2024 Thai MotoGP: A Summary of Friday's Practice Sessions

Review the practice sessions from Friday at the 2024 Thai MotoGP.

Heading into the weekend's races in Thailand, with only three rounds remaining, Jorge Martin is ahead by 20 points in the championship standings over the current champion, Francesco Bagnaia.

Marco Bezzecchi recorded the quickest time during Friday's initial practice session.

Owing to the high temperatures and the pressure exerted on the tyres, Buriram is one of the locations where Michelin opts for its more rigid rear tyre designs.

The forecast predicts high temperatures, dampness, and dry conditions for Friday and Saturday, followed by the possibility of thunderstorms on Sunday.

Training starts at 3pm (9am in the UK).

This concludes our live updates for today, however, stay tuned to Crash.net this Friday for continuous updates and the most recent developments from the Buriram paddock.

Tune back in with us on Saturday, starting at 4:10am BST, for the last practice session and the qualifying rounds

Practice Summary

2024 Thai MotoGP, Buriram – Results from Friday's Practice Session

Finish Line Report

The session concludes with Marquez leading, followed closely by Martin, Bastianini, and Bagnaia.

I

Marc Marquez returns to the lead, clocking a time of 1 minute and 29.165 seconds.

The majority have returned to the pit lane. Given the brief nature of the lap at Buriram, there's an opportunity to complete multiple runs. There's just over five minutes remaining.

Martin just set a new record time for the lap.

However, Martin counters with an impressive circuit time of 1 minute and 29.275 seconds.

Vinales has now overtaken Martin, posting a time of 1 minute and 29.506 seconds.

Martin secures the lead position with an impressive lap time of 1 minute and 29.543 seconds. What a remarkable performance!

Quartararo has now clocked the quickest time at 1 minute and 29.822 seconds!

Acosta has achieved the quickest time with a 1m29.840s.

Binder improves his pace, clocking in at 1 minute and 29.949 seconds.

Binder takes the lead using a fresh medium rear tire, clocking in at 1 minute and 30.023 seconds.

Update on the Order

With only 15 minutes remaining in the Practice session, we are on the verge of entering the time attack stage. Here’s how the top 10 stands as of now:

Jack Miller climbs to the fifth position after switching to a new soft front and medium rear tire, with just under 20 minutes remaining.

Bagnaia has returned to the pitlane following a short stint. He remains dissatisfied with the GP24.

Currently, in Practice, it feels somewhat nostalgic with a Yamaha ranking within the top three and a Honda making it into the top five.

This weekend presents a favorable chance for Japanese bike makers. Tracks with frequent stops and starts usually don't favor these motorcycles, but as previously noted, the harder rear tire levels the playing field by not offering the usual significant grip benefit to competitors.

Zarco has now moved into fifth place on another LCR Honda, utilizing new medium tires as well.

Nakagami makes a great lap, moving up to sixth place with a fresh medium rear tire.

Trouble is brewing in Bagnaia's pit as well. Following modifications by Ducati that proved unsuccessful during Saturday's session in Australia the previous weekend, the team is reverting to the original bike Bagnaia began the session with.

Challenging day for the championship contenders thus far.

Martin appears not entirely at ease with his GP24, showing significant rear movement when exiting Turn 1 recently. This could be partly due to his use of a heavily worn hard rear tire.

Aprilia has announced that Aleix Espargaro has prematurely concluded his session.

He sustained injuries during FP1. More information on his involvement for the rest of the weekend will be provided later.

Fabio Di Giannantonio is participating in his last weekend of the year before undergoing shoulder surgery.

He has recently moved into the 10th position in the rankings, riding on his VR46 Ducati.

Update on the standings:

Midway into the practice session, here are the leading 10 participants:

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Pedro Acosta provides an update on his shoulder injury, stating that surgery is not required because the damage is not severe enough.

On Friday, Pedro Acosta participated in practice sessions for the Thailand MotoGP, just days after being declared unable to compete in the Australian Grand Prix.

The Tech3 GASGAS motorcyclist took a tumble during the sprint event on Saturday in Australia, resulting in a shoulder injury that led to his decision to pull out of the main race.

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However, in Buriram, he has come back quickly and managed to bypass surgery for the injury.

After getting back on the motorcycle, Acosta commented on how he felt: "I'm feeling good. It took me some time to get into the groove. I usually don't do a warm-up before the session…"

"I needed about three to five laps to get back into the groove."

"Once I got warmed up, I felt fine, and there was no pain."

"The discomfort is present, but it's manageable, so we should remain positive."

On Friday, Acosta achieved the seventh-best time. The only non-Ducati competitor who was quicker than him was Maverick Vinales, who secured the fifth position.

The remarkable newcomer claims that the discomfort in his shoulder didn't significantly hinder his ability to ride.

"No, during the first practice session, we had to make some adjustments to the bike by widening the handlebars," he clarified.

"By using your legs, you can maintain a firmer grip on the bike."

"Usually, when I use the brakes, I instinctively extend my leg. However, today I made an effort to grip the bike more securely with my legs."

"In my opinion, this is the most nerve-wracking part of the entire weekend."

Acosta commented on his shoulder, saying, "It's not injured to the point where surgery is necessary!"

"The discomfort should subside in a few weeks. Undergoing physiotherapy is necessary."

He shifts his focus to the upcoming Saturday in Thailand.

"We have many areas that require enhancement," stated Acosta. "Today was a day dedicated to making a choice about which fairing we will use from now until the conclusion of the season."

