Francesco “Pecco” Bagnaia won the FIM MotoGP World Championship race Sunday at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, in Spain. Riding his Lenovo Ducati, the two-time and defending Champion won the 24-lap race by 1.740 seconds.

Jorge Martin, the current World Championship point leader, was the runner-up on his Prima Pramac Racing Ducati.

Gresini Racing’s six-time MotoGP World Champion Marc Marquez charged forward from 14th on the grid to make it a Ducati sweep of the podium. Marquez held off Aleix Espargaro by a fraction of a second to take third.

Espargaro, who on Thursday announced plans to retire at the end of the season, finished fourth on his factory Aprilia RS-GP.

Fabio Di Giannantonio rounded out the top five finishers on his Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Ducati.

Bagnaia’s teammate Enea Bastianini was given a Long Lap penalty for cutting the track at Turn Two. Bastianini did not comply with the Long Lap penalty and for this he was then given a Double Long Lap penalty. He did not comply with the Double Long Lap penalty, which incurred a Ride-Through penalty. Then when Bastianini failed to serve the Ride-Through penalty, he was assessed a 32-second time penalty after the race, dropping him from ninth to 18th and out of the points.

More, from a press release issued by Dorna:

Bagnaia banishes Barcelona demons to deny Martin with statement win, Marquez makes late podium attack

After a Saturday to forget it was a Sunday to remember for the reigning Champion as he hits back to outpace Martin – with #MM93 charging up the order to make it a familiar top three

Sunday, 26 May 2024

After missing an open goal win on Saturday, Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) came out swinging on Sunday at the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya. The reigning Champion needed to make a statement and take some serious points, and that he did on both counts. Quick out the blocks from the start before ceding the lead early doors to Championship leader Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing), Bagnaia put in a relentless push to catch the #89, pounce once on the scene, and then edge away to pocket those 25 points on Sunday. 

Behind Martin, the fight to complete the podium boiled down to the duel between Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) and Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing), and it was almost a photo finish but the #93 took the spoils – making it three Grand Prix podiums in a row for Marquez for the first time since 2019. It was also another stunning comeback ride, this time from P14 on the grid.

As the lights went out, it was a showdown on the brakes into T1 but Bagnaia just held on for the holeshot ahead of Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3), with Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) also moving up but the #33 into third. Martin got a good start this time round, taking over in fourth, with polesitter Espargaro the main party losing out.

Into Turn 10 on Lap 1, we had the first big move as Martin made an absolute lunge on Binder, but he got the job done and cleanly enough. It also left a small gap up the road to the leading duo of Bagnaia and Acosta, but it didn’t take long for that gap to close because it didn’t take long for the leading duo to start making moves amongst themselves.

Acosta’s first attack came at Turn 10 after a couple of laps staring at the rear of the Ducati, but Bagnaia kept it tight to immediately take it back. Acosta’s foot was even off the peg. That closed everything up again, with Martin then right on their heels and Binder not too far behind either. Turn 10 staged another one next time round, this time for Championship leader Martin on the rookie – and Acosta was forced to cede it. And again next time around, this time as Martin left it oh-so-late to attack for the lead, taking over before they crossed the line for 19 to go.

The party at Turn 10 didn’t stop there. Next time round there was another decisive move as Acosta attacked Bagnaia and took back over in second, and in a matter of apexes the rookie was back on the exhaust of race leader Martin, looking impatient.

Meanwhile, the squabble behind was heating up. Bagnaia had some breathing space in third but Binder, Espargaro and Raul Fernandez were locked together. After stalking his prey for a while, Espargaro then was able to just nudge ahead into Turn 1, before Raul Fernandez attacked the KTM into Turn 3. Brutal but clean, Binder was pushed back to sixth.

However, that soon become fifth as big drama hit for Acosta. After lighting it up there earlier, it all then came apart for the rookie at Turn 10 as he slid off, leaving Martin just over a second clear in the lead and Bagnaia now the rider on the chase. From there, the chess match began.

