Aprilia's new technical director praised Jorge Martin after his initial test, describing him as a blend of a champion and a leader.

Aprilia's MotoGP technical director, Fabiano Sterlacchini, describes Jorge Martin as "remarkable," noting that he embodies both the qualities of a champion and a leader after his initial trial with the RS-GP.

A mere two days following his victory in the 2024 MotoGP world championship, Martin transitioned from riding for Pramac Ducati to joining the official Aprilia team during the post-season test in Barcelona on Tuesday.

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The Spanish rider evaluated the RS-GP models for 2024 and 2025, finishing 11th on the timing charts after completing 77 laps. Unfortunately, he experienced a minor crash towards the end of the session.

Because of contractual obligations, Martin was unable to give interviews to the press after his initial trial of the RS-GP.

Sterlacchini, who is succeeding Romano Albesiano as Aprilia's technical director, had the opportunity to assess Martin's initial test with the company.

During a media session on Tuesday, which included Crash.net, he expressed that having Jorge on board is a significant opportunity. Jorge comes from a championship-winning bike and is himself a world-class rider. This provides the team with a valuable benchmark, enabling them to better identify and focus on key areas for improvement.

"In the brief period we've collaborated—half a day yesterday and today—I've observed that he embodies both the qualities of a champion and a leader."

"Frankly, it's pretty remarkable how he's handling the role. Truly impressive."

Sterlacchini joins Aprilia after spending the years 2022 and 2023 at KTM, following a 17-year tenure in the engineering department at Ducati.

Lacking sufficient time to grasp the project and the motorcycle, he declined to engage in a discussion about the areas where the RS-GP requires enhancements.

"In my opinion, it's not feasible: you require divine insight, not just a capable individual, to grasp everything so quickly," he remarked.

"Frankly, in certain areas, things are beginning to become clearer and less vague, but it is definitely too early to make any definitive conclusions right now."

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"Being quicker is to be expected," said Alex Marquez, who led the field during the GP24 debut at the Barcelona MotoGP Test. "With each session, we saw continuous improvement."

Alex Marquez highlighted that Jorge Martin and Francesco Bagnaia, the front-runners in the MotoGP World Championship, had an outstanding year and demonstrated exceptional speed regardless of the conditions.

Following his impressive performance by leading the timing charts during his debut on the former GP24 Ducati at the Barcelona test on Tuesday, the Gresini rider noticed a significant improvement over the previous year's bike that he had ridden throughout the current season.

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It was expected, given that the GP24 was created to accommodate the changes in Michelin's rear tire this year. The enhanced grip from this tire led to problems with the front end of the GP23.

Marquez explained that he initially took the 23 bike out for a spin in the morning to assess the grip and track conditions. Afterward, he switched to the 24. During the initial run, he noted it felt unusual and distinct, yet he managed to achieve the same lap time even with worn tires.

"At that point, it was a bike that improved consistently as I pushed it harder and harder."

"The biggest change I noticed was when entering corners, as we experienced significant difficulties with the 23 model. Pirro also mentioned that he became accustomed to the 24 model, and upon returning to the 23 here, he found it somewhat unstable."

"The entry point is particularly effective… This bicycle is specifically designed for this type of rear tire."

"The day went well. The lap times were consistently strong throughout."

Instead of making headlines with just one attack on the soft tyres, Marquez topped the timesheets five separate times.

The Spanish rider ultimately ended the race 0.396 seconds ahead of Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo and 0.595 seconds ahead of Bagnaia. Bagnaia’s new teammate, Marc, who is Alex’s brother, secured fourth place as the factory team focused on developing the GP25 for next year.

Alex expressed his thoughts, stating, "It's only a single day, and given that it's a track I adore, I won't attribute their victory solely to the GP24 bike. Pecco and Jorge had an outstanding season as well. They demonstrated incredible speed in every situation."

Although it's premature to say much, this is an improvement over the GP23. I'm eager to test it on a track that doesn't suit my riding style very well. However, our next stops are Malaysia, which is excellent for me, and Thailand, where I perform well.

