Pedro Acosta criticizes Marc Marquez for "unnecessary" collision during the Barcelona MotoGP sprint race, stating, "He approached it as if it were just a regular lap."

Pedro Acosta expressed that Marc Marquez's effort to pass him during the MotoGP Solidarity Grand Prix sprint, which led to a collision that ended the race, was "unnecessary."

During the 12-lap sprint on Saturday, the Tech3 rider managed to climb to fourth position just after the first two corners. However, he and Marquez collided as they navigated through Turn 3.

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Acosta was positioned on the inner side, while Marquez was moving faster on the outer side. They collided, resulting in the front fairing of the Tech3 GASGAS being torn away.

As a result, Acosta had to withdraw from the race after just the first lap, resulting in his 13th zero point finish during his debut season.

On Saturday night, when questioned by the press, including Crash.net, Acosta expressed disapproval of Marquez's tactics.

"Those two corners were really frustrating," Acosta commented.

"We didn't even get to begin the race, so it's hard to comment on it."

"Once more, during the weekend, we performed well and felt quite competitive, maintaining a strong rhythm and pace."

"Due to external factors, we ended with another zero. That's just the way it is."

"I didn't notice anyone until Marc collided with me. I was positioned fully on the inside right, and he approached as if it were a regular lap, while I was caught in the middle."

"He entered as though the track was empty. I won't comment on whether he was to blame, but it happened at the third corner on the first lap. Such an aggressive move wasn't needed. Nonetheless, that's how racing goes."

Acosta dismissed the idea that the incident stemmed from the existence of two possible paths between Turn 2 and Turn 3. He compared it to the contentious clash between Alex Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia at the Aragon race.

"I'm not sure about that, as I was right at the front," he mentioned.

"In the second corner, Marc was trailing me, and so was [Franco] Morbidelli."

"Sure, he managed to go faster. But still, I was present. Yes, he increased his speed, passed me, and when he began to cut across, I collided like this."

"I was completely bent over and couldn't see anything beyond. It was similar to the situation with Alex and Pecco in Aragon. Ultimately, I ended up ahead."

On Saturday in Barcelona, Acosta was the top-performing KTM rider, securing a sixth-place start, while Brad Binder, the next fastest on an RC16, qualified in 18th position. This led Acosta to believe that the sprint race had the potential to yield a strong finish for him.

He stated, "It's evident that numerous possibilities existed."

During FP2, we maintained a strong speed, and even with the medium rear tire, we felt confident in our ability to perform well and maintain a competitive pace in the race.

"I initially felt more apprehensive about the hard front, but after a warm-up and two laps, it turned out to be fine."

The officials decided not to penalize the incident, and Marquez finished in seventh place during the 12-lap sprint race.

In a conversation with the press, he stated that he was "battling against the track" and that finishing in sixth place was the best outcome he could have achieved on his Gresini-operated GP23, had he avoided the collision with Acosta during the first lap.

Marquez also stated that he was not injured in the crash.

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Fabio Quartararo expressed that he could have achieved a quicker pace, but obstacles hindered him during the Barcelona MotoGP Sprint. He mentioned that while the potential was promising, there was a significant lack of power and grip.

Fabio Quartararo ended the Barcelona MotoGP Sprint in a disappointing 10th place, although he was engaged in a fierce competition with multiple Ducati competitors during the latter part of the race.

In the last lap, Quartararo missed the chance to secure the final point as Brad Binder overtook him. Earlier in the race, he had been competing with Marc Marquez, Franco Morbidelli, and Marco Bezzecchi for a spot within the top eight.

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Quartararo stated that his argument would not have affected the outcome of the race.

"Although we had the speed to go quicker, we were obviously hindered, which sadly prevented me from passing."

"I believe the potential was there, but it lacked sufficient power and grip to compete effectively against them."

Quartararo believed his performance had improved compared to the Catalan Grand Prix that took place at the same track in May.

Quartararo expressed that the situation had improved somewhat, mentioning that it was pleasing to have Marc Marquez nearby, despite Marquez encountering a problem at the third corner.

"We couldn't attempt any clean overtakes; the move I made on [Marco] Bezzecchi wasn't a usual maneuver. It involved taking a huge risk, and I wasn't sure if I would end up making contact with him, so it wasn't a straightforward overtaking maneuver."

"It's challenging since our pace is quite slow and the traction is lacking. We're addressing the issue, but this circuit really tests these two elements."

Rins: "We couldn't get the setup right for me"

Alex Rins faced a setback early in the race as he fell to the back of the pack. This happened after he got tangled in the chaos following the incident Quartararo referred to, involving Marc Marquez at the third corner.

Marquez collided with Pedro Acosta, causing the front fairing of Acosta's motorcycle to tear off, which led to his withdrawal from the race. Meanwhile, Rins had to steer clear of the wreckage, which resulted in him falling to the back of the pack.

Rins explained that he managed to navigate two corners while dodging [Pedro] Acosta's fairing, which resulted in him dropping to the back of the pack.

