Alex Rins: 'I'm determined to switch back to the frame Fabio is using'

"I shared the track with Fabio… He was performing impressively, and the disparity is obvious. I'm struggling to bring the bike to a halt."

Alex Rins plans to switch back to the same Yamaha frame as his teammate Fabio Quartararo following difficulties with hard braking zones in Friday's practice session for the Thai MotoGP.

Quartararo momentarily led the afternoon practice but remained in the leading trio until the final time trials started. At this point, his consistent struggle to fully utilize new tires on the M1 resulted in him dropping to 12th place, trailing by 0.591 seconds.

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However, Rins struggled with his position during the race and finished in 18th place, narrowly missing Quartararo's time by just under half a second.

"It was a challenging day," Rins remarked. "The start of the day wasn't too rough. I felt alright, especially since I didn't race here last year.

"However, the later part of the day proved to be quite challenging. We began with a soft front tyre, and I faced significant difficulties due to the extremely high track temperatures.

"We switched to the hard front tire, the same one we utilized during the first free practice, and it significantly improved my confidence and feeling. However, the gap remained considerable. Essentially, switching to the hard front tire didn’t enhance my time by 0.5-0.6 seconds."

Rins subsequently shadowed Quartararo during a speed trial, highlighting his problems with braking.

"During the timed trials, I found them extremely challenging. I accompanied Fabio on my second tire stint. He was performing impressively, highlighting the disparity," Rins mentioned. "I'm struggling to halt the motorcycle. I consistently overshoot my mark during every braking maneuver, especially in turns 1 and 3.

"I have a sense that my main issue is with the front end," he shared. "Take Corner 3, as an instance, my braking point is identical to Fabio's. I mention Fabio specifically because he's my sole direct comparison on the Yamaha."

"In comparison to him, we both apply the brakes at the same spot, but I experience significant jolts at the front, such as locking up and bumping. This has been a recurring issue for several races."

In response to inquiries about whether technical variations in the M1s could explain the differences in braking performance, Rins disclosed that he had reverted to the 'standard' chassis.

"Rins stated, 'Our chassis is distinct. At Phillip Island, we chose to revert to the standard model since it's the one I've completed the most races on.'"

"Fabio's alteration, along with the frame I utilized for a couple of races prior, didn't give me a poor impression. However, since I'm more acquainted with the alternative, we chose to revert to it."

"Definitely, by [Saturday], I aim to switch back to the same chassis Fabio is using, the one they provided us in Misano, so we can at least have comparable motorcycles."

"I'm not interested in mirroring Fabio's configuration since our approaches to riding diverge significantly. That's obvious. However, the bikes will be of a comparable level in terms of specifications."

Rins verified that he had once again tested the most recent edition of Yamaha's 'automatic' ride-height system, similar to Ducati's, which is engaged by pressing a button as he approaches a turn and then reduces its height upon leaving the corner.

"I experimented with it extensively during FP1. It performed well, yet I find myself preferring the 'manual' version," he mentioned.

To put it differently, Rins continues to favor having complete autonomy over deciding the moment to lower the back end during the exit.

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2024 Thailand Motorcycle Grand Prix: Live Sprint Updates

Live coverage from the Saturday sprint event in Thailand.

Heading into the weekend at the Thailand Motorcycle Grand Prix, Jorge Martin leads the championship by 20 points over the current champion, Francesco Bagnaia, with only three races remaining.

Martin is currently riding a wave of success, having outperformed Bagnaia in both races at Phillip Island and achieving a trifecta of victories in Pole Position, Sprint, and the Grand Prix at Buriram the previous year.

However, the two leading competitors must be cautious of Marc Marquez, the victor of the recent Phillip Island race, who has secured two wins at Buriram riding for Honda.

Last year, KTM was in contention for the win with Brad Binder, alongside Marco Bezzecchi and Yamaha racer Fabio Quartararo, who both finished in the top five.

Because of the high temperatures and strain on the tires, Buriram is one of the locations where Michelin opts for its more rigid rear tire designs.

