Fabio Quartararo expressed that he could have achieved a quicker time during the Barcelona MotoGP Sprint, stating, "I believe we had the capability to perform better, although we were severely hampered by a lack of power and grip…"

Fabio Quartararo ended up in a disappointing 10th place in the Barcelona MotoGP Sprint, engaging in a tough fight with a number of Ducati racers during the latter part of the competition.

Quartararo missed securing the last available point during the race's final lap after being overtaken by Brad Binder. Prior to this, he had been competing against Marc Marquez, Franco Morbidelli, and Marco Bezzecchi for a spot among the top eight.

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"Quartararo stated, 'In essence, his argument won't alter the course of this race in any way.'"

"Indeed, we possessed the speed to outpace them, yet we were unmistakably hindered, preventing me from overtaking, regrettably."

"However, I believe there was significant potential, yet it lacked the necessary strength and traction to effectively compete with them."

Quartararo at least believed his showing improved compared to his race at the same track during the Catalan Grand Prix in May.

"Quartararo expressed some satisfaction, noting it was good to have Marc [Marquez] not far behind him, despite Marquez encountering a problem at the third corner."

"We're unable to attempt any passings, the move I made on [Marco] Bezzecchi isn't a standard passing maneuver: it's essentially risking it all, uncertain if I'll make contact with him or not, so it's not a true passing."

"Hence, it's challenging due to our reduced pace and even lesser traction. Efforts are being made to address these issues, yet this circuit places high demands on both these elements."

Rins expressed his disappointment, stating, "We couldn't achieve the optimal configuration for myself." Alex Rins' performance took a hit right at the beginning as he fell to the rear of the pack after getting entangled in the disturbance Quartararo referred to involving Marc Marquez at turn three.

Marquez collided with Pedro Acosta, causing Acosta's bike's front fairing to be torn off and leading to his withdrawal from the race, while Rins had to navigate around the wreckage, falling to the back of the pack as a result.

"Rins explained, 'For two corners, I was behind Acosta's fairing, dodging, which caused me to fall back to the last place.'"

"From that point on, the race actually went pretty well for me; I managed to move up six spots and was feeling quite confident. However, by the time I caught up to [Luca] Marini, my tyres were completely worn out."

"I attempted to pass him and managed to lead for a lap, but upon reaching the first corner, I ended up going straight due to locking the front brakes, which prevented me from doing anything further."

Rins faced similar challenges to Quartararo, primarily struggling with insufficient rear grip, yet he managed to maintain a respectable speed despite this.

"In general, during this Grand Prix, we're facing difficulties, but I'm discovering how to overcome them," he stated.

"We're facing challenges with grip, particularly at the back, but despite that, I'm managing to maintain times in the low-1:40s, dipping into the high-1:39s. So, looking ahead to tomorrow, if fortune is on our side and I manage to secure a strong start in the first lap, I believe we can aim for a decent finish, potentially between 10th and 13th place. I'm actually feeling pretty confident — wherever the bike falls short, I'm pushing myself to the limit."

Rins, in reference to how he stacks up against his teammate Quartararo, mentioned, "When I look at how I match up with Fabio [Quartararo] at this venue, it doesn't seem too bad. However, I'm still somewhat confused about my setup."

"After the race ends, I convey the same message to my engineers, identical to what I mentioned in Qatar."

"This year, we couldn't discover the appropriate configuration that suited me."

"Frankly, I'm pushing the bike too hard. I'm not able to just go with the rhythm. This is a downside, as I'm demanding too much from the tyres and ending up making more errors."

"Not having the bike with you makes it more difficult."

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

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The competitor facing the toughest challenge in the 2024 MotoGP title race

A competitor finds themselves sandwiched in the clash between Bagnaia and Martin

The battle for the 2024 MotoGP championship will come down to the season's last race, the Solidarity Grand Prix on Sunday, thanks to Francesco Bagnaia's triumph in the sprint race, which sustained his championship aspirations.

Before heading back to Barcelona for this weekend’s race, Pramac's Jorge Martin was at the top of the leaderboard, holding a 24-point lead over Bagnaia.

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To secure the championship on Saturday, Martin had to surpass Bagnaia by a mere two points, however, he was relegated to third place during the final lap of the sprint by Enea Bastianini.

Bagnaia, who is part of the same Ducati team as Bastianini, secured a victory in the sprint race, reducing the difference in the standings to 19 points ahead of Sunday's 24-lap grand prix.

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

Bagnaia successfully assisted Marc Marquez in securing the third position on the grid during qualifying, with Aleix Espargaro achieving second place. He did this while allowing his good friend Martin to use him as a guide, helping place Martin's Pramac-operated GP24 in the fourth spot.