"Beginning from that point, our race performance was decent; I managed to gain six positions and felt quite competitive. However, once I reached [Luca] Marini, my tires were completely worn out."

"I attempted to pass him and managed to lead for one lap. However, at the first turn, I went straight ahead because my front wheels locked up, preventing me from doing any more."

Rins faced similar challenges to Quartararo, primarily struggling with insufficient rear grip. However, he still managed to maintain a reasonable speed.

He mentioned that they are facing challenges in this Grand Prix, but he is figuring things out.

"We're having difficulty with traction and rear grip, yet I'm still managing to ride in the low 1:40s and high 1:39s. For tomorrow, if luck is on our side and I secure a strong position on the first lap, I believe we can achieve a decent finish between 10th and 13th place. I'm feeling confident, and I'm giving my all to make up for where the bike falls short."

Drawing a comparison to his colleague Quartararo, Rins remarked, "When I measure myself against Fabio [Quartararo] in this setting, it doesn't seem too bad. However, I'm still somewhat confused about my setup."

"After finishing the race, I tell my engineers the exact same thing that I mentioned during the Qatar event."

This year, we couldn't identify the optimal configuration for my needs.

"Frankly, I'm pushing the bike too hard. I can't just let it run smoothly. This is a downside because it puts extra pressure on the tires and leads to more errors on my part."

"It's more challenging when the bike isn't in your possession."

In August 2024, Alex became a member of the Crash.net staff after spending two years reporting on consumer and racing motorcycle news for Visordown.

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The MotoGP 2024 championship features a rider in a particularly difficult situation.

A competitor is stuck between the rivalry of Bagnaia and Martin.

The championship for the 2024 MotoGP will be determined during the last race of the season at the Solidarity Grand Prix this Sunday. This follows Francesco Bagnaia's triumph in the sprint race, which has kept his championship aspirations intact.

As Barcelona prepares for this weekend's event, Jorge Martin of Pramac is at the top of the standings, holding a 24-point lead over Bagnaia.

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Martin was required to finish at least two points ahead of Bagnaia to secure the championship on Saturday. However, Enea Bastianini overtook him on the final lap of the sprint, pushing him down to third place.

As a result of Bagnaia, who rides for the factory Ducati team alongside Bastianini, securing victory in the sprint race, the difference in the championship standings has been reduced to 19 points ahead of Sunday's 24-lap grand prix.

Several competitors in Barcelona on Saturday have already contributed to the championship battle.

During the qualifying session, Bagnaia succeeded in following Marc Marquez closely, securing the third spot on the starting grid. Meanwhile, Aleix Espargaro secured the second position, helping his good friend Martin, who used Espargaro as a guide, to place his Pramac-run GP24 in fourth.

During the sprint race, Bastianini didn't consider the championship in his plan when he passed Martin on the final lap. However, this move might become crucial depending on the outcome of Sunday's race.

Franco Morbidelli, who is part of Martin's Pramac team, has unintentionally become involved in the championship fight. This situation arose when he ended up trailing Marquez and Bagnaia during the Q2 session.

Morbidelli came close to achieving a lap time that could have pushed Martin down to fifth place on the starting grid, but in the end, the Italian rider secured that position himself.

During the sprint, Morbidelli was competing closely with Bastianini and Martin for a spot on the podium.

As Morbidelli competes independently, he finds himself in a distinct situation: one of his teammates is vying for the championship, and the other contender is also part of the VR46 Academy, just like him.

"It’s definitely challenging," Morbidelli remarked when Crash.net inquired about how he is managing the circumstances.

"Today, while I was pursuing Jorge, it proved to be challenging."

"It's crucial, and I prefer not to be caught up in any situation."

"I'm not currently competing for a championship, so I prefer not to get involved. I have a unique perspective as an observer of the competition."

He stated, "I aimed to pass Enea. I'm not shielding anyone. I have no desire to take on any particular part. I just want to focus on my own race. I don't wish to be involved in any other way."

When questioned about whether he would pass Martin if the circumstances allowed, he responded, "Yes, I would."

When questioned about overtaking Bagnaia, he responded identically: "Yes, it is indeed the right position to be in."

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Johann Zarco expressed some frustration, describing his feelings as "a bit angry," following a decrease in speed during the Barcelona MotoGP. He remarked that such feelings are "kind of normal" given the circumstances. Zarco mentioned that despite performing well, the performance was pushed to the limits of what the bike could handle.

During Friday's Practice session at the Solidarity Barcelona MotoGP, Johann Zarco secured a spot in Q2. However, on Saturday morning, he expressed his disappointment as he struggled to replicate the same pace in the Q2 session.

Zarco clocked in at 1:39.197, securing the fourth position by the close of Friday. However, in Q2, his speed dropped to a 1:39.494, placing him 12th on the leaderboard.

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Zarco expressed his frustration over not being able to replicate his lap time from Friday, attributing this to the limited leeway he has with the Honda RC213V when attempting to achieve a fast lap.