Francesco Bagnaia secures the pole position, leading Enea Bastianini and Jorge Martin, who experienced a crash during the second qualifying session.

Following a rainless Friday, Saturday and Sunday may see potential thunderstorms.

The dash begins at 9 in the morning UK time.

I

This concludes our real-time updates for Saturday's events in Thailand.

Stay tuned to Crash.net all day for the newest updates and reactions from the Buriram paddock.

Tune in once more on Sunday starting at 8am UK time for live updates of the grand prix.

Thailand Dash: Updated Standings for the 2024 MotoGP World Championship

race summary

2024 Thailand MotoGP in Buriram – Results of the Sprint Race

finish line – Victory for Bastianini

Enea Bastianini leads the field in the Thailand short race, with Martin securing an important runner-up spot over Bagnaia, extending his lead in the overall championship to 22 points.

Marc Marquez currently holds the fourth position, significantly behind the top

Closing lap

As the race enters its last lap, Bastianini takes the lead, while Martin counters Bagnaia's second-place position, gaining a slight advantage in time over him.

Martin maintains his lead over Bagnaia by opting for a broader approach into Turn 3.

With 12 out of 13 laps completed, Bastianini maintains a lead of 1.4 seconds. Bagnaia is hot on the heels of Martin with just two laps remaining. The fight for the runner-up spot is still very much alive!

Following his recent accident, Acosta has withdrawn to the pits.

With three laps remaining, Bagnaia is maintaining close proximity to Martin on lap 11 out of 13. Meanwhile, Bastianini has significantly pulled ahead.

With four laps remaining in the 13-lap race, Bastianini is ahead by 1.6 seconds. Martin, currently in second place, needs to be cautious not to go beyond the track boundaries once more.

It appears Martin has made contact with the green paint once more while exiting Turn 7. A penalty might be on the horizon for this action.

On the ninth lap out of thirteen, Bastianini's advantage narrows to 1.5 seconds ahead of Martin, while Bagnaia finds it difficult to match the speed of the Pramac team rider. Marquez trails Bagnaia by half a second.

On the eighth lap out of thirteen, Bastianini has extended his lead to 1.7 seconds ahead of Martin. Martin must remain cautious to avoid receiving a penalty for a long lap if he continues to surpass the boundaries of the track.

In the previous Misano race, Martin's focus wavered, enabling Bagnaia to overtake him and secure the sprint victory.

Martin received a warning about exceeding the track boundaries following his maneuver to pass another competitor.

Martin made an inside move on Bagnaia at Turn 5 and successfully executed it by Turn 7. That was spectacular!

As the race hits its halfway mark on the seventh out of thirteen laps, Bastianini remains in the forefront, with Martin closely tailing Bagnaia's Ducati.

Following the leading quartet, Alex Marquez secures the fifth spot ahead of Binder, with Morbidelli, Di Giannantonio, and Bezzecchi trailing in the race for the last points-scoring positions.

As the race progresses to the sixth lap out of thirteen, Bastianini continues to hold a lead of 1.1 seconds. Meanwhile, Martin, currently in third place, records the quickest lap time of the race so far with a 1 minute and 29.554 seconds lap. However, Martin experiences a momentary setback as he overshoots the

Martin has closely caught up to Bagnaia. He's the sole Pramac competitor who can keep up with Bastianini's speed.

In the fifth lap out of thirteen, Martin has moved up to third place. Bastianini is now 1.1 seconds ahead of Bagnaia.

Martin makes a swift move to overtake Marquez on the inside as they approach the final corner, successfully maintaining his position at the peak.

Event:

Acosta experienced a crash at Turn 3. The rider is unharmed.

On the fourth lap out of thirteen, Bastianini is leading the pack impressively. He's managed to create a 0.9-second gap ahead of Bagnaia, while Marquez and Martin are not far off, closely trailing the world champion.