Lap after lap, the gap was coming down as the #1 chipped away. A few hundredths here and there, each sector just enough to gain a few extra metres, a mere tenth per lap. But an absolutely relentless tenth per lap. And once he was there, Bagnaia wasted absolutely no time in making his attack. 

With six laps to go, the reigning Champion made his move – and at exactly the place he let big spoils go begging in the Tissot Sprint: Turn 5. No drama, no contact, and nothing Martin could do, the roles were now reversed.

The relentless pace from the #1 continued, however, and the battle of the laptimes was slipping from Martin’s grasp. The gap eked out, came back down slightly and then suddenly went up again. The jig was up as Martin started to fade, leaving Bagnaia with the same task as Saturday: keep it on the same rails to the flag. This time, it was a faultless performance as the Ducati Lenovo rider cuts the gap back to 39 points and Martin, this time round, has to settle for second.

Meanwhile, Marc Marquez was now on the tailpipes of Espargaro. The #93 pulled a carbon copy of the move the Aprilia rider put on Binder a few laps before and was into third – now he just had to hold onto it. After announcing his retirement at the end of 2024 just ahead of the event and taking pole and the Sprint win, the incentive was even bigger than normal for the #41 to make an attack, and he clawed his way onto the back of the Gresini by the final lap. But there was no way through that would have allowed both to finish, so it came down to the final drag to the line – with Marquez just staying ahead for that podium from P14 on the grid.

Espargaro takes fourth to complete an incredible weekend on home turf, with a late charge from Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) seeing the Italian just pip Raul Fernandez to fifth. Still, after a maiden front row and having led the Sprint, P6 concludes a great weekend for the #25 and Trackhouse Racing – it’s the team’s best result yet.

Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) charged through to seventh as Binder lost out later in the race to finish P8. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) kept ahead of Miguel Oliveira (Trackhouse Racing) as they completed the top ten. Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team), Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing), Acosta after remounting, Takaaki Nakagami (IDEMITSU Honda LCR) and Joan Mir (Repsol Honda Team) completed the points.

There’s one name missing from that last who did cross the line ahead of a few of them, but the FIM MotoGP™ Stewards v Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) intervened. The ‘Beast’ had a dramatic race after he went wide following an attack from Alex Marquez, was deemed to have not lost enough time cutting Turn 2, and then given a Long Lap. He didn’t agree with that, countering he’d lost time from the #AM73 move, so he rode on. He then got a double Long Lap and served one, unsure if it might have been for another incident, and didn’t serve the second – so it became a ride through. The protest vote rolled on from the #23 and he didn’t take that in time either, so it ended up as a 32s time penalty, the equivalent of a trip through pitlane. Acrimony low but commitment to opinion high, he’ll be looking to prove a point at Mugello.

That’s just next week, as luck would have it, with the spectacular Tuscan venue ready to welcome the world’s most exciting sport for the Gran Premio d’Italia Brembo. Join us then for more as the statement wins just keep on coming – and the history just keeps getting made.

Ogura puts in a masterclass for first win since 2022 as Aldeguer falters

There was a twist in the tale for Moto2™ at the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya, and after showing some searing pace once at the front, Ai Ogura (MT Helmets – MSI) leaves Barcelona victorious for the first time since the 2022 Japanese Grand Prix. Ogura charged through the field from 10th managing to get the better of teammate Sergio Garcia in the closing laps, making it another MT Helmets – MSI one-two. Jake Dixon (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team) was overcome with joy after picking up his first podium of the year in what has so far been a difficult season. And the twist? Initial leader Fermin Aldeguer (MB Conveyors SpeedUp) got a Long Lap for track limits and then crashed out as he entered the LLP loop.

Once the lights went out it was a flying start from Garcia as he converted his pole position into the race lead at Turn 1. Teammate Ogura rocketed from 10th on the grid and somehow snuck up into the top three as they reached the end of the straight.

Back at the front, it didn’t take Aldeguer long to steal away the race lead. He dived to the inside of his fellow Boscoscuro rider Garcia at Turn 10 on Lap 3, and then set about putting the hammer down as he asked questions of the Moto2™ sophomore. Pushing hard, Aldeguer did manage to make a gap before Garcia started to close him back in, and then the LLP for track limits added the first twist for the #54.