Zarco stated that there was a restriction with the bike during qualifying, which prevented him from improving his lap time, and in fact, his performance was slightly poorer today.

"I was somewhat upset, which is understandable. You can perform exceptionally well, but the bike's limits are pushed to the max, making it challenging to achieve consistently."

During the Sprint, Zarco managed to secure the 11th position. He maintained a pace similar to the riders at the tail end of the top 10, even though he initially lost some time at the start of the race.

During the race, when compared to strong competitors like Marco Bezzecchi, Brad Binder, and Fabio Quartararo, I felt that I could keep up with them. However, it seems I might have fallen slightly behind at the start of the race.

"We're a few tenths of a second behind what we need to keep up with them. I had a strong battle with Raul Fernandez, which cost me some time."

Zarco mentioned that he must be tactical to enhance his chances in Sunday's Grand Prix. He expressed his satisfaction by stating, "This is a positive development since, from the start of the year until about two-thirds of the way through, I was unable to consider race strategies, but now I can."

"I should probably focus on the latter half of the race to outperform the others in my group. By doing this, I can aim for a solid top-10 finish, which seems like an achievable goal right now."

Due to his viewpoint on optimizing his performance in the race, Zarco is leaning towards using the hard-compound rear tire for the Grand Prix.

Zarco mentioned that he believes their choice will be the hard compound rear tire, although he expects some others might opt for the medium compound. He emphasized that the race isn't feasible with the soft compound rear tire.

"I aim to rely on the stable performance of the hard rear tire. It might not provide an exceptionally great sensation, but from the midpoint of the race to the finish, it could potentially offer an advantage of about two-tenths over the medium tire. This is the strategy we need to adopt."

"In order to have a successful race, I must put in significant effort right from the start."

In August 2024, Alex became a member of the Crash.net team after spending two years reporting on consumer and racing motorcycle news for Visordown.

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Joan Mir had the chance to make it into Q2 before a crash during the final practice session at the Barcelona MotoGP. "I felt really good with the first set of tires and was able to perform quite well…"

Joan Mir believed he could have secured a spot in the top 10 during MotoGP Practice at the upcoming Solidarity Grand Prix in Barcelona, but a late accident thwarted his efforts.

Mir decided to cut short his initial attempt as he was trailing behind Jorge Martin, who headed into the pits on his Pramac Ducati at the conclusion of the lap.

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Mir believed he might have been better off heading to the pits for a fresh tire to keep pace with Martin during the second stint. However, after switching tires, he experienced reduced grip, and in his attempt to compensate for this, he ended up crashing at turn 10.

"I had an incident with the last tire," Mir explained. "I think I could have performed at a higher level. However, we need to figure out what went wrong because with the first tire, I felt really confident and was able to perform well."

"I managed to drive quickly on the lap when I headed into the pits; it was the best lap I could achieve today."

"I noticed that the bike was performing smoothly, and I attempted to keep up with [Jorge] Martin. When I observed Martin heading into the pit, I decided that it would be better to make another attempt with a fresh tire. I had some flexibility, so I thought it was a good opportunity to try and enhance my lap time."

"For some unknown reason, the traction with the second tire was significantly different and not even close to being the same."

"I attempted to apply additional pressure on the brakes to make up for the reduced traction, which led to my crash. We'll analyze the situation for tomorrow."

"I believe we might have a chance to advance to Q2 today."

One of Mir's challenges during a time attack is that his usual way of riding doesn't align well with the current setup of the RC213V. When he's trying to achieve a quick lap, it's more difficult for him to consciously modify his technique to match the bike, something he manages more easily in a race setting.

Mir mentioned that when using a worn tire, the pace slows down, allowing for more time to contemplate your actions.

"When I have a new tire, riding feels more natural to me, and that's when this issue occurs."

"I'm making an effort, but it's challenging to switch your style overnight. Whenever they modify something on the bike, I find myself reverting to my usual style. This is essentially what's going on right now."

On Friday, numerous riders, including Mir, were caught off guard by the unexpectedly low grip levels on the track at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. This occurred even though the temperatures were significantly cooler than what is typically encountered during the Catalan Grand Prix, which is usually held at this venue in early summer.

"I anticipated that the colder temperatures would provide better traction," Mir stated.

"It's quite challenging to get the tires to function properly. The softer rear compound offers a slight improvement, but the overall grip on this track remains quite inadequate."

Mir stated that the limited traction will complicate selecting the right tires for the races.

"It will be challenging to grasp," he remarked. "Tomorrow, we plan to run additional laps using the soft compound tire to better comprehend its degradation. This is necessary because all the tires experience significant spinning at this track—the medium tire spins considerably, and the high wear is a result of this excessive spinning."

"We need to grasp the importance of the soft tires: they will be crucial for the race, as experiencing a decline in performance here could mean losing two seconds."