A review of the beginning reveals that Martin nearly collided with Marquez coming out of Turn 1, causing him to ease off the accelerator.

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2024 Thailand Grand Prix Motorcycle Racing, Buriram – Results from Saturday's Practice

The practice session results for Saturday at the Thailand Grand Prix in Buriram, which is the 18th round out of 20 in the 2024 global championship.

* Beginner

Recorded Achievements in Buriram MotoGP:

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Fastest circuit time: Marc Marquez achieved a time of 1 minute and 29.165 seconds in 202

Quickest lap time in the race: Marco Bezzecchi clocked 1 minute and 30.896 seconds (2023)

Marc Marquez leads the final practice session times for the 2024 Thai MotoGP in Buriram.

Franco Morbidelli leads the pack, followed closely by Francesco Bagnaia and Jorge Martin, making it a Ducati-dominated top four, while Pedro Acosta emerges as the leading contender for KTM.

Owing to the increased temperature and pressure exerted on the tires, Buriram is one of the locations where Michelin opts for its more rigid rear constructions.

Marc Marquez started the session with fresh hard tyres on both the front and back, later transitioning to a previously used hard tyre on the front and a used medium tyre on the rear towards the close of the session.

This morning, the preferred tire setup was a hard front paired with a medium rear.

Miguel Oliveira remains out of action due to broken bones in his right wrist sustained in Mandalika, with Aprilia test pilot Lorenzo Savadori stepping in for him at Trackhouse.

The first qualifying session, intended for those riders who didn't make the top ten on Friday afternoon, is now set to start.

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Complete Qualifying Standings and Starting Positions for the Saturday Sprint and the primary Sunday event at the Thai MotoGP in Buriram, marking the 18th round (out of 20) in the 2024 global championship.

* Newcom

Official Records of MotoGP in Buriram:

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Fastest circuit time: Marc Marquez clocked at 1 minute and 29.165 seconds (2024)

Quickest lap time in the race: Marco Bezzecchi clocked in at 1 minute and 30.896 seconds (2023)

Francesco Bagnaia secures the top starting spot for the 2024 Thai MotoGP, setting a new lap record at the Buriram circuit, while his championship competitor Jorge Martin and the fastest rider in practice, Marc Marquez, both experienced falls during the Qualifying session.

Martin secured a position in the front row just ahead of Enea Bastianini, with Marquez ranking fifth, sandwiched between Marco Bezzecchi and a standout performance from Yamaha's Fabio Quartararo.

Owing to the increased temperature and pressure exerted on the tires, Buriram is one of the locations where Michelin opts for its more rigid rear constructions.

Due to sustained fractures in his right wrist from an incident in Mandalika, Miguel Oliveira remains unable to compete and his place at Trackhouse will be taken by Aprilia's test rider, Lorenzo Savadori.

The sprint race in Buriram is scheduled to begin at 15:00 local time.

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Fabio Quartararo described the Thai MotoGP Sprint as being "ruined" by an overtake from Brad Binder on the first lap. He explained, "On the opening lap, we went wide twice and ended up losing five or more positions…"

Fabio Quartararo ended the Thai MotoGP Sprint in 10th place after facing fierce competition early in the race from Brad Binder of KTM.

Quartararo lost several places during the opening lap after Binder overtook him at turn nine, causing the French rider to lose traction on the kerb as he exited the corner.

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Despite eventually bouncing back, Quartararo expressed disappointment over the way his race began.

"The day went well overall, except for the first lap when Brad Binder passed us a little too aggressively, causing me to lose several positions," Quartararo commented.

"The first quarter went well, and the second quarter was also positive. The speed during the sprint race was promising. However, as I mentioned, on the first lap, we went wide twice and ended up losing five or more positions."

"However, I believe we can be satisfied with the progress we achieved today, although that one overtake slightly impacted our race outcome."

Even though Quartararo experienced a challenging beginning to his race, he managed to recover and secure 10th place after initially falling to 15th during the early stages.