"I tested both options during FP1 and found that each has its own advantages and disadvantages."

"They might introduce a different method for cycling, but there are downsides as well."

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Update on Pedro Acosta’s shoulder injury: No surgery required

"The damage isn’t severe enough to need an operation!"

On Friday, Pedro Acosta participated in the practice sessions for the Thailand MotoGP, just a few days after being declared unfit to compete in the Australian Grand Prix.

The Tech3 GASGAS rider had an accident during Saturday's sprint in Australia and suffered a shoulder injury, which led to his withdrawal from the main race.

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In Buriram, he made a quick recovery and managed to bypass the need for surgery on his injury.

After getting back on the bike, Acosta talked about how he was feeling: "I'm doing well. I was just taking some time to get warmed up. Usually, I don't warm up before the session…"

"I needed about three to five laps to get back into the groove."

"Once I got warmed up, I felt fine and experienced no pain."

"The discomfort is present but manageable, so we should remain positive."

On Friday, Acosta recorded the seventh-fastest time. The only non-Ducati rider to surpass him was Maverick Vinales, who achieved the fifth-fastest time.

The impressive newcomer claims that the discomfort in his shoulder did not significantly hinder his ability to ride.

"During the first practice session, we had to make some modifications to the motorcycle. We widened the handlebars to improve its handling," he stated.

"On the other hand, your legs can provide a firmer grip on the bike."

"Typically, when I use the brakes, I extend my leg, but today I attempted to grip the bike more firmly with my legs."

"In my opinion, this is the most nerve-wracking part of the entire weekend."

Acosta commented on his shoulder condition, stating, "It's not damaged enough to require an operation!"

"The discomfort is manageable. It should subside within a few weeks. We should undergo physiotherapy."

He shifts his focus to the upcoming Saturday in Thailand.

"We have many areas that require improvement," stated Acosta. "Today marked a significant day for making a decision about which fairing we will use for the remainder of the season."

During the first practice session, I tested out both options. Each has its own set of advantages and disadvantages.

"They might introduce a new method for cycling. However, there are also downsides."

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Marc Marquez Sets the Pace but Foresees Competition Closing In

Marc Marquez anticipates that fellow Ducati riders will surpass him at the Thailand MotoGP.

Marc Marquez believes that the other Ducati riders will close the gap on him during the MotoGP Thailand Grand Prix. This comes after he set a new lap record and led the Friday practice session.

Gresini's racer set the pace in the second practice session with a time of 1 minute and 29.165 seconds on his GP25, giving him a 0.110-second advantage over championship leader Jorge Martin, who secured the second spot.

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After securing a win in Australia, Marquez arrives in Thailand, having claimed victory in three of the last six grand prix races.

In the long term, Marquez thinks that Martin has a faster pace than he does. Meanwhile, Enea Bastianini's strong beginning to the weekend suggests that the Italian will also be a significant contender in the battle for victory.

He expressed his happiness about kicking off the weekend on a positive note, emphasizing its importance to the press, including Crash.net, on Friday.

"It's accurate to say that the speed is decent. However, it's not as quick as it is in Australia."

"I believe Martin is quicker than we are. If Bastianini shows speed on Friday, it usually means he'll be extremely fast throughout the entire weekend. However, let's see what we manage to achieve."

In response to whether the others will reach the same level, he replied, "This is going to occur."

"In particular, I possess the ability or the upper hand to perform exceptionally well and quickly at the start, but then I find myself in that position."

"The rest of the group is gradually catching up. Take Bastianini, for instance; he is quite distinct from me."

"He faces significant challenges initially, but then he manages to recover. We'll have to wait and see what actions we can take tomorrow."

At the beginning of the season, I consistently faced challenges on Fridays, but I managed to make significant progress as the weekend went on.

"By Friday, I have already established a solid foundation and am riding well, so the approach to getting better remains the same."

"Even tomorrow, it will be tough for me to beat my practice lap time since it's already a record. I'd gladly accept repeating a 1m29.1s lap right now."

Ahead of tomorrow's race, Marquez aims to increase the top speed of his GP23, as he is currently losing time on the lengthy straights coming out of Turn 1 and Turn 3.

"What do I want to make better? Naturally, one always seeks out the little details."

"Right now, my main challenges and losses are occurring in T1 and T2."

"It's on the long straight sections where we're falling slightly behind. However, we'll install a new engine tomorrow, and hopefully, that will help us pick up some speed."

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Pecco Bagnaia's experimental setup doesn't succeed during practice in Thailand. However, the MotoGP champion maintains that it was one of his top-performing Fridays in Buriram for 2024.

Francesco Bagnaia from Ducati described Friday at the MotoGP Thailand Grand Prix as one of his top days of 2024, even though the set-up trials conducted in the afternoon did not yield successful results.

The current two-time world champion is trailing Jorge Martin by 20 points in the championship standings as they head to Buriram. During Friday's hour-long practice session, the champion did not seem at ease.

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Nevertheless, Bagnaia managed to confidently clinch a position in Q2, finishing in fourth place. However, he was behind his Ducati teammate Enea Bastianini, as well as Martin and Marc Marquez in the rankings.

In a later conversation with the media, including Crash.net, he explained that his messy performance during the second practice session was because he found it challenging to "adjust" to changes made in the setup.

He responded affirmatively when questioned if this Friday was an improvement, noting that he felt better after they resolved a minor issue with one of the two motorcycles during the sessions.