In August 2024, Alex became a member of the Crash.net team after spending two years reporting on consumer and racing motorcycle news at Visordown.

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KTM evaluates future in MotoGP due to financial challenges

KTM leader talks about dedication to MotoGP

KTM's plans for their MotoGP endeavor in 2025 are expected to proceed unchanged, even though the Austrian company has faced financial challenges this year.

KTM has recently revealed that it has reduced its board of directors from six individuals to just two. This decision is part of several actions, including staff reductions, aimed at addressing the company's financial difficulties.

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In 2024, the Pierer Mobility Group has experienced a decline in sales, attributing this downturn to the economic recession in Germany and the cost of living crisis in the United States.

All these factors have resulted in a 90% decrease in KTM's stock prices since February 2022.

KTM has needed temporary financial support to assist the troubled brand. CEO Stefan Pierer has informed local Austrian media that production will halt temporarily and more employees will be laid off.

Recent developments have raised worries regarding the future of KTM's MotoGP initiative, which presently includes two teams competing in the top category.

Nevertheless, Herve Poncharal, the head of the Tech3 team, has mentioned that he was informed that KTM's ongoing issues will not have any immediate impact on the MotoGP program.

According to Motorsport.com, Poncharal expressed his admiration for Stefan Pierer and Hubert Trunkenpolz.

"Hubert and I had a conversation recently. He mentioned that the most challenging part has passed. They have given me their assurance that they are certain about the decisions they have taken."

"They are now faced with difficult choices, which include deciding on the number of staff, decreasing production capability, and implementing price reductions to clear out inventory."

"Currently, these are the most significant challenges."

"There are consequences for racing, but I've heard that MotoGP is not something they want to interfere with."

"According to Stefan and Hubert, who are in charge, it would be an error to do so, as it's the brand's leading product."

"I prefer hearing directly from them instead of going through a newspaper article. I go straight to the source for information, and I've been told there's nothing to be concerned about."

"Certainly, they endure hardships and are faced with difficult choices, yet this is inherent in managing a business. Life has its highs and lows."

Crash.net contacted KTM for an official statement regarding the situation, but the company stated that it currently has no information to share.

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2024 Barcelona MotoGP Solidarity Event – Complete Qualifying Outcomes

Here are the comprehensive results from the qualifying rounds for both the Saturday Sprint and the main race on Sunday during the Solidarity Barcelona MotoGP held at the Circuit de Catalunya. This event marks the 20th and concluding round of the 2024 world championship season.

Barcelona Solidarity MotoGP – Complete Results from Qualifying Sessions

* Beginner

Records for the Barcelona MotoGP:

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Fastest lap: Aleix Espargaro with a time of 1 minute and 38.190 seconds (2024)

Quickest lap of the race: Pedro Acosta completed it in 1 minute and 39.664 seconds (2024)

Francesco Bagnaia secures the last pole position for the 2024 MotoGP season, surpassing Aleix Espargaro and Marc Marquez at the Solidarity Barcelona Grand Prix.

Jorge Martin, who is currently at the top of the world championship standings, will start from the second row in today's race. To prevent the championship from being decided on Sunday, he needs to finish at least two points ahead of Bagnaia.

Before the session began, a visibly tense Martin sat in the garage, eyes shut, going over his qualifying lap in his mind. On his initial attempt, he benefitted from a planned slipstream provided by his close friend Espargaro.

However, this only placed Martin in third position, as the defending champion Bagnaia was at full throttle right from exiting the pits, securing a provisional pole position while pulling Marquez into second place.

As the final segment of the session commenced, Marquez, who will be a teammate in the future, and Franco Morbidelli closely followed Bagnaia's rear wheel. All three riders managed to enhance their performance, securing the positions on the front row.

In his last qualifying round riding for Aprilia, Espargaro, followed closely by Martin, came remarkably close to surpassing Bagnaia, missing the mark by just 0.055 seconds, and managed to position himself between the Ducatis on the front row.

Martin managed to secure only the fourth position, placing him at the front of his teammate Morbidelli and KTM's Pedro Acosta on the second row of the grid.

Marquez later mentioned that he was aware Pecco was pleased to lead other riders past Martin earlier today.

Franco Morbidelli and Fabio Quartararo from Yamaha advanced to Qualifying 2 by finishing at the top in Q1, while Joan Mir from Repsol Honda just missed the cut.

Brad Binder and Jack Miller, riding factory KTM bikes, will begin the race from 18th and 19th positions on the starting grid, respectively, with Miller having taken a fall. Meanwhile, Augusto Fernandez, who is on the same GASGAS team as Acosta, will start in 21st place.

The 12-lap sprint race in Barcelona is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.

How Martin Can Clinch the MotoGP Title in the Barcelona Sprint on Saturday:

– Martin secures the Sprint victory.

– Martin comes in 2nd place while Bagnaia does not claim the win.

– Martin takes 3rd place, and Bagnaia finishes no higher than 5th.