Quartararo explained that, at that moment, his speed was significantly quicker than the riders ahead of him, which allowed him to overtake them—something not typically seen from a Yamaha MotoGP racer.

"Naturally, when I got behind Marco Bezzecchi or Fabio Di Giannantonio to make a pass, I anticipated it would be somewhat more challenging. Nevertheless, I really had a good time during the race."

The 2021 World Champion stated that his ability to outshine his competitors was due to his superior braking skills.

When questioned about how he was gaining time, Quartararo responded, "It's on the braking."

"I pushed the front tire to its absolute limit, attempting to gain an advantage in this area. However, we primarily rely on the front brakes, and the rear lacks any grip."

"Fortunately, our bike allows me to sense precisely where the front reaches its limit."

<H2>Top Qualifying Performance of the Season

Prior to his recovery in the Sprint, Quartararo achieved his highest qualifying position of the season, placing sixth.

After progressing through Q1, he replicated his Q1 performance with a nearly identical time, securing sixth position in Q2.

Quartararo stated that they had pushed the motorcycle to its absolute limit.

"The threshold was reached. We achieved a time of 1:29.4 in both Q1 and Q2 — honestly, I couldn't push the bike any further."

During the qualifying session, Quartararo executed an impressive recovery when he nearly lost control of his bike at the entrance of turn five. Remarkably, he regained balance before either his knee or elbow touched the ground.

He attributed the issue to the hard-compound front tire, noting that it provides little feedback when leaning on the edge.

He mentioned that while the hard front tire provides a strong sense of confidence, it doesn't clearly indicate the limits of its grip.

"I nearly lost control of the front, but managed to stabilize it using my knee and elbow. It's uncommon to do this with a Yamaha because the front usually goes out quickly, but I was able to regain control in time."

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Marc Marquez reflects on the Thai MotoGP sprint, admitting he hadn't anticipated Enea Bastianini's performance. The Gresini team rider shares his thoughts after a race where he had hoped to secure a podium finish.

Marc Marquez mentioned that he "anticipated" securing a third-place finish in the MotoGP Thai Grand Prix sprint. However, he "didn't foresee" Enea Bastianini's speed that led to victory in the race.

After a fall during Q2, the Gresini racer secured the fifth position in qualifying but managed to keep pace with the frontrunners at the start, joining the fight for a podium finish.

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As the 13-lap sprint progressed, Marquez gradually fell out of the race for top positions. By the time they crossed the finish line, the eight-time world champion was trailing by three seconds behind Francesco Bagnaia, who finished in third place.

During Friday's practice, Marquez showcased impressive speed in terms of race pace, but was unexpectedly outperformed by Bastianini's commanding performance in the sprint.

During a Saturday media interaction, which included Crash.net, he expressed, "Honestly, I anticipated ending up in third place since I hadn't factored in Bastianini."

"He was the quickest during the qualifying session. However, when it came to practice with worn tires, he encountered some difficulties."

"During the race, the situation was reversed; he displayed incredible speed and maintained consistent performance throughout."

"We ended up securing the fourth spot. While it's possible that by taking more risks, we might still have ended in fourth but with a smaller gap. I felt confident in that position being mine, and tomorrow we aim to achieve it again."

Marquez states that for a chance to compete for the last spot on the podium, he must deliver an impeccable performance on Sunday. This is particularly crucial because he is falling behind the GP24s in the initial two segments of the race.

He mentioned that despite using the hard tires, their goal is to aim for fourth place and, with an impeccable race, attempt to secure third place.

"We're facing significant challenges in T1 and T2, and while I can manage for about five laps, during the sprint race it became clear that if I kept pushing this way, I would end up crashing."

"At times, it's important to grasp these concepts. Mistakes can happen, but I'll do my best to steer clear of them."

The Gresini racer nearly got into a physical altercation with Jorge Martin as they exited the first corner. This happened when the championship leader veered off the track in an attempt to seize the lead.

Martin and Marquez came close to colliding when Martin slowed his Pramac Ducati, but Marquez thinks Martin could have re-entered the track more safely.