Bastianini hadn't considered the championship in his approach to the race when he passed Martin on the final lap, yet this maneuver might turn out to be crucial, depending on the outcomes of Sunday's event.

Franco Morbidelli, who races alongside Martin at Pramac, inadvertently became entangled in the championship fight when he ended up trailing Marquez and Bagnaia during the second qualifying session.

Morbidelli was close to achieving a lap time that could have relegated Martin to fifth position on the starting grid, yet it was the Italian who ultimately secured that spot.

During the sprint, Morbidelli was engaged in a close contest for the podium positions, competing alongside Bastianini and Martin.

In the competitive arena, Morbidelli finds himself in a distinctive situation: he shares a team with one contender for the championship, whereas another competitor for the title is his colleague from the VR46 Academy.

"Indeed, it's challenging," Morbidelli admitted during an inquiry from Crash.net regarding his management of the circumstances.

"Additionally, pursuing Jorge today proved to be challenging."

"This is truly significant, and I prefer not to be involved in any way."

"Currently, I'm not competing for the title, so I prefer not to be involved in that contest. Instead, I find myself in the unique spot of being an observer to the battle."

He stated: "My goal was to pass Enea. I'm not here to cover for anyone. I have no interest in pretending or taking on a role. I just want to race on my own terms. I refuse to act out any part in this."

When questioned about potentially surpassing Martin if the opportunity presented itself, he responded affirmatively, saying, "Yes, in that scenario too."

When questioned about overtaking Bagnaia, he responded identically, saying, "Yes, indeed. That's the spot to aim for."

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Johann Zarco expressed mild frustration, acknowledging it as somewhat expected, following a decrease in pace at the Barcelona MotoGP.

"Performing excellently is still pushing the motorcycle to its absolute limits…"

Johann Zarco moved straight into Q2 during Friday's Practice session at the Solidarity Barcelona MotoGP, yet felt let down as he couldn't replicate his previous day's performance in the actual Q2 session on Saturday morning.

Zarco finished Friday in fourth place with a time of 1:39.197, but dropped to 12th-fastest in Q2 with a time of 1:39.494.

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Zarco conveyed his frustration over not being able to replicate his Friday lap time, attributing it to the narrow leeway he experiences with the Honda RC213V during attempts to push for a singular lap.

"Zarco mentioned, 'There was this restriction on the bike during qualifying, preventing me from bettering my lap time; in fact, I performed slightly poorer today.'"

Admittedly, I felt somewhat frustrated, which is understandable. Even when you perform exceptionally well, you're pushing the bike to its limits. Achieving that level of performance is possible, but consistently replicating it poses a challenge.

Zarco's rapid pace enabled him to secure an 11th-place finish, maintaining a speed similar to those just ahead in the top-10, even though he fell slightly behind early in the race.

"During the competition, when pitted against this team – which includes skilled cyclists like Marco Bezzecchi, Brad Binder, Fabio Quartararo – it appears I can keep pace with them. However, it's possible I've fallen slightly behind at the race's start."

"They possess a slight advantage that we lack to keep up with them. I engaged in a solid battle with Raul Fernandez, and it cost me some time."

Zarco mentioned that adopting a strategic approach is crucial for optimizing his chances in the upcoming Sunday's Grand Prix. "This is fantastic since, from the start of the year up until about two-thirds into it, strategizing during the race wasn't something I could consider, but now it's on my mind," he stated.

"I should probably focus on performing better in the latter half of the race to outperform the rest in this pack. By doing so, aiming for a solid top-10 finish seems like an achievable goal for now."

Based on his strategy for maximizing his performance in the race, Zarco is leaning toward choosing the hard-compound rear tyre for the Grand Prix.

"Zarco believes they will opt for the hard compound for the rear tyre, while he expects others might choose the medium compound. However, he notes that it's a choice between medium or hard, as the soft compound isn't viable for racing."

"My strategy is to rely on the steady performance of the hard [rear tyre]. It might not offer the best sensation initially, but from the midpoint of the race onwards, it could provide a slight edge of perhaps two-tenths over the medium. That's the approach we need to take."

"To ensure a successful race, it's crucial for me to put in a strong performance right from the start."

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

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Francesco Bagnaia remarked, "I accomplished what was necessary." Meanwhile, he noted that Martin appeared anxious, which he deemed typical. Despite this, Bagnaia expressed confidence in Martin's ability to handle the pressure when competing.

Current MotoGP titleholder Francesco Bagnaia achieved exactly what was necessary by securing both the pole position and the Sprint race win at the Solidarity Barcelona MotoGP season-ending event.