"We have to hold off and observe the advancements made by other manufacturers, as well as the progress of the 25 Ducati. Once we have this information, we'll have a clearer understanding of our position."

Alex mentioned: "It's also typical to be quick when you're given a bike that's already fully prepared. You don't have to gather data for the manufacturer; you can simply concentrate on making minor tweaks."

"It's understandable that we're quicker since there wasn't much for us to handle."

Alex's new teammate, rookie Fermin Aldeguer, ranked 20th in the timing results.

Peter has spent two decades in the paddock, witnessing the arrival and departure of Valentino Rossi. He is closely following the developments regarding Suzuki's departure and Marc Marquez's struggles with injuries.

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Title: "Brake Issues Thwart Pedro Acosta's KTM Ambitions at Barcelona"

Body: Pedro Acosta faced a challenging situation in Barcelona as his aspirations with KTM were put on hold. He noted that handling a tough race is one thing, but dealing with brake troubles while speeding at 350 km/h is an entirely different challenge.

Rookie Pedro Acosta missed out on securing fifth place and being the highest-ranked non-Ducati rider in the final standings of the 2024 MotoGP World Championship by just two points and under two seconds.

Starting the last race of the season, the GASGAS Tech3 racer held a slight lead of two points over Brad Binder from Red Bull KTM. This was despite having to withdraw from the Sprint after the first lap due to damage to the fairing caused by a collision with Marc Marquez.

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Acosta has gone scoreless for the 13th time this season, which also accounts for the race he did not start in Australia.

However, with Binder positioned in 18th place on the starting grid and Acosta beginning from sixth, the 20-year-old remained the frontrunner to secure his aim of clinching fifth place in the championship standings.

Nevertheless, Binder overtook him with an impressive surge to secure sixth place, as Acosta dropped to tenth due to a problem with his brakes.

"After the race, Acosta remarked that a challenging competition and dealing with brake issues while traveling at 350 km/h are entirely separate matters."

"I struggled with brake control from the very start. Right from the first lap, it was challenging to handle. Initially, I had some traction at the back, but once that grip disappeared, there was absolutely no chance of maintaining speed."

"During lap 12, I recorded a time of 40.8 seconds, which was quite good. However, from one lap to the next, my times increased to 41.4, 41.6, and even into the 42-second range! I don't even reach 42 seconds during the first practice session."

"That's just how it is. To be clear, it's hard to comprehend the reasons why."

"I'm alright since it seems I'm not the only one facing issues this season; Marc has spoken about this frequently. However, this situation is unacceptable."

It remains unclear whether the braking problem was linked to the damage resulting from Acosta's significant crash during the warm-up.

Although Acosta didn't finish as the highest-ranked rider on the RC16, he secured the most podium finishes for KTM with five and led for 13 laps in races.

"The season had its share of ups and downs, featuring impressive achievements as well as some disappointing errors; overall, however, it was a largely successful period," he commented.

Starting with the Barcelona test on Tuesday, Acosta is set to team up with Binder at the Red Bull KTM factory team.

"I'm excited to begin a new phase, still close by since I'm staying within the same group, but I will be parting ways with some individuals," he mentioned.

"From the very beginning, I felt embraced by the team; the mechanics and everyone involved treated me well. My debut season in MotoGP with Tech3 will always hold a special place in my heart."

Augusto Fernandez is also leaving the team, likely to take on a test riding role at Yamaha, while Tech3 will feature MotoGP race winners Maverick Vinales and Enea Bastianini for the upcoming season.

For two decades, Peter has been involved in the paddock and witnessed Valentino Rossi's arrival and departure from the scene. Currently, he is at the center of the narrative concerning Suzuki's withdrawal and the injury problems faced by Marc Marquez.

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Guide to Viewing the MotoGP Postseason Test Live Today

Details on where to watch and keep up with today's test session in Barcelona

The MotoGP offseason testing session is taking place in Barcelona today. Below is the schedule, viewing options, and details on staying updated.