He said he was fortunate to have anticipated that motion when he viewed the picture.

"He veered off the track, and fortunately, I avoided the curb because I anticipated he would return."

"He returned with a somewhat hopeful demeanor. Fortunately, I had anticipated that action to some extent, so no issues arose."

"He turned off the gas, but it's advisable to leave the track and return later since there's enough room at that corner."

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Maverick Vinales faces a challenging Thai MotoGP: ‘I’m somewhat scared to ride the bike’

Worries over grip create a discouraging outlook for Aprilia’s performance at the Thai Grand Prix.

Maverick Vinales expressed concerns about the grip issues with his Aprilia MotoGP motorcycle during the sprint race at the Thailand Grand Prix, which have left him “a bit apprehensive about riding the bike” on Sunday.

The Spanish rider started the race in 10th position on his RS-GP motorcycle on Saturday. However, during the 13-lap sprint, he fell back significantly and finished in 20th place.

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In general, the race proved challenging for Aprilia, with Raul Fernandez from Trackhouse achieving the highest position for the team in 14th place.

Vinales expresses concerns about the bike's "very low grip" and is especially anxious about his ability to maintain control of his Aprilia during the grand prix if he is required to use the hard rear tire option.

"I'm going to be frank, we can't get a feel for the bike at all," a disheartened Vinales expressed to reporters, as reported by Crash.net, on Saturday.

The grip level is extremely low. I'm quite concerned about tomorrow because if we have to race using the hard rear tire, it will be challenging just to stay on the motorcycle.

"Alright, let's take a look. I'm worried that this weekend will be challenging, but we'll make an effort to perform our best tomorrow."

When questioned by Crash.net about where he is experiencing a lack of traction, Vinales responded: "It's happening all over. There's nothing we can do."

"We attempt to relocate the bicycle, but it seems this particular bike isn't functioning properly on this path."

"We'll get another opportunity tomorrow, but to be frank, I'm a little nervous about getting on the bike, especially with the difficult or moderate conditions."

Throughout the season, Aprilia has struggled with grip issues, and according to Vinales, the Italian manufacturer has thoroughly revamped its motorcycle in search of a fix, but without success.

"We are quite empathetic," he mentioned.

"It's quite challenging for the team as well. The situation last year was distinct since the traction was reasonably good."

"When you start this year, you lack any traction. There's not a lot that can be adjusted on the motorcycle. You're using the same model as at the start of the year, and even if we experiment with different lengths, swingarms, or try altering the wheels or adjusting the front and back, the changes are minimal."

"It seems to be the bicycle that is causing the problem. It's not functioning properly."

Heat issues arise in Buriram

In recent years, Aprilia has faced challenges in managing heat during extremely hot races. This was evident for Aleix Espargaro, who was already dealing with injuries and managed only a 15th-place finish in the Thailand sprint.

Espargaro mentioned that he was feeling somewhat stiff and experiencing neck pain as a result of the accident.

"It was a challenging race as I was extremely fatigued following the crash, and the neck pain added to the difficulty. Additionally, the bike emitted a significant amount of heat, making it even harder."

"The heat problem is quite comparable, and it has been extremely challenging. We only did 13 laps today, so facing tomorrow will be tough. However, we have to deal with it."

Vinales noted that his experience on the bike exceeded his initial expectations, attributing this improvement to the cloudy weather conditions. Additionally, he mentioned that, unlike his teammate, he wasn't engaged in the intense competition of the main group.

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Maverick Vinales faces a challenging Thai MotoGP: 'I'm somewhat worried about riding the motorcycle'

Concerns about grip cast doubt on Aprilia's expectations for the Thai Grand Prix

Maverick Vinales expressed concerns over grip issues with his Aprilia MotoGP motorcycle during the sprint race at the Thailand Grand Prix, stating that it has left him "somewhat apprehensive about riding" in Sunday's race.