– Martin ends in 4th place, with Bagnaia not exceeding 6th place.

– Martin finishes 5th, and Bagnaia does not place better than 7th.

– Martin achieves 6th place, while Bagnaia finishes no higher than 8th.

– Martin comes in 7th, and Bagnaia does not place better than 9th.

– Martin secures 8th place, with Bagnaia finishing 10th or lower.

As the weekend's championship decider approaches, Martin is ahead of Bagnaia by 24 points.

This implies that Martin has the opportunity to be named the premier-class champion for the first time. He could also make history by becoming the first satellite team rider to secure the title in the 'MotoGP' era. This could happen if he wins the Saturday Sprint or earns at least two more points than Bagnaia.

Although Martin seems to have the advantage, the possibility of rain and chilly weather conditions suggest that another unexpected event might occur in what Bagnaia, the two-time defending champion, refers to as a "championship full of errors."

Barcelona has stepped in as a substitute for the usual final event in Valencia, which was called off due to severe flooding.

During MotoGP's event at the circuit in May, local favorite Aleix Espargaro revealed his intentions to retire during the Thursday session. The following day, he topped the charts in practice, secured pole position in qualifying, and emerged victorious in the Sprint race, benefiting from a final lap error by Bagnaia.

Bagnaia struck back by winning the grand prix, while Martin, despite starting in seventh place after a qualifying crash, secured second position. Meanwhile, Marc Marquez, who failed to make it to Qualifying 2, impressively climbed from 14th place to finish on the podium in both races.

Gresini's Marquez is currently leading by just one point over Enea Bastianini in the competition for third place in the world championship standings. Notably, Marquez will be taking Bastianini's spot on the factory Ducati team next year.

The outcome for the fifth position overall and the highest-ranking rider not on a Ducati will be determined this weekend. Rookie Pedro Acosta currently holds a 3-point advantage over Brad Binder, who will soon join him as a teammate on the factory KTM team.

Miguel Oliveira is set to compete again for his last outing with Trackhouse after being sidelined for five rounds because of fractures in his left wrist sustained in Mandalika.

Michele Pirro, a test rider for Ducati, has been summoned to fill in for VR46's Fabio di Giannantonio, who is currently recovering from recent shoulder surgery.

Due to the venue switch at the eleventh hour and the drop in temperatures, Michelin is providing a maximum of seven tire choices for this weekend, consisting of four front tires and three rear ones.

I'm

For two decades, Peter has been present in the paddock, witnessing the arrival and departure of Valentino Rossi. He is deeply involved in covering Suzuki's departure and Marc Marquez's struggles with injuries.

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Pole position was clinched, and the strategy paid off as the clever Bagnaia provided a slipstream for Marquez during the MotoGP qualifying session in Barcelona. Marc Marquez commented that the front row position wasn't entirely genuine, acknowledging that Pecco Bagnaia used intelligence to ensure there were competitors between him and Martin.

Francesco Bagnaia not only secured a vital pole position for the decisive Solidarity Barcelona MotoGP event but also helped Marc Marquez achieve a spot on the front row.

Although Bagnaia is trailing Jorge Martin by 24 points, he has decided against using cautious strategies during the races. However, he suggested that he might assist other riders by providing a slipstream during qualifying sessions.

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On Friday, Marquez was in eighth place, but he made the most of his opportunity by closely following Bagnaia during both Q2 sessions.

The Gresini team member had company on the track, and at one point, Bagnaia had brought Marquez up to second place, with Franco Morbidelli moving into third.

Martin, on the other hand, was aided by his close friend Aleix Espargaro.

However, the Aprilia rider missed out on taking pole position from Bagnaia by a mere 0.055 seconds on his last lap, while Martin managed only to secure fourth place, leading the second row.

In parc ferme, Bagnaia admitted his strategy of assisting others: "Yes, that's what I intended this weekend. I attempted to lend a hand to someone yesterday and did the same today. My goal was to have more riders between myself and Jorge, and it was successful."

"He's beginning in 4th position, which is quite competitive, but I'm generally pleased because I believe our speed is strong both in terms of overall pace and during time attacks. We just need to stay focused and get ready for this afternoon."

Marquez promptly recognized the help he received.

"The current Gresini rider, who will soon team up with Bagnaia, stated that they are always truthful and that it isn't a genuine front row since he benefits from Pecco's slipstream."

"He’s intelligent and requires other riders to separate him from Martin. I realized yesterday that he would continue to push forward, even if there were other riders trailing."

"Today, it wasn't just me trailing; there were also other riders during the initial attempt, and Morbidelli was involved in the second attempt. This is because Pecco requires these actions."

"He is incredibly quick and handling his ride excellently. I took advantage of his slipstream to secure a spot on the front row. We'll have to wait and see how things unfold. However, the aim for the race is to finish in the top five."

Bagnaia's strategy was undermined by Espargaro securing a last-minute second place.