On Tuesday in Barcelona, MotoGP racers will transition to their new motorcycles and join new teams as they prepare for the upcoming 2025 season.

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Marc Marquez is set to don the red colors of the official Ducati team for the first time.

Jack Miller is riding a Yamaha, while Maverick Vinales and Enea Bastianini are transitioning to KTM, along with several other changes.

Today marks the unveiling of the initial previews of the 2025 machinery.

Barcelona test timetable (UK time)

Ways to view the Barcelona test

You can stream the live coverage of the postseason Barcelona test through MotoGP's Video Pass.

The event will feature real-time reporting of the bikes in action, along with conversations with the riders and team leaders.

At 1 PM, Simon Crafar will provide his expert analysis on the latest technology being showcased, and this will be available on MotoGP's social media platforms.

Crash.net will provide continuous lap-by-lap updates via a live blog throughout the day, along with initial reactions as Marquez tests out the 2025 Ducati model.

You can find all the feedback from the riders about the postseason test on Crash.net.

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

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Jack Miller commented that Cal Crutchlow might not be the best person to consult regarding the 2025 Yamaha MotoGP move. He pointed out that those familiar with Cal know he has a tendency to sometimes stretch the truth.

According to Jack Miller, who is set to join Pramac Yamaha, Cal Crutchlow is not the ideal person to consult for guidance on how to adjust to the Yamaha YZR-M1 MotoGP bike.

After retiring from full-time MotoGP competition at the conclusion of the 2020 season, Crutchlow has taken on the role of Yamaha's official MotoGP test rider starting in 2021.

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In 2015, Miller began his MotoGP career alongside Crutchlow at the LCR Honda team. He has expressed skepticism about fully relying on Crutchlow's assessment of the YZR-M1's traits.

Miller commented after the recent Solidarity Grand Prix of Barcelona, stating that Cal Crutchlow isn't the best person to discuss matters with. According to Miller, Crutchlow has a tendency to exaggerate things, regardless of whether they are positive or negative.

"I've been keeping in contact with Fabio Quartararo and Alex Rins, along with others, but naturally, Cal brings a wealth of experience with the M1."

"It's wise to be skeptical about his statements. It might be more insightful to ask Lucy Crutchlow, who is Cal Crutchlow's wife, about his real opinion on the Yamaha, as she seems to be the only person he shares his complete honest views with."

On Tuesday, November 19, Miller is set to rejoin the Pramac team. This comes just two days after Jorge Martin, the team's 2024 rider, achieved a historic victory by becoming the first 'Independent' rider to clinch the World Championship title in the premier class during the four-stroke era.

"Jack Miller extended his hearty congratulations, saying, 'Hats off to Paolo Campinoti and the entire crew. Achieving a championship win as an independent team is truly remarkable.'"

"This highlights the competitive nature of the 2024 MotoGP lineup."

"Let's give huge credit to Jorge [Martin] for his incredible performance in the championship, and also to Pecco [Francesco Bagnaia] for achieving 11 race victories, which is a remarkable accomplishment."

"I'm already anticipating 2025 with excitement. Of course, I'm not thrilled about competing against these fierce competitors, but I hope we can strive to give those guys a run for their money."

In August 2024, Alex became part of the Crash.net team after spending two years reporting on news related to consumer and racing motorcycles at Visordown.

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MotoGP Barcelona Test: LIVE COVERAGE!

Stay tuned for real-time updates from the MotoGP post-season testing session taking place at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

The event is scheduled to kick off today at 10:00 AM local time (9:00 AM in the UK).

This will be our initial chance to observe several cyclists on their new bicycles and with their new teams.

Marc Marquez wearing Ducati colors, KTM introducing fresh faces, Jorge Martin riding for Aprilia, and Jack Miller on a Yamaha…

Throughout the day, you'll find updated lap times and images here.