As they crossed the line to start lap 15, Garcia was nearly in a position to pounce. But he didn’t need to. Entering the long lap penalty loop at Turn 1, Aldeguer tucked the front on the brakes as he desperately tried to lose as little time as possible but in the end he lost all chance of victory.

Garcia was promoted to the lead but then just as he could breathe a sigh of relief, a second threat quickly became very visible. Ogura had sneakily taken two seconds out of his teammate in three laps.

The pivotal moment came at Turn 1 on Lap 18 as Ogura slipstreamed past Garcia and then from there rode home to a clear victory in the end by almost four seconds. Amazingly, that’s Ogura’s first win since he won in his homeland of Japan back in 2022. The final laps of held breath turned to elation at the chequered flag as the MT Helmets – MSI squad secured a brilliant Barcelona one-two. Dixon in third was delighted to be back on the podium after a torrid start to 2024.

Jeremy Alcoba (Yamaha VR46 Master Camp Team) took a fine fourth as he just edged out a brilliant performance from Senna Agius (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) who took fifth – serving a long lap penalty on the way too, for track limits.

Alonso Lopez (MB Conveyors SpeedUp) dropped to eighth after struggling to hold onto the pace in the closing laps. Championship hopeful Joe Roberts (OnlyFans American Racing Team) took 9th in a disappointing day for his championship challenge, but it was better than it was at the line as he was promoted to ninth from  after both Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) and Zonta Van den Goorbergh (RW-Idrofoglia Racing GP) had to drop positions post-race.

The Grand Prix paddock heads to Mugello in one week’s time for the iconic Gran Premio d’Italia Brembo, so join us there for more!

 
Catch me if you can: Alonso pulls the pin for fourth win of the year

David Alonso (CFMoto Gaviota Aspar Team) played his cards to perfection in the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya, pouncing when it counted and then upping the pace to hold off the chasing pack to the flag. The victory, his fourth of the season, also makes him the new Moto3™ World Championship leader. Just behind, Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets – MSI) converted his maiden pole into a podium in P2, with Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) back on the box in third.

After a scrappy start with many almost on the grass, Ortola emerged with a few bike lengths lead in the first half of the first lap – but Dani Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3), up from P9 on the grid, was soon reeling him in. David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports) did the Rossi-Razgatlioglu move on Holgado at end of the lap to take over in second, but by the time they got into Turn 1 it was all change on the chase. Ortola led Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) led Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia), but the Japanese rider then got the notification to serve his double Long Lap given on Saturday, and Muñoz his single LLP. The race was on to move back through.

The freight train rolled on at the front with Ortola, Veijer and Holgado leading the way, but by six or seven to go Alonso was starting to get busy. Over the line as the final five laps began, the Colombian was trying to stretch the group out from the front – with Ortola, Veijer and Holgado just about hanging in there as a gap started to grow behind the top four.

As the laps ticked on though, the picture changed again. Holgado was fading slightly into the clutches of Rueda and Muñoz, and once Rueda was past the Championship leader he was able to claw back onto the leading trio. As the last lap began, it was once again a quartet, this time with Rueda in the ranks. The first move came from the number 99, getting past Veijer at Turn 4. But that would prove the last, with the pace so hot and the limit so close for each that no door was left open and no sensible chance possible.

Alonso crossed the line a quarter of a second clear to take the Championship lead, with Ortola denied a home win but taking another podium as he builds some momentum after some bad luck and trouble earlier in the season. Rueda, after an even tougher start to 2024 with appendicitis and a couple of on track dramas, takes a second podium of the season and his third in Grand Prix racing after an impressive late attack.

Veijer was just too far back to slipstream it and takes fourth, with Muñoz completing the top five despite that LLP. Holgado, meanwhile, faded to sixth and loses that points lead, now 14 points off Alonso.

It was a standout ride from Luca Lunetta (SIC58 Squadra Corse) in seventh, with the Italian rookie hanging on to the front group for much of the race and then taking an impressive P7. A huge group fight behind went all the way back to 14th, and it was another rookie heading that as Jacob Roulstone (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) took P8. Filippo Farioli (SIC58 Squadra Corse) was next up and just beat Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) to ninth and they completed the top ten.