The Spanish racer poses a significant challenge for winning the Sprint, especially after his victory in the May event. Additionally, he is expected to support Martin, who will be joining Aprilia in the future, if the need arises.

"I gave it my all," Espargaro stated. "When I used the initial set of tires, I had a terrible experience. I encountered an issue with the front and nearly lost control three times."

"I was very fortunate to avoid an accident. Once I got back to the garage, I made the unusual decision to switch the front, a move we typically don’t make during the qualifying rounds."

"I began the second attempt without much confidence, but right away I sensed that the bike was in good condition."

"I realized Martin was trailing, so I aimed to give my all and complete the best lap I could. Although I wasn't a fan of the soft front tire, I still managed to achieve a time of 38.6, which is quite impressive."

This afternoon, Martin must earn two points more than Bagnaia in order to clinch the championship.

For two decades, Peter has been involved in the racing scene, witnessing the rise and fall of Valentino Rossi's career. He is currently leading the coverage on Suzuki's departure and Marc Marquez's struggles with injuries.

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Solidarity Barcelona MotoGP: Sprint Real-Time Updates

Stay tuned for live updates from this weekend's MotoGP Sprint at the Solidarity Barcelona Grand Prix.

The Sprint race at the MotoGP Solidarity Grand Prix in Barcelona begins this morning at 3:00 PM local time. Francesco Bagnaia will be leading from the first position on the grid, while Jorge Martin has a chance to clinch the world championship today if he finishes with at least two points more than Bagnaia.

Barcelona Sprint: Updated 2024 MotoGP World Championship Rankings

2024 Barcelona MotoGP: Solidarity Sprint Race Outcomes

Pecco Bagnaia claimed triumph in the MotoGP Sprint at Barcelona, with Enea Bastianini ensuring a Ducati Lenovo Team sweep by securing second place ahead of Martin.

Aleix Espargaro secures the fourth position, while Alex Marquez completes the top five.

On the last lap, Bastianini overtakes Martin to secure second position, making his move at the fifth turn.

With one lap remaining, Bagnaia maintains a 1.1-second lead, while Bastianini has closed in on the back of Martin's bike.

Martin now holds a lead of 1.1 seconds over Bagnaia. Is Bagnaia intentionally falling behind? Could he be experiencing late-stage tyre problems?

Bagnaia holds a lead of 1.4 seconds, while Martin keeps a slight edge over the pursuing Bastianini, Marquez, and Espargaro.

With just four laps remaining, Bagnaia is ahead by 1.3 seconds. Meanwhile, Alex Marquez is making a significant push in fourth position, rapidly catching up to Bastianini for the third spot.

Aleix Espargaro has moved up to fifth place, overtaking Franco Morbidelli. Although Espargaro has had a solid Sprint, his poor start may have ruined his chances for a podium finish.

Martin is performing his duties flawlessly. He is maintaining the same speed as Bagnaia, not really gaining ground, but he is managing to pull away from Bastianini with ease.

Bagnaia holds a lead of more than a second over Martin, who is beginning to distance himself from Bastianini in the runner-up spot.

Bagnaia has extended his lead to nearly a second, while Bastianini appears to be slowing down, causing Martin to fall back towards Morbidelli and Marquez. However, Martin regains his position by overtaking into the first turn, moving back into second place.

As the fourth lap commenced, Bastianini reclaimed second position at the first turn.

By the conclusion of the third lap, Bagnaia holds a half-second advantage over Martin. Unfortunately for Bagnaia, with every lap, the gap between them and competitors like Morbidelli and Alex Marquez is widening.

Bagnaia maintains his lead with a 0.4-second advantage over Bastianini. However, as lap three starts, Martin overtakes and moves into second place at the first turn.

Acosta is out of the race. He collided with Marc Marquez at the third turn, causing his entire front fairing to fall off.

Bagnaia crosses the finish line ahead of Bastianini, with Morbidelli also keeping pace with the front runners.

The race has started in Barcelona, with Enea Bastianini taking the initial lead ahead of Bagnaia. However, by the time they reached turn four, Bagnaia had taken the lead, followed by Martin and then Bastianini.

The cyclists have started their preliminary lap before the start of the Solidarity Sprint.

With just five minutes remaining before the Sprint starts, it appears that no one is altering their selection of front tyres.

Selecting the right tires will be crucial for this race. Presently, the air temperature is at 19°C, while the track temperature stands at 20°C. However, these temperatures have the potential to decrease as the race progresses.

During the observation lap, all participants selected a soft rear tire and a hard front tire, except for those who opted for a medium front tire.

However, there is still an opportunity to make adjustments on the grid.

Although Martin and Bagnaia are the sole contenders for the championship, others can still influence the outcome of the competition.

Martin's close companion, Aleix Espargaro, is set to begin the race from the second position. Marc Marquez, who will join Bagnaia as a teammate in the future, takes off from third place. Following Martin in fifth on the grid is Franco Morbidelli, who is also part of the VR46 Academy. Meanwhile, Pedro Acosta, eager for his inaugural MotoGP victory, starts from sixth place.

