MotoGP Catalan GP: Jorge Martin Secures 2024 Riders' Championship as Francesco Bagnaia Wins in Barcelona
Jorge Martin made history as the first rider to win a MotoGP World Championship on a satellite bike, despite Francesco Bagnaia’s double victory at the Barcelona GP.
By Divyam Dubey
Pramac Racing's Jorge Martin made history by clinching the 2024 MotoGP World Championship with a calculated third-place finish at the Catalan Grand Prix. Despite a dominant performance from Francesco Bagnaia, who secured his 11th victory of the season, Martin's consistent points-scoring throughout the year proved decisive. Entering the final race with a crucial 19-point lead, Martin needed only a top-nine finish to secure the title. His strategic approach to the race ensured a 10-point margin over Bagnaia, making him the first rider in the MotoGP era to win a championship on a satellite bike. The last rider to achieve this feat was Valentino Rossi in the 2001 500cc season.
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As Pramac Racing prepares to transition to Yamaha's satellite team in 2025, Martin will carry the coveted #1 plate to Aprilia. In the Barcelona race, Marc Marquez's second-place finish secured his third position in the overall championship standings, ahead of Enea Bastianini.
MotoGP Catalan GP: Race Result
A key moment in the race came when Aleix Espargaro, a close friend of Martin's, engaged in a fierce battle with Enea Bastianini. Espargaro's defensive riding not only secured valuable points for himself but also played a crucial role in protecting Martin's championship lead. Despite late pressure from Alex Marquez, Espargaro held on to finish fifth, marking an emotional farewell to his 20-year Grand Prix career.
Bastianini, who recovered to sixth place, narrowly missed out on third place in the overall championship standings. Brad Binder's impressive charge from 18th to sixth secured him fifth place.
| Pos | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Francesco Bagnaia | Ducati Lenovo | 40m 24.74s |
| 2 | Marc Marquez | Gresini Ducati | +1.474s |
| 3 | Jorge Martin | Pramac Ducati | +3.810s |
| 4 | Alex Marquez | Gresini Ducati | +5.322s |
| 5 | Aleix Espargaro | Aprilia Racing | +5.753s |
| 6 | Brad Binder | Red Bull KTM | +7.081s |
| 7 | Enea Bastianini | Ducati Lenovo | +7.393s |
| 8 | Franco Morbidelli | Pramac Ducati | +8.709s |
| 9 | Marco Bezzecchi | VR46 Ducati | +10.484s |
| 10 | Pedro Acosta | Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 | +10.618s |
| 11 | Fabio Quartararo | Monster Yamaha | +10.756s |
| 12 | Miguel Oliveira | Trackhouse Aprilia | +13.464s |
| 13 | Jack Miller | Red Bull KTM | +14.560s |
| 14 | Johann Zarco | LCR Honda | +19.469s |
| 15 | Maverick Viñales | Aprilia Racing | +22.195s |
| 16 | Luca Marini | Repsol Honda | +23.890s |
| 17 | Takaaki Nakagami | LCR Honda | +23.960s |
| 18 | Raul Fernandez | Trackhouse Aprilia | +29.001s |
| 19 | Augusto Fernandez | Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 | +29.145s |
| 20 | Michele Pirro | VR46 Ducati | +37.295s |
| 21 | Alex Rins | Monster Yamaha | +39.138s |
| 22 | Stefan Bradl | HRC Test Team | +47.654s |
| 23 | Joan Mir | Repsol Honda | DNF |
GASGAS Tech3's Augusto Fernandez finished 19th. Miguel Oliveira returned to the grid after a lengthy absence due to injury, riding for Trackhouse Racing. Ducati test rider Michele Pirro filled in for the injured Fabio Di Giannantonio at VR46 Racing.
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The Catalan Grand Prix served as a fitting finale to the 2024 MotoGP season, providing a thrilling conclusion to a year filled with drama, excitement, and historic achievements.