This situation has set up a title-deciding match on Sunday against Jorge Martin, who is currently leading the

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After being overtaken by Martin and Enea Bastianini at the first turn of the race, Bagnaia quickly regained his position and maintained the lead for the rest of the race.

Bastianini, a fellow team member, executed a maneuver on the final lap to overtake Martin and snatch second place away from the Spanish rider.

Bagnaia mentioned, "I slightly misjudged the initial braking and left a bit too much room, allowing both of them to pass me."

"After that, I was able to maintain a speed that allowed me to create some distance and savor the experience. Even though I wasn't exerting much effort, the gap continued to widen. So all was well."

"Tomorrow, we'll need to switch out the rear tire since the current soft one may be too delicate and might cause issues towards the end of the race."

"Besides that, I accomplished what was necessary: securing the pole position and winning the Sprint race."

"I had wished for more competitors to be involved, but we are aware of our capabilities at this point and throughout the season. Even when one of us faced difficulties, we still secured second place because we are operating at a different level."

"I believe Enea performed excellently today. However, I will require something additional for tomorrow."

Certainly, Martin continues to hold a significant lead, as finishing third in the Sprint has given the Pramac rider a 19-point edge going into Sunday.

This implies that should Bagnaia secure his eleventh victory of the season, Martin finishing ninth would still ensure he wins his first top-tier championship title.

However, the stress involved suggests that the situation for the #89 may not be as straightforward as it appears.

When asked if the situation for tomorrow poses a mental challenge, Bagnaia responded, "Not for me, but it does for him."

"I vividly recall the situation in 2022, when Bagnaia was tasked with defending a 23-point advantage, and I believe Jorge is currently feeling some of that pressure."

Throughout the entire weekend, I observed that he appeared quite anxious, which is completely understandable. However, I believe that once he's in the race, he is capable of handling the pressure effectively.

"He performed exceptionally well today, beginning from the second row and securing a spot on the podium."

"In my view, it won't be too challenging for him tomorrow."

Bagnaia is aware that Aleix Espargaro, who starts from the front row for Aprilia, will attempt to help Martin if the opportunity presents itself, as he has already provided a slipstream to the Pramac rider during the qualifying session.

Bagnaia expressed amazement at their relationship and mentioned that Jorge is set to join Aprilia next year, where they are eager to have the top spot in the team.

"Aleix will never challenge or pass Jorge, and that's something I need to accept."

"Whatever is destined to occur tomorrow, will indeed take place."

"I anticipate a race similar to today's: Jorge maintaining a steady pace without taking any chances, as he has substantial leeway. Even if I secure first place, he could still comfortably end up in 9th."

"This is a challenging situation for me, much like the one I experienced in 2022."

Bastianini, a fellow team member, is currently engaged in a competition with Marc Marquez for the third-place position in the world championship standings.

For two decades, Peter has been a fixture in the paddock, witnessing the arrival and departure of Valentino Rossi. He is deeply involved in covering the developments surrounding Suzuki's withdrawal and the injury troubles faced by Marc Marquez.

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Marc Marquez shares his thoughts and suggestions for the two contenders vying for the championship in Barcelona. Marquez offers his insights on the pivotal race happening this Sunday.

Following the initial excitement of securing a front-row position during qualifying, Marc Marquez faced a reality check in the Solidarity Barcelona MotoGP Sprint.

Having difficulty finding his stride during his last appearance with Gresini, the eight-time world champion indicated on Friday that finishing in the top five seemed to be his most optimistic outcome.

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A draft from the current champion and soon-to-be teammate Francesco Bagnaia helped Marquez secure a spot on the front row during qualifying, a position Marquez acknowledged was 'not genuine'.

After colliding with Pedro Acosta in the early laps of the Sprint, Marquez found himself in seventh place, which is where he ended the race.

Despite the complications, Marquez believed there wasn't much else he could have accomplished.

"Marquez expressed some optimism following the qualifying session, but after a challenging first lap in the Sprint race, they returned to their initial position. He also confirmed that there was no damage to the bike from the contact."

"Our speed allows us to place anywhere between 5th and 10th, and we were currently in 7th. To tell the truth, if it weren't for the events on the first lap, we would have secured 6th place, but not higher."

"If we don't make improvements by tomorrow, the race is going to feel extremely lengthy."

He stated, "My struggle isn't with the bike; it's with the track."

"In May, things felt pretty good. I had a sense of the track's boundaries, but this weekend is a different story. I'm working on becoming more competitive little by little, but it's been challenging."

Due to Marquez's difficulties, he has fallen to fourth place in the world championship standings, trailing Enea Bastianini by five points as they approach the last grand prix.