Although Bagnaia has secured pole position, it is evident that Martin holds the upper hand in the championship leading up to the Sprint. The Spanish rider's 24-point advantage indicates that, even if he fails to finish today, securing third place tomorrow will still clinch the title for him.

We're back in Barcelona for the Sprint event at this weekend's Solidarity Grand Prix. This marks the last Sprint race of the season, and Jorge Martin just needs to outperform Francesco Bagnaia by two points to secure the championship title.

2024 Barcelona MotoGP Solidarity Event – Complete Qualifying Results

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New TV Agreement Secured for MotoGP in the UK Starting 2025 – Sprint Races to be Broadcast for Free

Exciting News for MotoGP Enthusiasts in the UK and Ireland for the Upcoming Year

The television broadcasting agreement for the 2025 MotoGP season has been revealed.

TNT Sports has secured a new multi-year deal to continue broadcasting MotoGP in the UK and Ireland.

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They plan to keep airing live coverage of all sessions for MotoGP, Moto2, and Moto3.

Sprint races are set to be broadcast on free-to-air television, marking a significant shift and providing a major advantage for MotoGP enthusiasts in the UK.

In 2025, Quest, a free-to-air channel, will provide live coverage of the sprint race held on Saturdays during each round.

In 2025, Quest will air two live MotoGP grand prix events, including the British Grand Prix, at no cost to viewers.

TNT Sports and discovery+ are set to air the FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship (WorldWCR), along with the FIM MotoE World Championship. They will also cover events from the Road to MotoGP, a program designed to make motorcycle racing more accessible by nurturing new talent.

Trojan Paillot, the Senior Vice President of Sports Rights Acquisitions and Syndications at Warner Bros. Discovery Sports Europe, expressed his enthusiasm for MotoGP, calling it one of the most thrilling sports globally. He stated their pride in maintaining the collaboration with MotoGP. Paillot highlighted the championship's growing appeal, capturing the interest of sports enthusiasts nationwide as top motorsport stars compete in thrilling races at tracks worldwide.

Bringing MotoGP to our free-to-air channel, Quest, will enhance our live broadcasts on TNT Sports, expanding its appeal beyond the usual motorsports enthusiasts.

Scott Young, who holds the position of Group Senior Vice President for Content, Production, and Business Operations at WBD Sports Europe, expressed his enthusiasm about renewing their contract with MotoGP. He highlighted that this renewal allows them to keep sharing the remarkable narratives that contribute to MotoGP's status as an exceptional series.

"TNT Sports' on-air team is unmatched, with Suzi Perry at the helm, who is considered one of the top sports broadcasters in the UK."

MotoGP enthusiasts are known for their intense love of the sport. In collaboration with MotoGP rights holder Dorna, we aim to enhance all divisions within the Championship. This extended agreement allows our team the opportunity to introduce creative concepts that will bring fans closer to the essence of the sport and their favorite athletes.

"Our aim for the future is to assist UK-based riders in fulfilling their dreams of competing in the top tier. In collaboration with MotoGP, we strive to unleash the potential of one of the world's most exhilarating sports."

Alex Arroyo, who leads Media Rights at Dorna Sports, the company holding MotoGP™ rights, expressed his delight by stating, "We're pleased to share that MotoGP enthusiasts in the UK and Ireland will still be able to watch the races on TNT Sports."

Since TNT initially started broadcasting MotoGP, they have delivered exceptional coverage of the sport to viewers in a significant market. We are thrilled that our extended agreement will now include free-to-air Sprints, a fantastic enhancement to the Championship that we believe will captivate new fans. We anticipate collaborating to further develop the sport's popularity throughout the UK and Ireland.

For ten years, James worked as a sports reporter at Sky Sports, where he covered a wide range of events including American sports, soccer, and Formula 1 racing.

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Results from the Sprint Race at the Solidarity Barcelona MotoGP, held at the Circuit de Catalunya, marking the 20th and concluding round of the 2024 World Championship season.

* Novice

The 2024 MotoGP championship will be decided at the final race on Sunday, following Francesco Bagnaia's victory in the Barcelona Sprint.

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Jorge Martin, the frontrunner in the world championship, aimed to secure the title today by finishing at least two points ahead of Bagnaia. However, the Italian dashed Martin's plans by converting his pole position into a winning performance, keeping his title chances intact

Things went downhill for Martin as the race progressed. After overtaking Enea Bastianini, a teammate of Bagnaia on the factory team, in the initial laps, Martin was overtaken by Bastianini on the last lap, reclaiming his position.

This means Martin will carry a 19-point advantage over Bagnaia into the season's last race. On the other hand, Bastianini has reclaimed third place in the world championship standings from Marc Marquez.

The top eight in the Sprint were filled by Aleix Espargaro from Aprilia, Alex Marquez representing Gresini, Franco Morbidelli from Pramac, Marc Marquez also from Gresini, and Marco Bezzecchi of VR46.

