Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya provided a day which made the spectators jump out of their seats. The Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya de MotoGP™ finished its sprint race with 12 laps of pure thrill and drama. The big winner, Aleix Espargaró; and the big loser, Pecco Bagnaia. In a secondary role but also as heroes, Marc Márquez and Pedro Acosta; and as villains, Raúl Fernández and Brad Binder.
The sixth MotoGP™ sprint race of the season was so exciting that it was hard to find a central focus of attention. Reigning champion Pecco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) started off first, but one lap later he was overtaken by Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3). The two contenders danced for positions until the end of the second lap, when they were caught by Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse Racing).
On lap four, Fernandez crashed out while in control of the race, handing over to Acosta, although for a short time. Brad Binder was the star guest in the first half of the race, but just on lap 6 and when he was leading, he suffered the same fate as Fernandez. Pecco Bagnaia then returned to the charge, showing that he did not want to give up in this exciting battle of the titans. It looked like he had it all wrapped up, as the Italian was leading until the penultimate lap.
But Bagnaia went through the same situation as Raul Fernandez and Brad Binder, and opened the door to victory for Aleix Espargaró (Aprilia Racing), who was able to progressively make up positions. With the gold up his sleeve, attention turned to Pedro Acosta and Marc Márquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP), both fighting for the other two podium positions. In the end, the multiple world champion beat the rookie, but only just.
The Sprint Race podium was a great attraction for the fans as it was held for the second year in a row in the Monster area, an area which is accessible to everyone in the public area. Aleix Espargaró celebrated again in an emotional weekend for him, after announcing last Thursday that he will retire at the end of the season. But Marc Márquez and Pedro Acosta also had a reason to be euphoric. Márquez because he started the race from the fifth row after failing to make it through to Q2 this morning, with a brilliant performance that gave him enough points to move into second place in the World Championship. And Acosta because, apart from scoring another podium in his debut year, he did it to celebrate his birthday at the Circuit.
Aleix Espargaró: “It’s been amazing. These last two days have been really impressive, so many emotions all together. Although the race was hard, I tried to keep the pace and the tyres for the end of the race.”
Marc Márquez: ‘I didn’t expect this at all. I was able to go faster and faster and my rear tyre was good enough to keep going. I’m delighted to be on the podium at the Circuit.”
Pedro Acosta: “It was a difficult race because of the grip issue, especially on the final section, and even though my tyres suffered at the end I think we managed it well.”
Sergio García, fastest lap and new record in Moto2™.
The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya track is proving to be faster than ever for all the World Championship categories and Moto2™ was no exception. Today’s qualifying session rewarded Sergio Garcia (MT Helmets – MSI) with a double celebration: first pole position in the category and a new track record. Garcia clocked 1:41.894, a time that bettered his own time set this morning and the record set by Jorge Navarro yesterday.
No other of García’s rivals was able to lap in the minute and 41 seconds. Fermín Aldeguer (MB Conveyors SpeedUp) is the next best of the mortals, albeit with a 1:42.134. Celestino Vietti (Red Bull KTM Ajo) closes the front row of the grid with his 1:42.182. The Italian already knows what it’s like to win at the Circuit, something he did in 2022, so he will be a candidate to take into account. Fourth-placed Aron Canet (Fantic Racing) was Vietti’s closest rival in today’s Q2, crossing the finish line behind him in second position.
Albert Arenas (QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2) will start his home Grand Prix from fifth place thanks to his time of 1:42.309, very close to the leading times. His team-mate Manuel Gonzalez will complete the second row at the start. Apart from Vietti, the first 8 positions belong to Spanish drivers. Daniel Muñoz (Pertamina Mandalika GAS UP Tea) occupies the seventh position and Alonso López (MB Conveyors SpeedUp) closes this national group with the eighth position.
Iván Ortolá takes his first pole position in Moto3™
As in Moto2™, Moto3™ has added a new name to its history, that of Iván Ortolá. The MT Helmets – MSI rider is now one of the riders to have achieved a pole position in the smallest category of the World Championship. He stopped the clock at 1:46.749, a time that could not compete with the record set this morning by David Alonso (1:46.111). Ortolá did not warn his rivals and surprised them. Yesterday Alonso was the absolute dominator and, in the morning, everything seemed to follow the same course. Today, against all odds, the Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team member had to settle for sixth place.
Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) was very close to the fastest lap with his 1:46.768. That 19 thousandths of a second time difference means that Veijer will be on the second row of the grid tomorrow, with José Antonio Rueda alongside him. Both he and the Red Bull KTM Ajo team can be satisfied, as they were the closest to Ortolá and Veijer’s stratospheric times. Rueda closed his best lap with a 1:47.011.
Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia), Ryusei Yamanaka (MT Helmets – MSI) and David Alonso (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) will occupy the second row of the grid. Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3), the championship leader, crashed at turn 10 while trying to take pole position. This mishap also caused significant changes to the grid structure, as the times of everyone behind, including Alonso, were cancelled.
Gutiérrez and Zannoni share the victories in MotoE™
Óscar Gutiérrez (Axxis-MSI) won the first of the MotoE™ battles at the Circuit this morning, with Eric Granado (LCR E-Team) on the second step of the podium and Kevin Zannoni (Openbank Aspar Team) on the third. In the second round, Gutiérrez narrowly missed out on victory. Zannoni repeated on the podium but this time as the winner, followed by Gutiérrez and Alessandro Zaccone (Tech3 E-racing). The negative note of the day was for Mattia Casadei (LCR E-Team), who lost the lead with his sixth place in Race 1 and his retirement in Race 2.
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.