On Saturday, the Spanish rider secured the 10th spot on the grid with his RS-GP, but during the 13-lap sprint, he fell significantly in the standings and finished in 20th place.

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In general, the race posed challenges for Aprilia, and their top performer, Raul Fernandez from Trackhouse, finished in 14th place.

Vinales expresses concern about the "very low grip" of the bike and is especially anxious about his ability to remain on his Aprilia during the grand prix if he is required to use the hard rear tire option.

"We really can't feel anything on the bike," a disappointed Vinales shared with reporters, including those from Crash.net, on Saturday.

"The traction is extremely poor. I'm quite concerned about tomorrow's race because if we have to use the hard rear tire, it will be challenging just to stay on the motorcycle."

"Alright, let's take a look. I'm worried that this weekend will be challenging, but we'll aim to give our best effort tomorrow."

When questioned by Crash.net about where he is experiencing a lack of traction, Vinales responded, "It's all over the place. There's nothing we can do."

"We attempt to shift the bicycle, but for some reason, it doesn't seem to function properly on this path."

"We have an opportunity again tomorrow, but I must admit, I'm somewhat apprehensive about riding, especially considering the hard or medium conditions."

Aprilia has struggled with grip problems throughout the season, and according to Vinales, the Italian manufacturer has made extensive changes to the bike in an attempt to resolve the issue, but without success.

"We’re trying to be empathetic," he mentioned.

"It's quite challenging for the team as well. The previous year was distinct since the traction was relatively good."

This year, when you start off, you find yourself with no traction at all. There's very little you can adjust on the motorcycle. You're using the exact same model as at the start of the year, and despite experimenting with modifications like shortening or lengthening parts, and tweaking the swingarm, wheels, and both the front and back, it doesn't make a significant difference.

"It seems like the bicycle is malfunctioning."

Heat issues are a major worry in Buriram. In recent years, Aprilia has faced difficulties in managing high temperatures during extremely hot races. This problem was evident for Aleix Espargaro, who, despite being physically worn out, managed to finish 15th in the Thailand sprint.

Espargaro mentioned that he feels somewhat stiff and is experiencing neck pain as a result of the accident.

"It was a challenging race since I was quite exhausted following the accident, and I was also dealing with neck pain. Additionally, the bike emitted a significant amount of heat, making the race very tough."

"The heat problem is quite comparable, and it has been extremely challenging. We only did 13 laps today, so facing tomorrow will be hard. However, we have to deal with it."

Vinales mentioned that his performance on the bike exceeded his expectations, attributing this improvement to the presence of cloud cover. He also noted that, unlike his teammate, he wasn't battling with other riders in the middle of the group.

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Is it time for Pedro Acosta to reconsider his strategy following his recent MotoGP accident? The Tech3 newcomer hasn't finished a race since the event in Indonesia.

Pedro Acosta indicated that he might need to alter his racing strategy for MotoGP events following a crash that took him out of the top five during the sprint race at the Thailand Grand Prix on Saturday.

At 20 years old, he was competing for a podium position early in the 13-lap sprint, standing out as the top contender not riding a Ducati.

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However, Acosta was in fifth place when he experienced a crash on the fourth lap at Turn 3. He managed to get back on his damaged KTM, but eventually had to head back to the pits and retire from the race.

This represents Acosta's fourth consecutive race without completing, as the newcomer hasn't crossed the finish line since the Indonesian Grand Prix weekend.

Discussing the reasons behind his crash in Buriram, Acosta stated, "It was a minor error."

"We made a minor adjustment to one aspect of the bike, and it caused me significant difficulty when trying to bring the bike to a stop."

"I was slightly off track and somewhat off balance, and when it happened, the back end pushed the front. However, we should focus on the positives and look forward to tomorrow."

In response to whether his confidence was affected by his recent series of crashes, he replied, "No, because ultimately, without confidence, you wouldn't be able to keep up with the leading riders."

"It's a fact that we must begin completing races, as I have only finished four out of the last eleven."

