The Motul Solidarity Grand Prix of Barcelona will keep the thrill until the end. The MotoGP™ World Championship is still looking for the champion and promises another day of pure uncertainty at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. For the moment, Pecco Bagnaia has done everything in his power to close the gap to Jorge Martín: pole position this morning and victory in the Sprint Race.
The Ducati Lenovo Team is in luck. Pecco Bagnaia and Enea Bastianini have signed an undisputed double that proves once again the supremacy of the team. Bagnaia, who had already done his homework in Q2, took the pole position and never let go of it. Starting from pole position, the Italian took the lead and stayed in control of the race from start to finish.
Meanwhile, Enea Bastianini was one of the main protagonists of the day with a stellar start. Bagnaia’s team-mate started eighth and overtook many of his rivals at the front within a few metres. Jorge Martín, a real expert in starts, remained in third position. Even so, and despite not wanting to take risks, Martin was not happy with that place.
Both riders put on a good show with a very nice and clean battle for the second position. With a group of riders behind them, Martín tried to get away from Bastianini to defend himself from riders like Franco Morbidelli, Álex Márquez or Aleix Espargaró. And it seemed that he had it done, but Bastianini returned the overtake on the last lap without any option of response.
With these results, Bagnaia reduces Jorge Martín’s lead to 19 points ahead of the Italian, instead of the 24 he had brought to Barcelona. If Pecco Bagnaia were to win tomorrow, Martin would have enough finishing ninth. Both protagonists of the final battle were happy at the end of the race.
Pecco Bagnaia: “I am very happy. Job done for today. Tomorrow we will try to do our best to win the title but it’s not only up to me. What has to be, will be.”
Jorge Martín: “Tomorrow I’m going to compete against myself. And I’m going to focus on my race. I’m trying to take it in a positive way, although the nerves are there, I can’t deny that.”
Aleix Espargaró missed out on a podium finish, but was applauded and appreciated by his home fans. The Catalan rider has always had an extra boost from the home crowd whenever he races at home, and it was a great day for the Aprilia rider. Espargaró took second place in qualifying and was in the leading group throughout the race.
In addition, and in honour of his career, the Catalan did a lap of honour on his first bike in the 125cc class. Álex Márquez finished in the top five of the day, while his brother Marc Márquez was seventh. A touch with Pedro Acosta at the start left both riders with little chance.
Arón Canet, the king of pole positions
The Moto2™ World Championship ended Q2 in which Arón Canet once again stood out. The Fantic Racing rider set his sixth fastest lap of the season and was by far the best of the field. He did it with a yellow flag at the last moment due to Jaume Masià’s crash but, even so, the Valencian rider had already done it before the incident. Canet was very close to under a minute and 42 seconds, just three thousandths of a second off the time.
A smiling Manuel González was back in the pits after a long time without qualifying. The Gresini rider was just over a tenth of a second behind Canet and will take second place on the main straight of the Circuit tomorrow. Zonta van den Goorbergh (RW – Idrofoglia Racing GP) will be third on the front row. Ai Ogura, this season’s class champion, will start just behind this group from fourth position. Sergio Garcia, who is fighting for second place in the championship, will have his work cut out considering his 14th place starting position.
David Alonso, unstoppable
The 2024 Moto3™ World Champion continues to do honours and break barriers. The CFMOTO Valresa Aspar Team rider took his seventh pole position of the year and is already on his way to making history. David Alonso has not only broken his own fastest lap record, which he set during the last Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya, but tomorrow he could become the rider with the most wins in a single season, with a total of 14. His 1:45.9 today beat May’s 1:46.1, even on a much cooler track.
With this fast lap, Alonso breaks the tie with Iván Ortolá (MT Helmets – MSI), who holds six pole positions. Ortolá, however, is not far behind the poleman, as he will close the front row tomorrow. Between the two riders will be Colin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP). Both Ortolá and Veijer are playing for the runner-up spot, so the fight between them promises to be fierce. Ángel Piqueras (Leopard Racing), Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech 3) and Luca Lunetta (SIC58 Squadra Corse) will occupy the second row of the grid.
Charity auction
The Circuit has held today the second of the two in-person auctions to raise funds for the people affected by the flash floods. In the Fan Zone in particular, attendees were able to enjoy a long list of well-known guests such as the Márquez brothers, Pecco Bagnaia and Enea Bastianini, Pedro Acosta and Augusto Fernández, Álex Rins and Fabio Quartararo and many more. Those who would like to support the cause can also do so via the online auction.
The Circuit reaffirms its commitment to sustainability
Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is getting ready to host the KISS (Keep It Shiny and Sustainable) programme by FIM Ride Green, organising a series of actions with the collaboration of Dorna and within the framework of its sustainability management based on the 3Cs ‘Conscience, Commitment and Coherence’, in order to raise awareness and sensitise all stakeholders to respect the environment.
The Barcelona track will have a Sustainability Meeting Point, located behind Grandstand G (open Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.). It will also make use of 100% certified renewable energy to support the electricity supply and will offer km0 and organic food. In addition, fans will be able to find drinking water fountains in the public areas and in the paddock. The commitment to sustainable mobility will continue thanks to a special public transport programme, as well as to zero waste, using the circular economy, recycling waste and donating surplus food.
Access to the Circuit
Access to the Circuit will be possible through any of its gates from 7 a.m. All box offices (except box office 5) will be open as well with the same opening hours as the gates. Cars will have to show their parking ticket to be able to park at the Circuit car park. This ticket can be purchased at the Circuit website. Motorbikes can park free of charge in car parks H1 and H3.