Next up it’s the stunning Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello next weeked. Can Alonso extend that advantage? 

More, from a press release issued by Michelin:

New records in MotoGP™ and MotoE™

• The 6th round of the MotoGP FIM World Championship and the 5th & 6th rounds of the FIM ENEL MotoE™ World Championship kept all their promises in terms of spectacle and high-level performances.

• The MICHELIN Power Slick ranges for MotoGP, as well as the tyres specifically developed for the electric motorcycles in MotoE, enabled riders to set several new records.

• In MotoGP Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) set the all-time circuit lap record of 1’38.190. In MotoE, the new lap benchmark is now held by Nicholas Spinelli (Tech 3 E-Racing) at 1’48.025.
 
 

On the 4.627 km Catalan circuit, with its six left and eight right turns, the main challenge of the weekend was the lack of grip. In such cases, riders adapt their riding and the traction control of their motorcycles to limit the amount of rear tyre slippage and restrict its rise in temperature, so that its performance over time is not impacted. On this circuit where everyone had plenty of space to express themselves, it was therefore necessary to show some restraint. To help the riders get the most out of their tyres in such conditions, Michelin’s technical teams provided them with much support.

For the 2024 Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya, Michelin’s partners had at their disposal three symmetrical compounds of front tyres (Soft, Medium, Hard) and two asymmetrical rears (Soft and Medium) – due to greater number of right turns, the right shoulder of the rear tyres was reinforced. For the Sprint race, all riders selected the Medium compound for the front, and the Soft for the rear. For the Grand Prix, it was once again the Medium that was chosen by everyone for the front, and this time the majority opted for the rear – with four riders opting for the Soft tyres: Marc and Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing), Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech 3) and Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM).

“The riders managed our tyres to compensate for the lack of grip, and this was helped by the appropriate set-up of their motorcycle,” confirms Piero Taramasso, Michelin two-wheel competition manager. “During the first test sessions, our partners tried all the compounds available to them, and they quickly identified the Soft and Medium options as the best for the front. For the rear, the Soft was a source of superior performance in absolute terms, but the Medium tyre offered them more peace of mind over time. However, as we saw in the Grand Prix, the Soft was also a choice that could pay off despite the high track temperature (46°C). In addition to Marc Marquez’s podium, I noted that Pedro Acosta’s new race lap record was set on a Soft tyre, and that he was able to climb up to 13th place after his early fall, attacking until the last corners of the Grand Prix. These facts underline the extraordinary versatility of our tyres, irrespective of their specificities and their normal operating windows. Finally, all the records broken this weekend once again confirm our technological leadership, and the benefits provided by our new rubber compounds.”

On Saturday afternoon, the Sprint race (12 laps) was won by Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing), ahead of Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing) and Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech 3).

On Sunday, the 24 lap Grand Prix saw victory for Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), ahead of Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing), and Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing).

Alongside the all-time circuit lap record, MotoGP riders recorded two new records this weekend:

The race lap record, achieved in 1’39.664 by Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech 3) on the 7th lap of the Grand Prix.

The duration of the Grand Prix, which has been reduced by more than 10 seconds, to 40’11.726.
 

Fifth and sixth rounds of the FIM ENEL MotoE™ World Championship

During eight European Grands Prix, electric motorcycles supplied by Ducati compete at the rate of two races per round (a total of 16 races). In Barcelona, ​​it was a matter of covering 7 laps twice, first on Saturday lunchtime, then again less than an hour after the finish of the Sprint race.

During the first of the two races, it was the Catalan rider Oscar Gutierrez (Axxis-MSI) who won in front of his home crowd. He finished ahead of Eric Granado (LCR E-Team) and Kevin Zannoni (Open Bank Aspar Team). On the 5th of the 7 laps, Oscar Gutierrez broke the MotoE circuit lap record, with a time of 1’48”025.