“This morning went well for me, but this afternoon, when I had to experiment with different bike setups, things didn’t go smoothly.”

"I had to pause and try to adjust the setup on the second bike, but it just wasn't feasible."

"I faced some difficulties during the adaptation process, and it didn't go smoothly."

"We made another adjustment prior to the time attack, and I noticed an improvement as we moved in the opposite direction."

"I was prepared for the time trial and managed to maintain good speed even without setting a very exact lap time. Overall, it was a successful Friday."

On Friday at Buriram, many riders encountered difficulties with braking, but Bagnaia reported that he did not experience any problems in this regard.

"It's not a problem for me," he mentioned.

"I can apply the brakes with great force, as evidenced by the data showing my lap time reflects this."

"This isn't an issue for me. I'm losing some time in the fourth corner, quite significantly, and my performance in the third sector, particularly at corners six and seven, wasn't very strong."

"However, aside from that, braking currently poses no issues."

As the championship draws closer to its end and each session becomes more crucial, Bagnaia maintains that his method for practice has remained consistent throughout the season.

"It's no different than the rest of the season for me," he mentioned.

"Throughout the race weekend, my focus is solely on performing at my best for the competition."

"At the moment, I don't notice any changes from before. It might shift slightly in the future, but currently, there's no difference."

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Jorge Martin reignites debate: “Crashing doesn’t bother them…”

Jorge Martin describes competing against Enea Bastianini and Marc Marquez as "challenging."

The discussion about Enea Bastianini's contentious maneuver in Misano has been reignited by Jorge Martin.

On the last lap of the Emilia-Romagna MotoGP, Bastianini overtook Martin to secure victory, significantly harming the Pramac rider's chances in the championship race.

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The officials decided it didn't warrant any penalty, yet Martin remains frustrated even weeks after the incident.

Following the Friday practice at the Thailand MotoGP, Martin asserted, "The move at Misano was wrong, and those five points belong to me."

"He veered off course and collided with me just as we were exiting the turn."

In Australia last week, Martin was defeated when Marc Marquez passed him and claimed the win.

"Marc's action was definitely assertive," Martin commented. "However, since he didn't make any contact with me, I think it's acceptable."

"He made strategic moves and performed exceptionally well in the race."

Martin holds a slim lead of just 20 points over Pecco Bagnaia, who is in second place in the MotoGP championship standings.

With the upcoming weekend in Thailand, there are just three rounds left.

Martin acknowledges that Bastianini or Marquez might have an influence, even though Marquez's chances of winning the title are gone.

He stated, "It's challenging for me when competing against riders like Enea or Marc."

"It's challenging to defeat them since they have very little at stake."

"They aren't concerned about the possibility of a crash."

"I felt anxious," Marquez admitted. On Friday in Thailand, he recorded the quickest time, followed by Martin, Bastianini, and then Bagnaia.

This implies that the Ducati team has a completely free schedule on both Saturday and Sunday.

Martin confessed, "I'm pleased to be in the competition. This week, I felt anxious."

"I was mentally preparing for what would happen next."

"However, once I started running on the track and everything went smoothly, my fears disappeared."

"Pecco and Marc are formidable competitors, making this weekend a tough one, but I'm ready to compete."

During his practice session, he commented, "I was feeling strong, but switching to the hard compound tires made things more challenging."

"In addition, the tires had already been worn down after 22 laps, which made it difficult for me to maintain the same speed."

However, I am feeling alright.

"In this situation, if I get the opportunity, I will break free. No one else will get the opportunity."

"We'll find out if we reach the final turn alongside Marc or another competitor."

"Every weekend plays a crucial role. My priority is to concentrate on my own performance. If there's an opportunity to score points, I will pursue it."

"If Pecco is performing well, I'll aim to minimize my losses as much as I can."

"I'm not going to worry about scoring points. It's pointless. My focus is on being quick and staying competitive."

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Jack Miller expressed his desire to defeat Martin during the race rather than in a contest of stunts. He noted that while their speed is impressive, they are taking a more roundabout approach once more.

Jorge Martin, who currently leads the MotoGP championship, showcased some remarkable stoppies as he rode into the pit lane, securing second place during Friday's practice session at the Thai Grand Prix.

Jack Miller stepped up and met the challenge, earning a thumbs up from Martin when the Australian overtook the Pramac rider, with his KTM nearly vertical on its front wheel as the session concluded.

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"After watching Martin perform his, I felt the need to prove myself as well… Winning against him on the track would be preferable to just outdoing him in a stoppie contest!" Miller joked with a grin afterward.

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As the time trials commenced, the Australian was positioned in front of Martin, holding the fifth spot.

As Martin advanced using new tires, a disappointed Miller fell back to 13th place, narrowly missing the top ten and a direct entry to Qualifying 2 by merely 0.155 seconds.

"It's the narrative of the past half-year," Miller stated. "The speed was solid, consistently maintained with the medium tire from the start of the session. I managed to complete several laps and felt at ease with it."

In my initial two attempts, I performed well, but during the final one, I couldn't quite make it work. There were just too many instances where things didn't go smoothly, particularly in the middle section of the track.

"I'm struggling with the front end starting at Turn 5, and the issue carries on through Turns 6 and 7, and happens again at Turn 8."

Each time I attempt to accelerate, I find it extremely difficult to complete the turn. I often have to depend on using the rear tire to help pivot the vehicle during a hot lap in order to navigate the middle of the corner.

