Prima Pramac Ducati’s Jorge Martin led from lights to flag in the first Sprint race of 2024, continuing his strong start to the season under the lights at Lusail International Circuit.

Martin, who led the first practice session and took pole, was never threatened, although factory KTM rider Brad Binder stayed close throughout the entire 11-lap race.

Factory Aprilia rider Aleix Espargaro was third, ahead of defending World Champion Francesco Bagnaia, with the top three separated by only 0.729 seconds at the flag.

More, from a press release issued by Dorna:

The Sprint king strikes first! Martin holds off Binder and Espargaro in the opening gambit of 2024

Three factories on the Tissot Sprint podium, Bagnaia and Marc Marquez just off it… storylines abound on Saturday at Lusail

Saturday, 09 March 2024

Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) started 2024 with a statement ride – arguably a signature one – as the number 89 shot out the blocks to take the first Tissot Sprint win of the year. Harried all the way home by Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), Martin held firm under pressure for Sprint win 10 of his career.

Binder had his own pressure right to the flag too, with Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) battling past both Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) and Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) on his way to taking third, right on the KTM’s tail and making it three factories on the first rostrum of the season.

Binder had a storming start up from fourth to tag onto the back of Martin immediately, with the number 89 taking the holeshot and getting the hammer down but still not able to shake the South African. Espargaro lost out initially from his P2 on the grid but then started to pull it back, taking fourth from Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) and then third place back from Bagnaia. 

Meanwhile, Marc Marquez and Gresini teammate Alex Marquez were in the thick of the battle with Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team). Eventually, Marc Marquez was able to make it stick and headed off in pursuit of Bastianini on the rear of the front group, and not too long after that Diggia was sadly out of the battle after a strange and initially dramatic crash, but rider ok.

At the front, Martin rolled on. But he wasn’t getting away. Binder was still very much in touch, and Bagnaia was on the move too as he dispatched Espargaro to move into third. The next move then came in from Marc Marquez, with Bastianini slightly wide and the number 93 needing no second invitation.

By five laps to go, the eight-time World Champion was attacking Espargaro and past him at the end of the straight, as Martin seemed to have the hammer down at the front. But there was still no breakaway from the number 89. The chasers responded, with Binder holding firm ahead of Bagnaia, Marc Marquez and Espargaro. Bastianini, however, started to fade slightly from that group.

A moment for Marc Marquez, capitalised on by Espargaro as the Aprilia struck again, narrowed that gap to Bastianini, however. And that was key for the final lap battle, with Espargaro able to keep it, keep the hammer down, and then home in on the leading trio. It was a four-rider battle for the podium with two to go.

The penultimate lap saw the Aprilia take on Bagnaia, but the reigning Champion cut back as Espargaro sailed wide. But onto the main straight the #41 then made it stick and got the hammer down enough to hold onto third into Turn 1, now with the next target locked on: Binder.

The KTM was chasing Martin, but a new problem was carving up the gap to tuck right onto his tail. Espargaro ate through the metres enough to almost give himself striking distance by the final corner, but it was just that bit too far for a move. Martin crossed the line for a statement tenth Sprint win to start the season ahead, with Binder taking that second and Espargaro forced for settle for that third.

Reigning Champion Bagnaia likewise had to settle, in his case for fourth, with Marc Marquez next up. Bastianini crossed the line sixth, ahead of Alex Marquez in a lonelier seventh. The number 73 had had some close company from rookie sensation Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) in the latter stages, but was able to pull the gap back out.

Acosta, however, took an impressive P8 in his first MotoGP™ appearance – and he was the second RC16 on track. What can the number 31 do with a few more laps to get in the groove?

Ninth place went to Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing), with Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) completing the top ten in a close group ahead of Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) and a near photo-finish with Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™). Check out the full results below!

That’s a wrap on a truly super Saturday. From the flurry of fast laps in the morning to a statement Sprint in the evening, there’s only even more to look forward to on Sunday. So join us from 20:00 (UTC +3) for the first Grand Prix of the season!

Canet grabs pole from Lopez, Aldeguer starts tenth after penalty

Aron Canet (Fantic Racing) takes the opening pole position of the year, heading Alonso Lopez (Sync SpeedUp) on the front row as the top Boscoscuro machine. His teammate Fermin Aldeguer, a title favourite, qualified seventh but then got a three-place grid penalty for holding up another rider in Q2. That rider was actually Albert Arenas, and he ultimately completes the front row on the Triumph-powered QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2™️ bike.

Arenas was at the top of the timesheets for the early stages of Q2. However, as the session progressed it was Canet and Lopez who struck to take over, and the #75 couldn’t improve.

Manuel Gonzalez (QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2™) will start behind his teammate on the second row ahead of Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) and Barry Baltus (RW-Idrofoglia Racing GP).

Marcos Ramirez (OnlyFans American Racing Team) was a further 0.034 behind Aldeguer on the timesheets but moves up to P7, and ahead of the sole CFMOTO Aspar Team rider Izan Guevara after it was announced that Jake Dixon has been declared unfit after a crash in P2. Zonta van der Goorbergh (RW-Idrofoglia Racing GP) now completes that row ahead of Aldeguer.

Moto2™ will be back on track at 18:15 local time (UTC +3) on Sunday for the opening Grand Prix of the season. Can Aldeguer make a comeback? Can Canet take that maiden Moto2™ win? Tune in to find out!