A little later in the day, the second round of MotoE saw victory for Kevin Zannoni (Open Bank Aspar Team), ahead of Oscar Gutierrez (Axxis-MSI) and Alessandro Zaccone (Tech 3 E-Racing).

“Our new tyres are also proving their worth here,” continues Piero Taramasso. “This weekend we were able to note the continued increase in performance of the Ducati electric motorcycles, with new record times and a constantly increasing level of spectacle. We now look forward to seeing our MotoE tyre ranges, whose composition is focused on the preservation of natural resources, on the Mugello circuit next week.”

The electric motorcycles in the 2024 FIM Enel MotoE World Championship are all equipped with Michelin tyres containing 53% of renewable and recycled materials at the rear, and 49% at the front (compared to 52% and 34% respectively last year). In addition, the rear tyres are distinguished by a particular tread design, with ephemeral patterns and a velvet appearance, that disappear during the initial laps.

The 7th round of the MotoGP World Championship, as well as the 4th round of the FIM Enel MotoE World Championship, will take place next weekend, from 31 May to 2 June on the Mugello circuit (Italy), at the Gran Premio d’Italia Brembo.
 
 
 

About Michelin

Michelin’s ambition is to sustainably improve its customers’ mobility. The leader in the mobility sector, Michelin designs, manufactures, and distributes the tires best suited to their requirements and uses as well as services and solutions to improve transport efficacy. Michelin also puts forward offers that allow its customers to enjoy unique moments when traveling. Michelin also develops high-technology equipment intended for multiple fields. Based in Clermont-Ferrand, Michelin is present in 175 countries, employs 132,200 people and operates 67 tire factories that, together, produced approximately 167 million tires in 2022. (www.michelin.com).

Ai Ogura won the FIM Moto2 World Championship race Sunday at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, in Spain. Starting 10th on the grid, Ogura was able to come through the field and pull away to win the 21-lap race by 3.816 seconds on his MT Helmets – MSI Boscoscuro.

Ogura’s teammate Sergio Garcia, the current World Championship point leader, took the checkered flag in second place.

British rider Jake Dixon came home third on his CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team Kalex, earning only his second point-scoring finish of the season.

OnlyFans American Racing Team’s Joe Roberts was one of several riders who were assessed Long Lap penalties for exceeding track limits during the race, but the American was still able to finish eighth and hang on to second place in the point standings.

More, from a press release issued by Pirelli:

Pirelli revolutionises the Catalunya GP records, Ogura and Alonso win

All-time track and race lap records substantially improved on in both categories with significant improvements in overall race times as well

The streak of records broken by Pirelli in the Moto2™ and Moto3™ World Championships continues. At the Catalunya GP, raced on the Montmelò track, the DIABLO™ Superbike slicks once again contributed to breaking the all-time track and race lap records in both categories, also significantly reducing the overall race times.

In Moto2™, Ai Ogura (MT Helmets-MSI/Boscoscuro) took the win after a spectacular comeback ride from the tenth spot on the grid. Another victory – his fourth this year – went to David Alonso (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team/CFMOTO), who firmly leads in the Moto3™ standings with 118 championship points.

Giorgio Barbier, Motorcycle Racing Director

Completely rewritten records and increasingly faster races
 

“We are undoubtedly extremely satisfied with the performance of our tyres this weekend and I think that the teams and riders also share this satisfaction. Everyone knows that the Montmeló circuit is a rather demanding track in terms of tyres because of the low grip and it is hard on the front tyres, so this difficult setting only makes the results achieved that much more impressive. Thanks in part to the performance of our tyres, numerous records were set, but the most impressive part of this is by how much these records were broken, because it isn’t a matter of shaving off a little time, but rather drastically better times than in the past. The new all-time track record in Moto2 was broken by more than 1 second and in Moto3 by an incredible 1.5 seconds. In Moto2, the new race lap record is more than 1 second faster than the previous one with 12 riders breaking the old record. In Moto3, it was broken by 1.5 seconds and no fewer than 17 riders beat the previous lap record. And then there are the overall race times. The Moto2 race was 18 seconds faster than in 2023 and the Moto3 time was a full 35 seconds faster, so an average of almost 2 seconds per lap faster than 2023. These are significant numbers that clarify the idea of what kind of progress is being made compared with previous years and we are convinced that throughout the year, the teams and riders will continue to improve as they get to know our tyres better and better.” 