"We'll experiment with it throughout the night and aim to return with an improved plan for the next day."

"The speed is intense, but the key aspect in MotoGP nowadays is securing a good spot during qualifying, and once more, we're taking the more difficult route."

As he approaches the final phase of his career with the KTM factory team, Miller believes he has recently "made some progress" in the latest races.

"I'm attempting to navigate the problems I'm facing. The other two riders, Brad Binder and Pedro Acosta, have the new chassis, whereas I don't. Therefore, I'm working to make the most out of the equipment I currently have."

"I'm concentrating on improving my horseback riding skills by focusing on how to align my body movements with the horse and handle the uneven terrain smoothly, aiming to prevent any disruptions. We plan to keep striving hard until the finish."

Positive developments for the #43 team indicate that the severe vibration issues observed on camera at Motegi have not affected performance at Buriram up to this point.

"A slight adjustment in Turn 4, but nothing significant," he remarked.

Before his afternoon stunt that delighted the onlookers, Miller had already captivated the audience with a rolling burnout on the main straight. This occurred when he kept the throttle open following a botched practice start earlier in the day.

Miller expressed his thoughts on the '110' holeshot device, saying, "We were just interested in testing it out. Personally, I'm not really fond of the 110 device because when you lower the bike's front end that much, the rear wheel tends to spin almost right away."

"I started slowly, but as soon as I released the clutch, the rear tire spun. I decided to keep going for the audience, knowing that I wouldn't be using that tire again!"

Pedro Acosta, who finished in seventh place, was the sole KTM rider to gain direct entry into Qualifying 2, while Binder narrowly missed securing tenth position by a mere 0.001 seconds.

Augusto Fernandez finished in 20th place, trailing the quickest rider, Marc Marquez of Gresini Ducati, by just 1.3 seconds.

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Jack Miller expressed his desire to outperform Martin during the race, rather than in a stoppie contest. He acknowledged the fast pace but noted that they are once more taking the more difficult route.

Jorge Martin, who currently leads the MotoGP championship, performed a series of remarkable stoppies as he entered the pit lane, ultimately securing the second-fastest time during Friday's practice session for the Thai Grand Prix.

However, Jack Miller accepted the challenge, which led to Martin giving him a thumbs up as the Australian overtook the Pramac racer with his KTM nearly upright on its front end at the session's conclusion.

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After witnessing Martin perform his move, I felt compelled to match his skills… However, I'd prefer to surpass him on the race track rather than in a stoppie contest!" Miller said with a grin following the event.

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As the time trials commenced, the Australian racer was positioned in fifth place, ahead of Martin.

Although Martin advanced with new tires, a disappointed Miller fell to 13th place, narrowly missing the top ten and direct entry to Qualifying 2 by just 0.155 seconds.

"It's been the narrative for the past half-year," Miller remarked. "The speed was steady and reliable with the medium tires right from the start of the session. I did a few laps and felt at ease."

In my initial two attempts at time-attacks, I performed well, but during my final attempt, I couldn't manage to put everything in place. There were simply too many incidents, particularly in the central section of the track.

"I'm struggling with the front end starting at Turn 5, and this issue persists through Turn 6 and Turn 7, then happens again at Turn 8."

Whenever I attempt to accelerate, I find it very challenging to complete the turn. I end up depending on the rear tire to help pivot the car during the middle of a fast lap.

"We'll experiment with it tonight and aim to return tomorrow with an improved approach."

"The speed is intense, yet in today's MotoGP, securing a good spot in the qualifying rounds is crucial, and once more, we're taking the roundabout route."

As he approaches the end of his tenure with the factory KTM team, Miller believes that he has “made some progress” in the most recent races.

"I'm just attempting to manage the difficulties I'm facing. The other two riders, Brad Binder and Pedro Acosta, have the new chassis, while I don't. Therefore, we're simply trying to make the most out of our current situation."

"I am concentrating on improving my riding skills by aligning my body movements with the bike and minimizing the impact of bumps. We plan to keep pushing forward until the end."

The positive update for the #43 is that the intense vibrations recorded on video at Motegi haven't been an issue thus far at Buriram.

"It's slightly tight in Turn 4, but it's manageable," he remarked.

Earlier in the day, before his impressive stoppie performance in the afternoon, Miller dazzled the audience with a rolling burnout on the main straight. This spectacle occurred when he kept the throttle open following a mishap during his practice start in the morning.

Miller expressed his thoughts on the '110' holeshot device, saying, "We were simply eager to test it out. Personally, I don't have much enthusiasm for the 110 device. The moment you lower the bike's front end that much, the rear wheel begins to spin nearly right away."

"I started slowly, but as soon as I released the clutch, the back tire spun out. Then, I kept it going for the audience, knowing I wouldn’t be using that tire again!"

Pedro Acosta, who finished in seventh place, was the sole KTM racer to directly qualify for the second round. In contrast, Binder narrowly missed securing a spot in the top ten by only 0.001 seconds.

Augusto Fernandez finished in 20th place, trailing the quickest rider, Marc Marquez of Gresini Ducati, by just 1.3 seconds.

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Jack Miller remarked, "I’d like to outpace Martin during the race itself, rather than just excelling in a stoppie contest!" He added, "Our speed is impressive, but we're opting for the longer route once more."

Jorge Martin, who is currently at the top of the MotoGP standings, executed a series of remarkable stoppies as he entered the pit lane, ultimately securing second place during Friday's practice session for the Thai Grand Prix.