"We might need to take a step back, calm down, and realize that finishing in the top five isn't always a bad outcome. It's important for us to grasp this concept."

Acosta believes that trying to keep up with the top-performing Ducatis is leading to his accidents. He explains that while the Ducati riders are operating at 95% of their potential, he feels compelled to push himself to 100%.

"In the end, their margin is greater than ours," he stated.

"In order to keep up with them, we must fully commit, and while there are days when conserving energy is possible, there are also times when it's not."

"It's possible they're operating at 95% capacity, leaving a 5% safety margin."

"It's usual for such events to occur."

"Perhaps we should remain a bit more composed and recognize that finishing in the top five or six is a positive outcome, and focus on completing races."

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Marco Bezzecchi admitted to committing "two significant errors" during the "challenging" Thai MotoGP Sprint. He mentioned, "Throughout this weekend, I attempted to utilize the hard front tire, but I struggled to make it work for me."

Marco Bezzecchi managed to secure a seventh-place position in the Thai MotoGP Sprint, even though he began the race from the second row of the grid.

Bezzecchi faced a dilemma with the front tyre selection. Throughout the weekend, he had been considering his options, trying to decide between a soft-compound and a hard-compound front tyre. His choice boiled down to balancing overall confidence with how well the tyre performed when competing closely with other riders.

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Bezzecchi described the race as challenging, noting that he anticipated this difficulty. He mentioned that throughout the weekend, he attempted to work with the hard front tire but was unable to make it work effectively.

"When I use the hard front tire, my speed and confidence drop significantly."

"However, using the soft tires becomes challenging when there's hot air or other bikes ahead. Although my start was decent, it wasn't perfect, and I ended up losing a few positions early on."

"I then committed two significant errors at the third corner, veering off course twice. The second time, I went even further onto the blue paint."

"I initially fell behind, but once the pack was scattered, I managed to pass Brad Binder and Fabio Di Giannantonio again."

"After that, I started to feel slightly better."

Due to the outcomes of his Sprint, Bezzecchi intends to focus on optimizing the performance of the hard-compound front tire during the Warm Up session on Sunday morning.

Bezzecchi expressed his hope that during tomorrow morning's Warm Up, they will discover a way to utilize the hard front tire, as other riders using the hard-compound front tire seem to have an advantage in braking.

"When you're on your own, the situation is comparable, but when you're trailing and the soft tire begins to encounter warmer air, the front tends to lock up more, similar to what happens in Mandalika."

"I hope to discover a way to utilize the hard front. Additionally, since the long race requires a different strategy, we'll have to see how it goes."

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Analysis: How Jorge Martin Evaded a Track Limits Penalty in the Thai MotoGP Sprint

Pramac Rider Escapes Penalty Threat After Receiving Track Limits Warning

During the MotoGP Thai Grand Prix sprint, Jorge Martin faced the possibility of receiving a penalty after receiving a warning for exceeding track limits. However, he managed to avoid any sanctions.

Pramac's Martin increased his lead in the championship standings to 22 points, gaining two more over Francesco Bagnaia, after securing second place in the sprint ahead of the official Ducati competitor.

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Right after passing Bagnaia at the seventh turn during the sprint's seventh lap, Martin veered off the track at the corner's exit and received a warning for exceeding track limits.

During the same spot two laps later, he veered off the track. After the sprint race, Bagnaia mentioned that he observed Martin violating track boundaries on four occasions and anticipated that he would receive a penalty.

During the 13-lap sprint, Martin exceeded the track boundaries more than four times, although the timekeepers recorded only two instances.

The initial incident occurred on the seventh lap, leading to a warning, followed by another occurrence on the ninth lap.

Martin clarified afterward that he went beyond the track boundaries twice at Turn 7, stating, "To enter the turn quickly and accelerate early, I push the limits at the exit of that corner."

The Pramac team racer mentioned that he was aware of having strategic options available, which is why he refrained from forcing his GP24 to stay within the track limits.