The Race Of The Tyres

Moto2™
 

· Rider choice was unanimous for the rear tyre. Everyone was on the starting grid with the soft SC0. Front tyre choice was more varied, with about half of the 32 riders on the soft SC1 and the other half on the medium SC2. All three riders on the podium used the soft SC1 at the front.
 

· Japanese rider Ai Ogura (MT Helmets-MSI/Boscoscuro) won the race, which ran 21 laps, in 36’33.540, a time almost 18 seconds faster than 2023 with an average improvement per lap of about 9 tenths and asphalt temperatures 10°C higher than those in 2023.
 

· Before crashing out of the race, Fermín Aldeguer (MB Conveyors SpeedUp/Boscoscuro) set the new race lap record with a time of 1’42.688 on the second lap, breaking the old one by more than 1 second, which had been set by Raul Fernandez in 2021 (1’43.757). In addition to the Spaniard, another eleven riders did at least one lap faster than the previous track record time.
 

Moto3™
 

· With asphalt temperatures close to 40°C, most of the riders on the grid opted for tyres in the medium SC2 compound for both the front and the rear. In fact, 19 out of 27 riders chose this combination and 25 of them put on the SC2 front. Choosing the medium SC2 for both axles was also race winner David Alonso (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team/CFMOTO) and pole man (and second-place finisher) Iván Ortolá (MT Helmets-MSI/KTM).
 

· Only 6 riders used the soft SC1 at the rear, including Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP/Husqvarna) and Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo/KTM) who, starting respectively from the second and third spots on the grid, finished fourth and third.
 

· The race (overall time 32’25.084) was almost 35 seconds faster than the 2023 race (33’00.945), with an average improvement per lap of almost 2 seconds.
 

· Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo/KTM), with SC2 front and rear tyres, set the new race lap record with a time of 1’46.748 on the penultimate of the 18 total laps, breaking the previous record by almost 1.5 seconds which had been set by Darryn Binder in 2021 (1’48.209). Overall, 17 riders dropped below the previous track race lap record.

David Alonso won the FIM Moto3 World Championship race Sunday at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, in Spain. Riding his Gaviota Aspar Team CFMOTO, the Colombian was able to win the 18-lap race by a scant 0.242 second and move into the World Championship point lead.

Pole-sitter Ivan Ortola was a close second on his MT Helmets – MSI KTM, and Jose Antonio Rueda was equally close in third on his Red Bull KTM Ajo machine.

Just two days after announcing plans to retire at the end of the season, Spaniard Aleix Espargaro thrilled his home country fans by winning the MotoGP Tissot Sprint Race Saturday at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

Riding his factory Aprilia RS-GP on Michelin control tires, Espargaro won the 12-lap race by 0.892 second.

After a rough time in qualifying left him 14th on the grid, six-time MotoGP World Champion Marc Márquez charged forward on his Gresini Racing Ducati to finish second.

Rookie sensation Pedro Acosta celebrated his 20th birthday by racing for the lead and finishing a close third, right behind Marquez.

Championship point leader Jorge Martin got fourth on his Prima Pramac Racing Ducati, and Enea Bastianini rounded out the top five finishers on Lenovo Ducati.

Bastianini’s teammate, two-time and defending MotoGP World Champion Francesco Bagnaia crashed out of the lead on the last lap of the race.

More, from a press release issued by Dorna:

Espargaro wins, Bagnaia slides out, Marquez takes on Acosta in dramatic Sprint in Barcelona

Big opportunities go begging on Saturday as the Tissot Sprint serves up the drama, with three riders crashing from the front

Saturday, 25 May 2024

Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) took victory in a dramatic Tissot Sprint at the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya, keeping it faultless to the flag as not one, not two, but three different leaders slid out.