Jack Miller stepped up to the task, earning a thumbs up from Martin as the Australian rider overtook the Pramac competitor, with his KTM nearly vertical on its front end by the close of the session.

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After witnessing Martin perform his, I felt compelled to maintain my own performance… It would be great to surpass him on the track rather than just in a stoppie contest!" Miller grinned as he reflected on the event.

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As the time trials commenced, the Australian was in fifth place, positioned ahead of Martin.

As Martin advanced with new tires, a disappointed Miller fell to 13th place, narrowly missing the top ten and direct entry to Qualifying 2 by only 0.155 seconds.

"It's been the narrative for the past half-year," remarked Miller. "The speed was solid, steadily maintained with the medium tires right from the start of the session. I did a few laps with them and felt at ease."

"In my initial two time-trials, I performed well, but I couldn't quite pull it off during my final attempt. I experienced too many challenging moments, particularly in the track's middle section."

"I'm losing grip at the front starting at Turn 5, and it carries on through Turns 6 and 7, and once more at Turn 8."

"Whenever I attempt to accelerate, I find it difficult to complete the turn. I have to depend on using the rear tire to help the vehicle pivot during a fast lap to make it through the middle of the corner."

"We'll experiment with this overnight and aim to return with an improved approach by tomorrow."

"The speed is intense, but in today's MotoGP, securing a good spot in the qualifying rounds is crucial, and once more, we're taking the more difficult route to achieve that."

As he approaches the conclusion of his tenure with the KTM factory team, Miller believes he has made some progress in the most recent races.

"I'm attempting to work through the challenges I'm facing. Unlike me, Brad Binder and Pedro Acosta have the new chassis, and I don't. Therefore, I'm focusing on making the most with the resources available to me."

"I'm concentrating on improving my riding skills, focusing on coordinating my body movements to better handle the bumps and minimize their impact. We'll keep pushing forward until the finish."

The positive update for the #43 team is that the intense vibration previously recorded at Motegi has not been an issue at Buriram.

"A slight touch in Turn 4, but nothing major," he remarked.

Earlier in the day, before his impressive stoppie that thrilled the audience, Miller had captivated the spectators with a rolling burnout on the main straight. This happened when he kept the throttle open following a botched practice start in the morning.

Miller expressed his thoughts on the '110' holeshot device, stating, "Our goal was simply to test it out. Personally, I don't particularly like the 110 device. When you lower the bike's front end that much, the back wheel starts to lose grip and spin right away."

"I started off slowly, but as soon as I released the clutch, the back tire spun wildly. I decided to keep going like that for the audience, knowing that I wouldn't be using that tire again!"

Pedro Acosta, who finished seventh, was the sole KTM competitor to directly advance to Qualifying 2, while Binder narrowly missed securing the tenth spot by a mere 0.001 seconds.

Augusto Fernandez finished in 20th place, trailing the quickest rider, Marc Marquez of Gresini Ducati, by just 1.3 seconds.

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Luca Marini provides an in-depth analysis of Honda's recent improvements and persistent challenges.

Luca Marini discusses the advantages and disadvantages faced by Honda.

Luca Marini was excited to notice another Honda bike among the top 10 on Friday in Thailand, but he remains cautious and is not letting it go to his head.

During the Thailand MotoGP practice, Johann Zarco clocked the 10th-fastest time, marking another modest advancement for Honda as they continue to make gradual improvements.

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Honda's factory rider, Marini, finished in 17th place but provided an in-depth evaluation of the adjustments being made to the setup.

"We attempted a new approach with the setup," Marini explained.

"We attempted to establish a plan for the upcoming year by adjusting the weight distribution. Our focus was on increasing the load on the rear to enhance the performance of the rear tire."

"Currently, it is the most significant absence."

"During the initial lap, I focus on getting the tire up to temperature, but it loses grip as the race progresses. Our situation is unusual when compared to teams like Aprilia, KTM, and Ducati. We stand out as distinct."

"Our goal is to comprehend and enhance this."

"There are some advantages. It improves braking and stopping the bike, and possibly enhances grip, but I still need to adjust the settings and balance further."

From my perspective, there is room for improvement in my riding skills. I've been consistent in my approach throughout the year, but now I've reached a new level. As a rider, I know I can enhance my performance.

Marini commented on Zarco's performance, where he secured the 10th-fastest time on Friday, stating, "He delivered an impressive lap, but he was really pushing the boundaries. He took risks at every turn and utilized the slipstream."

"We must enhance the bike's performance because completing a single lap is achievable."

"However, in a competition? Not a chance."

"It's a positive indication that we've made progress."

Marini thinks he has found a solution to a problem that typically challenged the Honda.

"In my opinion, we make significant gains in the high-speed turns," he remarked.

"Perhaps it's because I'm a cyclist who enjoys high-speed turns."

"We took a significant leap forward with the fairing."

At Misano, I was among the quickest racers. While there’s been talk about Honda facing difficulties over the years at this track, this was the first occasion where we performed well.

"We've been struggling with stop-and-go situations. The bike isn't stopping as it should, particularly the back tire."

"When it comes to heavy braking, our performance isn't strong enough to compete with the other motorcycles."

Marini has the option to use a new exhaust at Buriram, but he's keeping his enthusiasm in check.

"I've tested this exhaust numerous times," he mentioned.

"I believe the regular version is superior."