Holgado keeps the roll going with first pole of 2024

Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) is on pole position for the opening Grand Prix after setting a remarkable 2:02.276 to underline his pace this season. The Spaniard’s impressive lap time put him 0.265 clear of Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets – MSI), with only another 0.055 back to Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) as it closed up.

The lap times in Q2 were instantly fast, with Ortola setting an incredible 2:02.541 on his second lap of Qualifying – breaking the all-time lap record by 0.924. However, on the second run, Holgado was able to carve his way through the field, setting a time another 0.265 quicker.

At the start of row two will be Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing), ahead of fellow Honda Matteo Bertelle (Rivacold Snipers Team). Joel Kelso (BOE Motorsports) rounds out the second row in sixth after a strong Qualifying for the Australian.

Riccardo Rossi heads row three ahead of Championship favourite David Alonso (CFMOTO Aspar Team), with Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Vicente Perez will start in ninth, setting his personal best lap time of the weekend as he subs for Xabi Zurutuza due to age limits. The fourth row will have Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) beginning the race in 10th place, and he’ll be another looking for more when the lights go out. The next time the Moto3™ Field will be on track is for the first Grand Prix of the season on Sunday at 17:00, so make sure you keep up to date and tune in on motogp.com.

Fantic Racing’s Aron Canet took pole for the Moto2 race at Lusail International Circuit, besting the lap record he set earlier in the day.

Canet’s 1:56.788 was enough to hold off Alonso Lopez and Albert Arenas, who will complete the front row.

American Joe Roberts struggled with technical issues, topped Q1 but could manage only 14th in the final session with a 1:57.720.

Daniel Holgado led a string of riders who crushed the Moto3 lap record in qualifying in Qatar, taking his Red Bull GASGAS Tech 3 to a new all-time mark of 2:02.276.

Holgado took pole ahead of Ivan Ortola and Juan Rueda, who each had led practice sessions over the weekend and who will complete the front row.

Holgado’s time was more than a second quicker than the lap record set earlier in the day by Rueda, and nearly three seconds quicker than the official race lap record. Rueda’s 2:03.465 lap record in practice would have left him 16th on the final grid.

Prima Pramac Racing’s Jorge Martin set a new all-time MotoGP lap record in Qatar as he took pole for the first race of the 2024 season.

Martin’s 1:50.789 was nearly a second quicker than the lap record set last year by Luca Marini. Marini’s record had been smashed during practice, with Alex Marquez clocking a 1:51.108 in the final session before qualifying. The top seven riders in the final qualifying session went faster than Marquez’ practice mark.

Aleix Espargaro, Enea Bastianini, Brad Binder, defending World Champion Francesco Bagnaia and Marc Marquez rounded out the top six.

More, from a press release issued by Dorna:

Hundredths in it: Martin snatches lap record pole from Espargaro and Bastianini

A front row split by 0.086, four factories within 0.124… qualifying sets the scene for a stunning season opener

Saturday, 09 March 2024

Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Ducati) will head the first grids of the year after! The 2023 runner up set a magical 1:50.789 in qualifying for the Qatar Airways Grand Prix of Qatar to take pole, becoming the fastest rider ever to lap Lusail International Circuit. That said, it’s close at the top. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) was just 0.083 behind, with Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) rounding out the front row only another 0.003 back. 

After a Practice session that left Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse Racing) just outside the cut, the Spaniard was taking aim at the top in Q1. He got it too, moving through just ahead of Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) as the two left Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) missing out on a place by just 0.010. Nevertheless, the Frenchman continues to impress on his switch to Honda.

Q2 DELIVERS A TANTALISING GRID

There was a lot to learn in the very first Q2 of the year. Everyone fully unleashed, full throttle, and not a single sandbag worth holding on to. After the first runs, a familiar name had taken hold though: Martin. That stunning 1:50.789 came in on his second lap as Ducatis locked out the top five positions early on, and no one would prove able to topple it.

Once the second runs began, Miller and rookie Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) were especially hoping to find some time, but then it was all eyes on Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) as the eight-time World Champion came up with red sectors – but it wasn’t quite enough in the last part of the lap.

Espargaro was another who looked to be challenging Martin’s dominion at the top but he ultimately jumped into second, losing out by less than a tenth, as Bastianini held onto a first front row of the year in third, and at a venue he’s reigned before.

Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) heads the second row, just 0.124 off the top, and lost the chance to make a final improvement as he slid off on his last attempt. Alongside Binder will be reigning World Champion, Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), who starts from fifth. And then it’s Marc Marquez rounding out the second row, making it 12 World Championships lining up on Row 2.

Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) will head the third row in P7, with teammate Marco Bezzecchi having a tougher weekend of it and left down in Q1. Acosta will start eighth for his first Tissot Sprint and premier class Grand Prix race, having been P3 on Friday and gone straight through to Q2 to boot.

Alex Marquez rounds out Row 3 after he couldn’t replicate his time from Practice that saw him top that session, with Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing), Miller and Raul Fernandez, who crashed in Q2, rider ok, locking out the positions down to P12. Then it’s Zarco and that very solid debut with Honda, the first of those who didn’t make it through to Q2.

The grids are set, the stage is set, and soon the sun will set. Come back for more MotoGP™ at 19:00 local time (UTC +3) for the first Tissot Sprint of what promises to be a stunning 2024!