Brad Binder emerged as the top KTM rider, while Fabio Quartararo on his Yamaha managed to outperform Johann Zarco, who was riding a Honda, securing the tenth position.

Espargaro experienced an unexpected beginning from his position in second place and found himself battling back from eighth. The hometown hero changed to one of his older two-stroke racing motorcycles for the cooldown lap following his last Sprint as a full-time competitor!

In the initial turns, Marc Marquez and Pedro Acosta collided, which resulted in the KTM newcomer having to withdraw due to significant damage to his bike's fairing.

Barcelona stepped in as a last-minute substitute for the usual final event in Valencia, which was called off due to severe flooding.

During MotoGP's May event at the circuit, local favorite Aleix Espargaro revealed his intentions to retire on Thursday. The following day, he topped the practice sessions, secured pole position in qualifying, and clinched victory in the Sprint race, capitalizing on a last-lap error by Bagnaia.

Bagnaia claimed victory in the main race, while Martin, who started from seventh place after a crash during qualifying, secured second place. Meanwhile, Marc Marquez, who failed to advance to Qualifying 2, impressively moved from 14th position to finish on the podium in both races.

Miguel Oliveira is set to make his comeback in his last appearance for Trackhouse, having been absent for five rounds because of fractures to his left wrist sustained in Mandalika.

Michele Pirro, a test rider for Ducati, has been asked to step in for VR46's Fabio di Giannantonio, who is recovering from a recent shoulder operation.

Due to a late alteration in the location and lower temperatures, Michelin is providing its widest selection of the season with seven tire choices this weekend, consisting of four front and three rear options.

Updated regulations for tire pressure in 2024 dictate that riders must maintain a front tire pressure above a new minimum of 1.8 bar, down from the previous 1.88 bar, for 60% of a Grand Prix race distance, an increase from the previous requirement of 50%. For Sprint races, the requirement is set at 30% of

In a Grand Prix, if a competitor does not achieve the minimum requirements, they receive a time penalty of 16 seconds added after the race. For a Sprint or shorter race, the penalty is reduced to 8 seconds.

For two decades, Peter has been a presence in the racing paddock, witnessing the career of Valentino Rossi from start to finish. He is currently leading the coverage on Suzuki's departure and the challenges Marc Marquez faces due to his injuries.

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"Unmatched since the legendary era of Jorge Lorenzo, Valentino Rossi, and Marc Marquez intrigue

"Next year promises excitement, with Marc riding a factory bike…"

The championship rivalry between Francesco Bagnaia and Jorge Martin this season is unmatched since 2015.

Jack Miller, who raced alongside Jorge Lorenzo, Valentino Rossi, and Marc Marquez during their iconic battle nine years ago, has confirmed this information.

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In 2015, Lorenzo clinched the title, narrowly surpassing a visibly upset Rossi, who accused Marquez of hindering his chances at securing the championship. The bitterness between them persists to this day.

Miller mentions that the clashes between Martin and Bagnaia throughout this season have been monumental.

"Clearly, with Marc's dominance fading in recent years, this season has likely been our strongest," stated the KTM rider.

The showdown between Pecco and Fabio Quartararo was also quite impressive.

"Undoubtedly, when it comes to championship battles, this is the most exciting since the clash between Vale and Jorge back in 2015."

"This is the top pick we've encountered in almost a decade."

"I'm confident that as time progresses, it will increasingly draw nearer."

"Next year promises to be engaging, as Marc transitions to a factory bike and numerous adjustments occur during the off-season."

"The championship is drawing nearer with each passing day."

"But [Bagnaia and Martin] stand out remarkably in their own unique class!

"Just take a glance at the Sepang race to observe how significantly ahead the leading duo were."

Heading into the final sprint race and grand prix, Martin has a 24-point lead over Bagnaia.

Should he emerge victorious in Saturday's sprint race, he will secure his first-ever championship title.

This will also signify a triumph for the Pramac team, a subsidiary team outperforming the very manufacturer they are associated with.

Miller's final competition with KTM

Miller was replaced by Pedro Acosta for the 2025 factory KTM position. Consequently, the team decided to introduce Enea Bastianini and Maverick Vinales as the fresh pairing for the upcoming season's revamped Tech3 squad.

Miller discovered relief through Pramac, set to transform into a Yamaha affiliate squad by 2025.

He mentioned regarding his final race with KTM in Barcelona this weekend: "I've experienced this on several occasions now."

"I am eager to conclude on a high note."

"I maintain a strong bond with every member of my team. Having collaborated with him for seven years, it's quite an extensive period to be associated with just one person.

"Undoubtedly, feelings will be involved. However, in this industry, when one opportunity ends, another begins."

"The charm of it is that this race track is quite compact, so we'll have plenty of opportunities to encounter him throughout the coming year!"

For ten years, James served as a sports reporter at Sky Sports, where he covered a wide range of sports including American games, soccer, and Formula 1 racing.

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