"The purpose of this exhaust is to address a specific issue. We need to examine the bike to determine which exhaust will be suitable for use tomorrow."

"However, each time I've attempted it, I find I like the regular version better."

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Analysis: The tool Marc Marquez might employ to challenge Jorge Martin's lead

Though Jorge Martin demonstrates superior race speed, Marc Marquez possesses a hidden asset.

A stark contrast in conditions has characterized MotoGP's recent journey. In the last five days, the series has transitioned from the freezing temperatures at Phillip Island to the scorching heat of Buriram. This change mirrors the intensity of the 2024 MotoGP championship race, evoking the classic saying about moving from one challenging situation to another.

With only 111 points available and a 20-point gap between Jorge Martin and Francesco Bagnaia, each session is vital as there are just three rounds left, including this weekend's Thai Grand Prix, before the season concludes.

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On Friday in Buriram, both Martin and Bagnaia appeared somewhat dissatisfied with their experiences on their GP24 motorcycles. Throughout the hour-long practice session, there were moments when they seemed a bit disorganized on the track. Meanwhile, they were frequently engaged in detailed discussions within their individual team areas.

The difficulties faced by Bagnaia originated from trying out some configuration changes that ultimately didn't yield positive results. This led his official Ducati team to switch back to the settings he had at the beginning of the session to make sure he remained competitive during the time attack segment.

This situation likely stems from the events of the Australian GP weekend. On Friday, adverse weather conditions led to limited track time, causing Bagnaia to make incorrect set-up choices for Saturday. As a result, he spent the remainder of the event trying to recover and find the right adjustments.

Martin's troubles appeared to originate from his dissatisfaction with the hard rear tire he experimented with halfway through the session. By the time he finished, the tire was heavily used and had already covered a grand prix distance.

During the critical moments of the MotoGP championship, a psychologist could find plenty to analyze in the paddock. Both Bagnaia and Martin claim that their weekend strategies remain unchanged, emphasizing that each race holds equal significance. However, Martin's comments following Friday's sessions imply, as has often been subtly evident despite the riders' composed exteriors, that the reality might be different.

Martin expressed his satisfaction with being competitive, stating to reporters, including those from Crash.net, on Friday, "I've been feeling anxious this week. I was mentally preparing for what lay ahead. However, once I hit the track and things went smoothly, my worries disappeared. With Pecco and Marc also performing well, it's set to be a tough weekend, but I'm ready to compete."

Both riders have successfully completed the first day of the important Thai Grand Prix without any significant issues, securing their places in Q2. An improvement from the GP24s on Saturday is expected, similar to what happened the previous weekend.

A mere 0.195 seconds separate the leading four riders in practice at the Thai Grand Prix. Leading the pack is M. Marquez, followed closely by Martin at just 0.110 seconds behind. Bastianini trails by 0.162 seconds, while Bagnaia rounds out the top four, 0.195 seconds off the pace. #MotoGP #ThaiGP pic.twitter.com/HJkx59DOlp — Crash MotoGP (@crash_motogp) October 25, 2024.

For the second consecutive week, Marquez topped the timings in Friday’s sessions. The Gresini team member appeared exceptionally at ease on his GP23, breaking the lap record with a time of 1 minute and 29.165 seconds during the second practice session to take the lead.

The GP23 model allows for a smoother start to the race weekend on Fridays because it is based on an older motorcycle for which there is useful data from last year. Marquez has reached a stage in his adjustment to the Ducati where he is no longer lagging behind, as he described it a few months back, when he begins his sessions on a race track on a Friday.

In the previous week in Australia, Ducati's leader, Davide Tardozzi, anticipated that the GP24 bikes would be able to overtake Marquez. However, Marquez demonstrated the fastest race pace during Friday's session and managed to defeat Martin in the grand prix, as well as decisively outperform Bagnaia.

Examining the extended performance on Friday in Thailand, it seems reasonable to think that Marquez's anticipation of the GP24s overtaking him on Saturday is well-founded.

During the second session on Friday at Buriram, he focused solely on using the medium rear tyre. Over the course of three runs, he completed 16 laps with it. By the conclusion of these 16 laps, his lap time was 1 minute and 31.071 seconds, and after removing laps that were unrepresentative or cancelled, his average time over nine laps was 1 minute and 30.790 seconds.

Martin completed just 11 laps using a medium rear tire, yet his speed showed improvement. Over an average of eight laps, the Pramac team member clocked in at 1 minute and 30.628 seconds. Notably, Martin also experimented with the hard compound tire, which was last year's choice for the Thai Grand Prix—a race he won, triumphing over Bagnaia and KTM's Brad Binder in a thrilling finish.

According to Michelin, at this point, both medium and hard tires are suitable choices for the upcoming races. Piero Taramasso, who leads Michelin's motorsport division, explains that while the medium tires provide superior grip, they lack the consistency offered by the hard tires.

While using hard tires, Martin wasn't entirely satisfied with his performance, though he did mention, "I felt okay." His speed seemed to confirm this sentiment. Martin managed a top time of 1 minute 30.847 seconds after completing 20 laps on the tire. On the tire's last lap, he recorded a time of 1 minute 31.565 seconds. During the final lap of the 2023 Thai Grand Prix on hard tires, Martin achieved a time of 1 minute 31.866 seconds.

Enea Bastianini secured the third-best time for the top factory team, Ducati. However, on Friday, the Italian rider faced challenges with braking, resulting in an average pace of 1 minute and 30.920 seconds on medium tires.