In the Sprint, Bastianini secured second place, positioned between Bagnaia and Jorge Martin.

When asked about the championship-deciding race on Sunday, where Martin will only need to finish in ninth place if Bagnaia secures a victory, Marquez commented:

"In my opinion, achieving ninth place should be straightforward for Jorge, but anything can happen in a race."

What guidance did he offer?

"Marquez chuckled and said, 'Pecco should repeat his performance from today… and Jorge should do the same!'"

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Analysis: What Jorge Martin or Pecco Bagnaia require to clinch the championship

The scenarios that will determine the 2024 MotoGP title winner

Jorge Martin and Francesco Bagnaia are the sole contenders for the MotoGP title this Sunday, as the season concludes with the Solidarity Barcelona MotoGP race.

Martin leads Bagnaia by 19 points, and there are still 25 points available to be won.

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Martin simply has to secure a position within the top nine, regardless of whether Bagnaia comes in first, to win the championship.

Bagnaia needs to secure a victory in the race and rely on Martin finishing in 10th place or worse.

Bagnaia will have the advantage of beginning the race from the front position, while Martin will take off from the fourth spot on the grid.

Bagnaia turned his pole position into a win during the sprint race on Saturday, with Martin securing third place.

Ducati's factory team rider, Bagnaia, is currently aiming to hold onto his championship title after securing victory for the last two consecutive seasons.

Martin from Pramac is competing for his inaugural championship. Last season, he fell short on the last day to Bagnaia.

This year, both have had the same equipment, even though Martin is part of a satellite team for Ducati.

If Martin clinches the championship, he will carry the #1 plate to Aprilia for the upcoming year.

He decided to leave Ducati when he was passed over for the 2025 official position, which went to Marc Marquez instead.

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

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Aleix Espargaro shares his reasons for feeling "not very happy" about supporting Jorge Martin's pursuit of the championship. He describes the situation as "beautiful" for himself.

Aleix Espargaro expressed his dissatisfaction about having to assist Jorge Martin during the qualifying session at the MotoGP Solidarity Grand Prix. Despite this, he found the act of helping to be a rewarding experience.

Heading into Saturday's event at the Barcelona finale, Martin stood on the brink of securing the 2024 title, holding a 24-point lead over Francesco Bagnaia before the sprint race.

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Bagnaia secured the pole position in qualifying, placing Marc Marquez in the front row as well. Meanwhile, Aprilia's Espargaro took the second spot, positioning himself between the two, and also assisted Martin in achieving fourth place on the starting grid.

Martin ended up finishing third in the sprint after being overtaken by Enea Bastianini, while Bagnaia claimed victory. This result has left a 19-point difference in the standings, setting the stage for Sunday's decisive race.

In discussing his efforts to assist his good friend Martin in pursuing the championship, Espargaro commented, "I communicate with Jorge more frequently than I do with my wife."

"You might think we have frequent conversations. While I’m glad to offer my assistance, I truly wish he could soar and be the quickest on his own."

"It's a wonderful feeling for me because I've been tracking his performance in the qualifiers for the past three seasons. So, being able to assist him one last time in securing this title makes me feel really good."

Celebrating the 125cc win is the perfect conclusion to a career.

Following a fourth-place finish in Saturday's sprint, Espargaro took a cooldown lap on the 125cc Honda that he originally competed with at the beginning of his grand prix journey. Meanwhile, Matteo Baiocco was responsible for riding the RS-GP back to the pit area.

On Saturday, the 35-year-old disclosed to the press that his wife, Laura, had arranged the surprise, and he hadn't anticipated it.

"When questioned about whether he could still ride his old bike, he responded, 'Not really, since I was already 179 centimeters tall at the age of 15.'"

"I weighed about one or two kilograms more than I do currently. So, I'm not sure how I managed to fit on that bike back then."

"It's astonishing how large modern bikes are when compared to those from earlier times. Even the Moto3 bikes are larger than the old 125cc models, which is remarkable. I have a deep love for my wife and never expected such a surprise."

"I believe the perfect conclusion to my career is taking a lap with both the first bike from the world championship and my present bike. In my opinion, it was an excellent concept."

The upcoming Solidarity GP on Sunday will be Espargaro's final race as a regular competitor, a reality that he acknowledges is beginning to feel real to him.

He described the entire weekend as unusual when Crash.net inquired whether his upcoming retirement was beginning to feel genuine.

"Yesterday, I spent an hour in the garage with my team. There were unexpected moments; I watched some videos and ended up shedding quite a few tears."

"This weekend has been filled with emotions. One thing is certain: I've been incredibly fortunate to connect with Aprilia. Their affection for me is truly remarkable."

