RACE PREVIEW # SolidarityGP
With stops in countries as far flung as Indonesia , Australia and Japan , this year ’ s championship has a definite worldwide flavour . And the continuation of last year ’ s format – Sprint race on Saturday , feature race on Sunday – means a whopping total of 740 points have been on offer . MotoGP™ 2024 has been as gripping last year ’ s version , with another championship battle for the ages .
And we ’ ve had have a thrilling fight to fit the occasion . Ducati is once again the manufacturer to beat , as it fields an armada of eight riders , who are all capable of challenging for victories . And the championship fight is now between two riders : Jorge Martin and Pecco Bagnaia .
After a few shaky moments , reigning World Champion Bagnaia racked up four victories in succession midseason , plus a dominant weekend in Austria , to assume control on the championship fight . But costly crashes in Aragon and Emilia Romagna put him on the back foot .
Last year ’ s rival in chief Martin has benefited from his experience of fighting for the MotoGP™ World Championship in 2023 , and has shown he will be a contender once more , by securing epic victories in Portugal , France and Indonesia . More than his blinding speed , he has consistently bounced back from disappointment and shown he can hold his nerve in high stakes moments . A new name in Ducati ’ s roster has upset the applecart on occasion . Marc Marquez ’ s sensational decision to leave Honda for the first time in eleven years in favour of Gresini Ducati has already seen him back fighting among the leading names . He scored a first victory in 1,043 days at Aragon to underline he ’ s now a true force to be reckoned with and backed it up with another win seven days later in Misano . Enea Bastianini has also showed he has recaptured his very best form and brilliant victories at Silverstone and Emilia Romagna .
That ’ s not to say Ducati will have it all its own way this weekend . KTM has had a tricky campaign , when it has failed to build on its best ever season in 2023 . Brad Binder is keen to get back among the leaders after missing the podium since Round 1 . And rookie Pedro Acosta has been the year ’ s sensation , becoming the third youngest premier class podium finisher in history with an inspired ride in Portugal .
Aprilia was more difficult to read . Maverick Viñales was unbeatable in Austin , scoring his first victory for the Noale factory . But he and team-mate Aleix Espagaro have struggled for consistency since then .
Both Yamaha and Honda are still a long way off fighting for the top . Fabio Quartararo was disappointed by the performance of his M1 in the opening rounds . Likewise , Repsol Honda knows it will take some months before its riders is challenging for leading positions .
Motul Solidarity Grand Prix of Barcelona | 25