First was a heartbreaker for Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse Racing) as the maiden front row starter was building a gap and then overcooked Turn 10 in the early stages. Second was a tumble at Turn 5 for Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) just after he’d fought off the affections of rookie Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3), and then finally and arguably crucially, reigning Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) saw his hopes of a first Sprint win of the season turn to dust on the final lap as he slid out at Turn 5. 

Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) vs Acosta then became the battle to complete the podium behind Espargaro, with the #93 turning the tables on the rookie at Turn 1 as they went toe-to-toe on the brakes.

As the lights went out, Bagnaia took the holeshot from second on the grid, with Acosta slicing up to lead the chase. Binder also got a fast start to move up but then lost out again to Raul Fernandez as the Aprilia slotted into third.

It didn’t take long for Acosta to attack for the lead, but it likewise didn’t take long for Bagnaia to hit back. Raul Fernandez was harrying them though, and as Acosta attacked into Turn 1 on Lap 3 and took it back, the Trackhouse machine lined up the reigning Champion at Turn 3.

Then it was all change in glorious but relatively clean havoc at the front, with Raul Fernandez emerging as the race leader after barging past Acosta. The Trackhouse machine was absolutely flying as Binder and the rookie duelled just behind him, both the position and some extra RC16 glory on the line. Once Acosta made it stick at Turn 1, Fernandez was already eight tenths clear. But suddenly, it then all came apart for the Trackhouse rider as he slid out at Turn 10, rider ok but head in hands.

From there, Binder vs Acosta looked like it would light up the battle for the lead, but the 33 got the upper hand and started to build a gap – leaving Bagnaia to wrestle with Acosta instead. Soon enough though the second race leader to slide out became Binder, the front end of the KTM saying goodbye at Turn 5.

That left the lead as a duel between Bagnaia and Acosta, or vice versa. Turn 1 was the battle ground and the rookie pulled what was fast-becoming his Barcelona signature move, but the #1 was quick to find an answer up the kerb on the inside of Turn 3. Brutal? Yes. Job done? Yes. From there Bagnaia started to build a gap, and Espargaro was on the march next to test out Acosta’s defenses, finding a way through to take up the chase on the reigning Champion.

That left the master and the apprentice locked in battle over third: Acosta led Marc Marquez. And this time, in a beautiful reverse of that statement Turn 1 move the #31 has been revelling in, it was Acosta under attack as the #93 sailed into the corner side by side with the rookie, taking over in third.

The final drama was dealt on the very final lap. Seeming like he had it in his pocket, Bagnaia was then suddenly sliding out at Turn 5, seeing what could have been a key haul of points disappear in the gravel trap as Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) suffered a tougher Sprint outside podium contention. Espargaro swept through for the spoils, in just enough clear air to ensure he held on for that fairytale win.

Marquez held off Acosta round the final sector too, and what could have been a key title swing proved much less as Martin’s drama-free Sprint saw him take P4 despite not having initially had the pace for it. Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) made a solid comeback from outside the top ten on the grid to complete the top five, and with that moves back into the top three in the standings too as Bagnaia drops to fourth.

Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) was sixth – finishing in the same position he started and taking some solid Saturday points. Jack Miller brought the remaining Red Bull KTM Factory Racing machine to seventh after battling with Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing), who rounded out the top eight after charging from 12th. The final point in the Sprint went the way of Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team’s Marco Bezzecchi, having sliced up from P16 on the grid, with everything still up for grabs on Sunday.

As the dust settles, there are even more questions for Sunday than before. Can Bagnaia hit back? Has Martin got more? And will we have another stunning battle in Barcelona? After some big opportunities went begging in the Sprint, find out who’s taking the spoils on Sunday at 14:00 (UTC +2)!

Sergio Garcia took pole position during Moto2 World Championship qualifying Saturday at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, in Spain. Riding his MT Helmets – MSI Boscoscuro on Pirelli control tires, the Spaniard covered the 2.9-mile (4.7 km) track in 1:41.894, earning pole position and breaking the All-Time Lap Record of 1:41.917 he set Saturday morning.

Fermin Aldeguer was the best of the rest with a 1:42.134 on his MB Conveyors SpeedUp Boscoscuro, and Red Bull KTM Ajo rider Celestino Vietti claimed the third and final spot on the front with a time of 1:42.182 on his Kalex.