Marquez believes that Bastianini's impressive beginning to the weekend serves as a signal that he will play a significant role in the upcoming races.

Due to setup challenges, Bagnaia ended up in fourth place overall. However, his extended run times on medium tires showed a slight edge over Bastianini, clocking in at 1 minute and 30.852 seconds. This currently places him behind Martin and Marquez according to this measurement, but the actual capabilities of the two-time world champion are still uncertain following his disrupted afternoon session.

Despite feeling anxious and uneasy while using the hard tyre, Martin concludes Friday as the top contender. However, he acknowledged that his challenge in Thailand is highly complex.

In Australia, he mounted a vigorous defense against Marquez, though his efforts were somewhat limited by his standing in the championship. This is an issue that will persist for both him and Bagnaia until the championship is ultimately resolved.

While Marquez and Bastianini are technically still in contention, their main focus in the last three races is on personal pride and the possibility of earning some victory bonuses.

Martin found himself facing Bastianini's aggressive tactics at Misano and experienced a similar situation with Marquez last week. The incident with Bastianini continues to leave a bitter taste for him.

"The maneuver at Misano wasn't right. I believe those five points should belong to me," stated Martin. "He went off the track and then collided with me as we exited the corner. Marc's maneuver was definitely aggressive. However, since he didn’t make contact with me, I think it's acceptable. He strategized well and had an outstanding race."

During the week, Marquez faced criticism for supposedly meddling in the championship fight at Phillip Island. This is a recurring issue reminiscent of 2015. Marquez addressed it during Thursday's press conference, stating that he "cannot control" his position in a race in relation to a championship contender.

In Thailand, he believes he needs to gain some speed on the two straight sections following Turn 1 and Turn 3. However, he is confident this will be resolved once a new engine is installed in his GP23 later tonight.

Should he maintain the pace he demonstrated on Friday, Australia showcased the significant impact he can have when his skills surpass the bike's deficiencies.

Martin expressed his intention to take a proactive role in the races by leading from the front whenever possible. However, he acknowledges the importance of being strategic, a skill that his Pramac team has evidently taught him well.

Pramac team manager Gino Borsoi emphasized the significance of this weekend, stating on Friday during practice that it is undoubtedly one of the key weekends of the year. He noted that the final three weekends hold particular importance for the team.

"We should keep our approach similar to Australia's strategy, focusing on avoiding errors and considering alternative tactics to Pecco's. Our goal should be to stay close to Pecco rather than aiming for a victory, as winning is great, but the priority is to finish with a solid performance and return safely with the bike."

The progress that Bagnaia and Bastianini achieve on Saturday is crucial in determining the outcome of the weekend. Meanwhile, the fragile title race presents a chance for Marquez to capitalize on, and for Bastianini as well, provided he resolves his braking problems. Martin, above all, needs to stay focused on the overall objective.

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Analysis: The tool Marc Marquez can utilize to gain an edge over Jorge Martin

While Jorge Martin possesses superior race speed, Marc Marquez holds a hidden advantage.

From one end of the spectrum to the other. That's exactly how MotoGP has transitioned in the last five days, moving from the freezing cold of Phillip Island to the scorching heat of Buriram. This change perfectly illustrates the intense 2024 MotoGP championship fight, akin to jumping from a cold place straight into a blazing situation.

As only 111 points remain available, the 20-point gap between Jorge Martin and Francesco Bagnaia makes each session vital. With only three races left in the season, including this weekend's Thai Grand Prix, every moment counts before the season concludes.

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On Friday in Buriram, both Martin and Bagnaia appeared less than pleased with their experiences on the GP24 bikes. Throughout the hour-long practice session, they both seemed somewhat untidy on the track at various moments, and their garages were frequently the scene of thorough discussions.

Bagnaia encountered problems due to some set-up trials that ultimately failed to deliver the desired results. Consequently, his factory Ducati team had to return to the initial settings he used at the beginning of the session to make sure he remained competitive during the time attack phase.

This situation likely stems from the Australian Grand Prix weekend, where adverse weather conditions on Friday led to limited time on the track. As a result, Bagnaia made incorrect set-up decisions for Saturday and spent the remainder of the event trying to catch up.

Martin's troubles appeared to mainly arise from his dissatisfaction with the hard rear tire he tested halfway through the session, as it was significantly worn and had covered a race distance by the time he finished.

A psychologist would find plenty of material to analyze in the MotoGP paddock as the championship reaches its critical stages. Both Bagnaia and Martin claim that their strategy for weekends remains unchanged, emphasizing that each race is equally significant. However, Martin's comments following Friday's sessions imply—revealing as much as we've typically discerned from the subtle façades riders maintain—that this might not be the case.

Martin expressed his satisfaction with being competitive, admitting on Friday to various media outlets, such as Crash.net, that he felt anxious throughout the week. "I was mentally preparing for the upcoming events," he noted. However, once he hit the track and things went smoothly, his worries disappeared. With Pecco and Marc also performing strongly, he acknowledged that the weekend would be tough, but he was ready to compete.

Both have successfully navigated the first day of an important Thai Grand Prix without encountering any significant issues, securing their spots in Q2. It's highly probable that they will see further progress from the GP24s on Saturday, similar to the improvements observed last weekend.