According to the existing rules, a motorcyclist who goes beyond the track boundaries three times in a sprint race will face a long lap penalty. Initially, they receive a warning for the first violation.

During the grand prix, a racer will receive a penalty after surpassing the track boundaries five times. A caution is given after the third violation.

Why were Martin's additional track limit breaches considered insignificant?

During the first lap, Martin veered off the track at Turn 1 after misjudging his braking while attempting to move from first to third place in front of pole position holder Bagnaia.

On the sixth lap, he replicated his previous move by following Bagnaia closely before passing the current world champion.

The FIM stewards keep an eye on track limits specifically at the green-painted sections, where going beyond the kerb is considered to give a substantial advantage.

Any region that isn't colored green isn't being tracked by the timekeeping sensors that have been operational since the 2021 season.

The kerbs at Turn 1, known as 'Misano', where Martin twice went beyond track limits during the sprint, are specifically crafted to make riders lose time as they ascend them.

Although Bagnaia anticipated receiving a penalty and admitted he might have been wrong, discussions have arisen post-race regarding Martin's crossing of the track boundaries. However, the straightforward truth is that he did not violate any regulations.

Martin encountered an issue with a track limits warning during the Emilia Romagna sprint. This early alert caused him to lose focus, which eventually resulted in him losing both the lead and the victory to Bagnaia.

Although Martin did not receive an official penalty during the sprint in Thailand, the threat of a penalty for any additional error made the race's conclusion tense for him.

In the final report from the FIM stewards on Saturday in Thailand, there was no reference to Martin or the track limits, indicating it was deemed irrelevant.

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Ducati's Unstoppable Performance in Thailand's MotoGP: What's Behind the Success?

Ducati sets new benchmarks in the 2024 Thailand sprint race

Ducati maintained its strong performance at the 2024 MotoGP Thailand Grand Prix on Saturday, securing the first eight positions in the sprint race.

Following a dominant performance at the Australian Grand Prix last weekend, where they claimed the top six positions—a feat not achieved since Honda did it in 1997—Ducati further solidified its control over the 2024 lineup on Saturday in Buriram.

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Enea Bastianini secured a victory over Jorge Martin and Francesco Bagnaia, achieving a complete podium sweep during the Saturday sprint.

The team achieved an even more impressive feat by securing the top eight positions entirely. Marc Marquez finished fourth, trailed by Alex Marquez, Franco Morbidelli, Marco Bezzecchi, and Fabio Di Giannantonio.

This marks the first instance of a manufacturer taking such action since Honda did so in Barcelona back in 1996.

KTM's Brad Binder was the highest-placed rider not on a Ducati, finishing in ninth place and earning a single point. He crossed the line 13.692 seconds behind the winner and two seconds behind Di Giannantonio, who was the last in the group of Ducati riders.

According to Binder, he believes that once the grip on his RC16 is lost, there's no chance for him to keep up with any of the Desmosedici bikes.

He mentioned that he could compete against them using new tires.

"Once I lose my hold, I no longer have the means to take any action."

"It was somewhat challenging. I was eager to join the battle with the Ducati riders, but it was similar to last week."

"We have a promising chance tomorrow to work through some issues and make progress. Let's continue pushing and see what we can achieve."

In recent races, Pedro Acosta has been the sole competitor able to match the speed of the leading Ducati riders. The Tech3 newcomer was running within the top five during the initial laps, but then he experienced a crash.

He attributes Ducati's success to having a large number of riders and the generally high skill level among them.

When questioned about Ducati's advantage, Acosta responded by saying, "It's because they have eight bikes."

"It's logical, considering we have producers with just a pair of bikes."

"We, at KTM, have four. This explains a lot about why Ducati is so powerful."

"Their riding skills are generally at an advanced level."

"When you have eight bikes, and six of those riders are capable of high speeds, it means that the overall performance level rapidly reaches its peak."

"We are consistently running behind schedule. This actually benefits them because they end up having access to far more information than anyone else."

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