Bagnaia victory not enough

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Jorge Martin was crowned MotoGP World Champion in Barcelona ....

(Bild: AP/Joan Monfort)

Jorge Martin is MotoGP World Champion for the first time! The Pramac-Ducati rider finished third on Sunday in the Barcelona victory of world championship rival Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati), thus dethroning the Italian. The Spaniard is the first rider in the MotoGP era (since 2002) to take the world championship crown with a private team.

 

"This is for my people, for my family, for everyone who has supported me. It was an emotional race, I had to cry a bit. It's been a long journey," said the exuberantly celebrating Martin. The Madrilenean was then rewarded with a golden helmet and the number 1 on his bike. In his victory speech, the new world champion also mentioned the Valencia region affected by the flood disaster. His rival Bagnaia was a fair loser. "Jorge deserves what he has achieved today."

"Martinator" left nothing to chance in the 24 laps
Ninth place would have been enough for the "Martinator" to win the title on Sunday. The 26-year-old left nothing to be desired in the 24 laps on the Circuit de Catalunya right from the start. The two title rivals got off to a good start in the race. Bagnaia defended pole position, while Martin settled in behind the Italian. On lap 2, the Spaniard was overtaken by his compatriot Marc Marquez. The latter subsequently put pressure on Bagnaia, but was unable to make an overtaking maneuver.

Jorge Martin was crowned MotoGP World Champion in Barcelona ....

(Bild: AP/Joan Monfort)

The top positions were thus established and remained unchanged until the chequered flag. Martin, who will ride for Aprilia in the future, took the World Championship crown as the most consistent rider of the year with a ten-point lead. Bagnaia, on the other hand, was still unable to clinch his eleventh win of the season to secure his third title in a row. Marc Marquez, who will move up to the Ducati factory team next season and thus become Bagnaia's colleague, snatched third place overall from Enea Bastianini in second place.

KTM: "We expected a little more!"
Brad Binder was the best KTM rider on the day in sixth place. The South African overtook Pedro Acosta, with whom he will form the KTM factory duo in 2025, in the overall standings and finished fifth overall as the best non-Ducati rider. The 20-year-old Acosta - tenth on the final day - finished sixth in his premiere season in the premier class of motorcycling, showing promise for the future. Ducati was once again untouchable as the best manufacturer, followed by KTM in second place ahead of Aprilia.

The Mattighofen-based racing team was self-critical in Barcelona with a season in which it failed to win. "We expected a little more. We are the second-best manufacturer, but we want more," explained Motorsport Director Pit Beirer in the ServusTV interview. However, the 52-year-old German was optimistic for next year. With Binder and Acosta as the one-man duo and Bastianini and Maverick Vinales in the Tech3 team, the team is well positioned in terms of personnel. "We have a strong package together," said Beirer.

After storms around Valencia claimed numerous lives, the season showdown was moved from the disaster area to Barcelona, where it was held as a solidarity Grand Prix.