can also consider Franco Morbidelli as a serious threat. Prima Pramac Racing could seek help from the Italian if Martin needs it, but can Morbidelli – who was in P4 before crashing out at Sepang – get himself back into contention? And where will the loyalties of VR46 Academy members lie if a situation arises? Another thing to watch out for…
Hat !
In the meantime, keeping an eye on the front was the name of the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP game in Malaysia. Fabio Quartararo achieved a P5 in the Sprint and a P6 on Sunday, both best results of the season, and they were not achieved by luck. In fact, bad luck – with the Frenchman involved in that early crash on Sunday – almost worked against them. Alex Rins also achieved its best race result of the year with a P8, so can the Iwata factory confirm this success in the closing race? This is a track where they have had a lot of speed and success before.
Swan Songs
One driver who will be looking to replicate his performance from before is the one sitting on the other side of the box from Viñales – Aleix Espargaro. The Catalan GP Sprint King is ready for his final race as a full-time MotoGP rider, and although notable results have been hard to come by in recent weeks, Espargaro loves the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. And, as we know, if Espargaro is able to do so, #41 will likely be there to lend his close friend Martin as much support as possible…
The Catalan GP was the exceptional weekend of Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse Racing MotoGP) in 2024 as well. Leading the Sprint and securing a P6 would be a great reward for the Spaniard on a track that traditionally suits RS-GP, after a more difficult period recently. Fernandez and Trackhouse will also host Miguel Oliveira after the Portuguese star missed the last five races due to injury. Will #88 be able to enjoy his last moment on the Aprilia before a new adventure awaits him?
Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) will be keen to put his Malaysian GP crash behind him in his farewell weekend with KTM, while his Pierer Mobility Group compatriot, Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3), is aiming for another positive weekend before a new adventure awaits the 2022 Moto2 world champion.
In the HRC camp, Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) carried the torch to Malaysia as the Frenchman impressed again, but P11 is not what he – nor Honda – come to race for. Can he, along with the Repsol Hondas of Joan Mir et Luca Marinimake improvements? They gradually did this throughout the season. And how Takaaki Nakagami (IDEMITSU Honda LCR) will he fare as the Japanese star retires from full-time MotoGP racing? It will also be a swan song for him, and probably an emotional moment.
For many, it is the end of an era. For others, it’s a chance to leave on a high note and embark on a new challenge – with Tuesday’s test seeing so many changes. For the 2024 Championship, it is a final weekend which will decide the destination of the crown and perhaps also the #1 plate. Because Martin is another one who is heading towards new horizons.
Before all that, there are 24 points, two drivers… and 37 at stake. Stay tuned as the most exciting sport in the world goes #RacingForValencia and delivers one last spectacle of the season!
SHOWTIME
SATURDAY
Sprint Tissot : 15:00 (UTC +1)
Sunday
Grand Prix: 14:00 (UTC +1)
Source : MotoGP