"I had a great time and I'll definitely miss the team. Even if I decide to return as a wildcard entry in the future—something I'm not planning at the moment but may consider if necessary—the experience won't be the same because the vibe in the garage is truly incredible."

"I'm quite an emotional person, as you're aware, so managing my feelings won't be easy."

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Jorge Martin expressed determination in his quest for the championship, stating, "I'm prepared to do whatever it takes to secure the title." He emphasized the importance of managing risk, particularly in the final lap, by saying, "If an incident occurs, I must keep the risk in check and avoid unnecessary confrontations. Nonetheless, I'll do what's necessary to clinch this title."

Jorge Martin's initial opportunity to secure the 2024 MotoGP championship disappeared as Francesco Bagnaia clinched a win in the Solidarity Barcelona MotoGP Sprint.

Martin was aiming to surpass Bagnaia by two points to clinch the title ahead of schedule. However, a late maneuver by Enea Bastianini on the other Lenovo Ducati saw Martin drop to third place, ultimately losing five points to his competitor.

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Beginning from the fourth position, Martin aimed for the lead at the first turn but found himself trailing the red cars after navigating the initial corners.

The Spanish rider engaged in a series of exchanges with Bastianini, the competitor he notably collided with during the final lap of the Misano race, before finally securing the second position.

However, he was unable to catch up to Bagnaia and instead was overtaken by Bastianini in a surprising move at Turn 5. Although initially frustrated, Martin later acknowledged Bastianini's impressive performance.

The Sprint was filled with tension. Initially, I felt anxious about the tire selection. They informed me that Pecco had opted for the hard front tire, but I was uncertain whether to rely on that decision, especially since he made a similar last-minute switch in Malaysia.

Ultimately, I turned to myself and thought, "Which tire would be the most effective for the race?" I concluded that the medium tire would be the best choice. However, toward the end, it was definitely pushing the boundaries.

"I got off to a strong start, but I might have been overly hopeful in the first corner. Then, Enea overtook, which made things a bit chaotic! After that, I began battling with him. This caused us to lose some time and miss the opportunity to keep up with Pecco."

"I believe I could have gone a little faster, but racing with Enea took a toll on my tires. In the end, I aimed to balance speed with safety, and I feel that securing a podium finish today was an excellent achievement."

Bastianini's last maneuver came as a surprise. I could hear his motorcycle approaching from a great distance. Initially, I assumed he might be having an accident, so I instinctively moved aside, ready to veer off the track if necessary.

"He performed exceptionally well. He's engaged in his own competition with Marc, so I can relate to his struggle. Tomorrow promises to be an exciting race, and I aim to take pleasure in it while figuring out ways to enhance my competitiveness."

Martin is set to enter the 40th and concluding race of the season holding a 19-point advantage over Bagnaia. This implies that, regardless of whether the current champion secures a victory, Martin's task is simply to place within the top nine to maintain his lead.

"The plan, in my opinion, should remain unchanged: aiming for a spot on the podium," Martin stated. "I have to manage the risks a little better, but I believe that today's competition with Enea helped me stay focused throughout."

"The objective is to stay focused, have fun, and definitely, if anything occurs on the final lap, I need to manage the risk and avoid getting into a confrontation."

"I will take the necessary actions to secure this championship."

Considering his lead in points, Martin's toughest challenge on Sunday is likely psychological.

He confessed that he felt very anxious following the qualifying session and barely ate anything throughout the day. "I was really on edge then, but I attempted to get some rest and took a cold shower." By the time the race began, he was much more relaxed and felt he was in a positive frame of mind.

"I was curious about how I would feel during the race, and once I'm riding, everything seems to be relatively manageable. The sensation is present."

The only thing left to decide is the selection of tires for tomorrow. I believe everyone will likely make similar choices. The plan is to simply mirror what the competitors do, and that's all.

"The strategy for tomorrow is to follow the usual routine. I'll aim to give my all, striving for top performance. If I can maintain my lead by the end, I'll do so; otherwise, I'll keep pushing hard. Ultimately, it will depend on the circumstances."

"It's challenging for both Pecco and me. However, securing this title in the end would be incredibly moving."

Sunday's race will mark the final event for Martin and the Pramac team with Ducati.

Next season, Martin will be moving to Aprilia and aims to bring the top spot with him. Meanwhile, Pramac will be transitioning to Yamaha.

For the past two decades, Peter has been a fixture in the paddock, witnessing the arrival and departure of Valentino Rossi. He is currently leading the coverage on Suzuki's decision to leave and Marc Marquez's struggles with injuries.

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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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