After running near the top all day Friday and again on Saturday morning, American Joe Roberts slipped to ninth in qualifying with a 1:42.364 on his OnlyFans American Racing Team Kalex.

The top 17 qualifiers were covered by less than one second.

Ivan Ortola grabbed pole position during FIM Moto3 World Championship qualifying Saturday at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, in Spain. Riding his MT Helmets – MSI KTM, the Spaniard lapped the 2.9-mile (4.7 km) course in 1:46.749 to top the field of 27 riders.

More, from a press release issued by Dorna:

Espargaro takes fairytale pole to head Bagnaia and Raul Fernandez as Marc Marquez misses the cut

A second pole of the season for Aprilia, a maiden front row for Trackhouse, no ticket to Q2 for #MM93 and a tumble for Martin: the storylines overflow in qualifying

Saturday, 25 May 2024

The fairytale continues for Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing)! After announcing he’ll bow out at the end of the season, he went fastest on Friday and followed it up with pole position at the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya. Reigning Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) is second on the grid by just 0.031s, with a P3 for Raul Fernandez confirmed just after the session after his best lap was reinstated to give both the #25 and Trackhouse Racing their maiden front row.

Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) had celebrated that third in parc ferme before a review showed Raul Fernandez had gone through green panels, not yellow flags, on his best lap, but the KTM rider nevertheless starts fourth and a full 18 places ahead of Le Mans as he bounced back from that in style.

Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), meanwhile, will face a similar mountain to climb as he did in France, starting P14 after failing to make it through Q1.

Q1: LAST MINUTE LAP RECORD

It was another packed Q1 and another appearance for eight-time World Champion Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), and it wasn’t smooth sailing this time round either. In France it was Miguel Oliveira who knocked him out of contention and this time round, Oliveira’s Trackhouse Racing teammate Raul Fernandez was one of those who did the same.

The #25 was fastest in the session as both Marc Marquez and teammate Alex Marquez looked for a way through, but a last dash for glory from Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) saw the Italian not only depose Raul Fernandez from the top of Q1 but break the lap record, to much delight in the team’s box.

Diggia and Raul Fernandez moved through, leaving Alex Marquez P13 on the grid and Marc Marquez P14 – just ahead of a tougher session for Oliveira in P15 and Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) in 16th.

Q2: DRAMA, LAP RECORD, DRAMA

Once a packed Q2 got underway it was Bagnaia who flew to the top of the timesheets after the first run, setting a 1:38.221 – a strong target for the rest.

In the closing minutes of the session, riders pushed to the limit as ever, and a key mover was Binder as the South African found time to jump to second. But it all went wrong for Prima Pramac Racing late on, with both Martin and teammate Franco Morbidelli crashing at Turn 2 seconds apart. What looked at first like it could be friendly fire was instead two separate incidents at least, and riders both ok.

What was drama for them also proved some drama on the timing screens as the incident brought out the yellow flags, cancelling lap times. One of those was initially Raul Fernandez’ best effort, but after investigation the #25 passes what is a green panel just before it switches to yellow. So that lap was reinstated, putting him P3.

Amongst all that early and late drama, Espargaro was faultless to thread the needle, able to storm up to pole position on his final flying lap.

THE GRID

Behind Espargaro, Bagnaia, Raul Fernandez and Binder comes rookie Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) in fifth, with Diggia in P6. The Italian’s best in Q2 didn’t quite reach the heights of his Q1 effort, which would have put him second on the grid.

P7 goes to Championship leader Martin after that bout of drama, and he has Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) alongside him as the #42 put in an impressive Q2. Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) is next up, ahead of Morbidelli and Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team). Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) lines up P12 looking for a lot more this weekend to match the #41, with Top Gun not yet finding that form from Texas on home turf.

After another incredible qualifying, some shake ups on the grids set us up for fireworks as key contenders line up up and down the order. Make sure to tune in for Tissot Sprint at 15:00 today, before the Grand Prix at 14:00 tomorrow. See you there!