As if it were déjà vu, the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya de MotoGP™ 2024 officially opened on track in a context identical to that of 2023: with Aleix Espargaró being the fastest rider in the MotoGP™ Practice and setting a new track record. The Aprilia Racing rider set a new benchmark time of 1:38.562, an absolute track record. Meanwhile, the day’s discordant note was the absence of Ducati riders in the top three fastest times.
Marc Márquez already said in yesterday’s press conference that he did not want to rule out Aprilia and KTM in the fight for victory. Well, it was said and done. The Catalan rider’s prediction has been fulfilled and it has been reflected in this Friday of CatalanGP. Although Espargaró had set a new record last year in Practice, it would be taken from him by Pecco Bagnaia over the course of the weekend. Thus, the time to be beaten was 1:38.639, a time that Aleix Espargaró improved by 77 thousandths of a second.
The provisional top three was surprisingly joined by Brad Binder. The Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider finished with the second fastest time (1:38.634) despite crashing twice at turn 2 of the World Championship circuit. The crashes didn’t slow Binder down and he was able to overtake Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech 3) at the last minute. The Moto2™ champion was 31 thousandths of a second behind Binder in third place.
Pecco Bagnaia was the best Ducati representative with his fourth place. The Ducati Lenovo Team rider was a little off the pace today, as was Jorge Martín in sixth. Between the two contenders for the crown was Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), a rider who topped the timesheets during the first half of the session. Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) and Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing) are also in the group going straight into Q2, seventh and eighth respectively.
Álex Rins is another rider who can be happy with his performance on the day. The Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team representative was ninth fastest with a time of 1:39.043. Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) rounded off the list of riders who will not make it through Q1. On the other side of the coin were the Márquez brothers. The Gresini Racing MotoGP riders were just outside the top 10 and will have to keep trying tomorrow if they want to stand out in any of the races to be held at the Circuit.
Jorge Navarro reappears as Wild Card in Moto2™.
Moto2™ has a surprise guest in the CatalanGP. Jorge Navarro has made his comeback in the intermediate category as a Wild Card and he has done so, moreover, by grabbing all the attention. The KLINT Forward Factory Team rider took the chequered flag from pole position with a time of 1:42.807. The Valencian rider has had an intense couple of weeks at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, as last weekend he was one of the riders in the Moto2 European JuniorGP™ World Championship. That practice may have helped him to put all his rivals at bay today, as he also broke Remy Gardner’s 2021 record (1:42.977).
Navarro could shine this weekend if not prevented by some of his fastest rivals. Joe Roberts (OnlyFans American Racing Team) is another contender for gold, as he stayed close to Navarro today with his 1:43.015, as did David Muñoz (Pertamina Mandalika GAS UP Tea), just 29 thousandths of a second off Roberts. Manuel Gonzalez will undoubtedly be another guest at the party. The QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2 rider was the fastest in Free Practice and could have improved his time in Practice 1 had it not been for his crash.
David Alonso breaks the record in Moto3™
David Alonso clocked a stratospheric time today in Practice 1 of the Moto3™ class. The CF Moto Gaviota Aspar Team rider stopped the clock at 1:46.897, beating by far the fastest lap record set by Gabriel Rodrigo in 2021 (1:47.597) during official qualifying. Alonso proves again that he is an infallible driver on a single lap, having already achieved three pole positions and one fastest race lap so far this year, as well as three victories to his name. He was also the fastest in the first free practice session and is the last CatalanGP winner in the smallest category of the World Championship.
José Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) was second fastest with a 1:47.055, closely followed by two riders with almost identical laps: Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) with 1:47.136 and Colin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP), with 1:47.152. Considering that Alonso starts as the big favourite of the weekend, the leader of the championship, Daniel Holgado, will have to do his best not to lose his advantageous position. Iván Ortolá (MT Helmets – MSI), another of the regulars at the head of the race, closed the top 5 today, just over three tenths of a second off Alonso’s reference time.
Eric Granado, the poleman of MotoE™.
The MotoE™ World Championship was the most diligent today and left the homework done. After two practice sessions, the electric series held the official qualifying session. LCR E-Team rider Eric Granado stood out in the qualifying session. The Brazilian stopped the clock at 1:28.215, a time that allowed him to beat his teammate and championship leader, Mattia Casadei. The front row will be completed tomorrow by Alessandro Zaccone (Tech3 E-racing).
A sustainable event
The Sustainability Meeting Point platform of the Circuit hosts the 11th edition of KISS (Keep It Shiny and Sustainable) Barcelona programme by FIM Ride Green, organising a series of activities with the collaboration of Dorna, to raise awareness and sensitise the attending public on the care and respect for the environment, within the framework of the SDG 2030 of the United Nations.
The great novelty of this year, compared to previous editions, is that last October the Circuit inaugurated the largest public self-consumption photovoltaic installation in Catalonia. Since then, the Circuit has now a total of 1,239 solar panels that generate 33% of the energy currently consumed.
Other promoted actions are the rental of low-emission generators, the donation of surplus food, the offer of km0 and ecological food, the presence of drinking water sources in the public areas, the improvement of the biodiversity of the green areas, the collaboration with companies with social value, the valorisation and recycling of waste, the promotion of sustainable mobility, the use of the circular economy and many more.
Tickets available at www.circuitcat.com
The Circuit has an attractive offer of tickets to attend the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya de MotoGP™. Starting at €79, fans can enjoy three days of competition on the track and many proposals outside it. In addition, some of the riders of the motorcycling world championship have reserved areas for their fan clubs in different grandstands, a highly recommended option to experience many emotions.