Just 0.195 seconds separate the top four riders in practice at the Thailand Grand Prix. Leading the pack is M. Marquez, followed by Martin, who trails by 0.110 seconds. Bastianini is in third, 0.162 seconds behind the leader, while Bagnaia rounds out the top four, just 0.195 seconds off the pace. #MotoGP #ThaiGP

For the second consecutive week, Marquez topped the timesheets on Friday. The Gresini team rider appeared extremely at ease on his GP23, breaking the lap record with a time of 1 minute and 29.165 seconds during the second practice session.

The GP23 allows for a smoother start to the weekend from Friday, thanks to it being an older model with useful data from the prior year. Marquez has reached a stage in his adjustment to the Ducati where he no longer feels "behind schedule," as he described it a few months back, when he begins practice on a race track each Friday.

In Australia last week, Davide Tardozzi, the head of Ducati, anticipated that the GP24s would have the ability to overtake Marquez. However, Marquez demonstrated the fastest race pace during Friday's session, eventually surpassing Martin in the grand prix and decisively defeating Bagnaia.

Analyzing the long-term performance from Friday in Thailand, it seems reasonable to think that Marquez's prediction about the GP24s closing in on him by Saturday is accurate.

During the second practice session on Friday in Buriram, he focused solely on using the medium rear tire. Over three separate runs, he completed a total of 16 laps with this tire. By the final lap of these 16, his lap time was 1 minute 31.071 seconds. Meanwhile, his average lap time, calculated after excluding any unrepresentative or canceled laps, was 1 minute 30.790 seconds over nine laps.

Martin completed just 11 laps using a medium rear tire, but his speed improved. Over an average of eight laps, the Pramac team member clocked a time of 1 minute and 30.628 seconds. Notably, Martin also experimented with the hard tire, which was the choice for the previous year's Thai Grand Prix. In that race, the Spaniard emerged victorious, edging out Bagnaia and KTM's Brad Binder in an exciting finish.

At this point, Michelin indicates that both medium and hard tires are suitable choices for the upcoming races. Piero Taramasso, who leads Michelin's motorsport division, mentions that while the medium tires provide superior grip, they do not offer the same level of consistency as the hard tires.

While using the hard tire, Martin expressed some dissatisfaction, yet remarked that he "felt okay" with it, which was evident in his performance. He achieved a top time of 1 minute 30.847 seconds after the tire had completed 20 laps, and during its last lap, he recorded a time of 1 minute 31.565 seconds. In the closing lap of the 2023 Thai Grand Prix on a hard tire, Martin managed a time of 1 minute 31.866 seconds.

Enea Bastianini secured the third-fastest time for the top Ducati factory team. However, his average speed on the medium tires was 1m30.920s, as he faced challenges with braking on Friday.

Marquez, however, believes that Bastianini's impressive beginning to a weekend serves as an indication that he will play a significant role in the races.

Due to challenges with his bike's configuration, Bagnaia ended up in fourth place. However, his extended stint on the medium tire was marginally faster than Bastianini's, clocking in at 1 minute 30.852 seconds. This performance ranks him below both Martin and Marquez in this regard. Still, the actual capabilities of the two-time world champion are uncertain after an inconsistent session.

Despite feeling anxious and uncomfortable with the hard tire, Martin finishes Friday as the top contender. However, he acknowledged that the challenge he faces in Thailand is highly complex.

In Australia, he mounted a vigorous defense against Marquez, though his position in the championship somewhat limited his efforts. This aspect will continue to impact both him and Bagnaia until the championship outcome is settled.

In the last three grand prix races, Marquez and Bastianini are technically still contenders, but they really only have their personal pride and potential win bonuses to focus on.

At Misano, Martin experienced Bastianini's aggressive racing style, and last week, he faced similar behavior from Marquez. The incident with Bastianini continues to leave a bitter taste for him.

"The maneuver at Misano was not right. Those five points belong to me," Martin stated. "He left the track and then collided with me as we exited the corner. Marc's maneuver was definitely forceful. However, since he didn't make contact with me, I think it's acceptable. He executed his strategy well and had an incredible race."

Earlier this week, Marquez faced criticism for supposedly getting involved in the championship race at Phillip Island. This kind of talk is nothing new, echoing past controversies from 2015 that seem to resurface repeatedly. During a press briefing on Thursday, Marquez addressed the issue by stating that he has no control over his position in a race compared to those competing for the championship title.

In Thailand, he believes he needs to gain some speed on the two straight sections following Turn 1 and Turn 3. However, he is optimistic that this will be achieved once a new engine is installed in his GP23 later today.

Should he maintain the pace he showed on Friday, Australia demonstrated the impact he can have when he overcomes the bike's shortcomings.

Martin has expressed his intention to take the lead in the races whenever possible. However, he is aware of the importance of being strategic, a lesson that his Pramac team has evidently imparted to him.

Pramac team leader Gino Borsoi emphasized the significance of this weekend, stating on Friday during practice that it ranks among the most crucial of the year. He also mentioned that the final three weekends hold great importance for the team.

"We should keep going with the same approach as in Australia, focusing on avoiding any errors and considering alternatives to Pecco's strategy. The aim is to stay close to Pecco without necessarily aiming for a victory, as winning is great, but the main goal is to return with a solid performance."

The progress that Bagnaia and Bastianini achieve on Saturday will significantly influence the outcome of the weekend's events. However, the precarious championship scenario presents a chance for Marquez—and Bastianini, should he resolve his braking problems—to take advantage. Meanwhile, Martin, above all, must stay focused on the overarching goal.

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