Marc Marquez is seen riding the Factory Ducati during the Barcelona MotoGP test. #MotoGP #BarcelonaTest pic.twitter.com/hRNAxOxXqd — Crash MotoGP (@crash_motogp) November 19, 2024

Marquez completes his initial session as a Ducati factory team rider, securing fifth position. It appears he is now on a cool-down lap.

Enea Bastianini has also joined the action to experience the KTM for the first time. In a somewhat poetic moment, Marquez overtook him during his initial timed lap, placing Bastianini in 18th position.

Alex Marquez has taken the lead, moving ahead of both Binder and Quartararo.

Marc Marquez has taken his initial ride on the official Ducati bike, while Pecco Bagnaia is trailing close behind.

Jack Miller is now part of the newly established Pramac Yamaha team.

Jorge Martin expressed his approval with a thumbs-up gesture following his initial experience on the Aprilia.

It took nearly an hour, but the new World Champion, Jorge Martin, is now riding on the factory Aprilia.

I'm

Ogura and Aldeguer are currently on the track, riding closely together. As anticipated, their lap times are currently not very fast.

Pedro Acosta is currently riding with the official KTM team. Meanwhile, Joan Mir is seen on the track wearing a plain black helmet, indicating that the 2020 World Champion might be switching helmet brands next year.

Marc Marquez has donned his red racing suit, signaling that he may soon make his debut on the factory Desmosedici GP24. Currently, however, he is in the media room posing for photos in his new outfit.

Luca Marini has experienced a fall at the fifth corner. Despite the incident, he is unharmed, although he is visibly upset with himself.

Initially, Marini held the fastest time until his crash occurred. However, Fabio Quartararo has now claimed the top spot, clocking a time in the 1:40s with a lap of 1:40.394.

Raul Fernandez has moved to the leading position using a 2024 RS-GP bike equipped with 2023 aerodynamics, the same setup he used last weekend. He is currently 0.387 seconds faster than Oliveira.

MotoGP star Marc Marquez, known by his handle @marcmarquez93, made his debut visit to the Ducati Corse garage during the Barcelona Test. This event was streamed live on TNT Sports and Discovery+ on November 19, 2024.

Oliveira has recorded a lap time in the 1:41 range, with Marini also achieving a similar time, trailing the Portuguese racer by 0.271 seconds.

Marc Márquez is seen observing alongside Gigi Dall’Igna and his new team at Ducati during the MotoGP tests in Barcelona. #MotoGP #BarcelonaTest pic.twitter.com/Iwk3M095rL — Crash MotoGP (@crash_motogp) November 19, 2024

Oliveira has set the quickest time with a lap of 1:42.313, while Marini's initial lap places him directly in second position.

Luca Marini is also riding, and it looks like he's on the same motorcycle he used in the race on Sunday.

According to reports, Honda is planning to introduce a significantly revamped version of the RC213V for Marini and Joan Mir to test at an upcoming session in Jerez.

Oliveira continues his series of timed laps. Currently, he holds the second position with a time of 1:43.998.

We have our initial competitor on the circuit. Miguel Oliveira is experiencing the YZR-M1 for the first time.

More news has emerged from Aprilia about their team members in the factory garage for the year 2025:

– Fabiano Sterlacchini has been named the new Technical Director, a development revealed at the Motegi Grand Prix.

– Daniele Romagnoli is set to begin his role as Crew Chief for Jorge Martín, and Francesco Venturato, who previously worked as Performance Engineer for Maverick Viñales, will assume the position of Crew Chief for Marco Bezzecchi.

– Joining Jorge Martín's team is David Galacho as a mechanic, while Andrea Saggion, previously with the test team, will become a mechanic for Bezzecchi.

Savadori has returned to the pit area, while Pirro has re-entered the track.

Fermin Aldeguer appears to be getting ready to head out. He's seated in the Gresini garage, already dressed in his racing suit.

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EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW: Marc Marquez dons red, Jorge Martin joins Aprilia, fresh KTM line-up…

The Barcelona test offered a sneak peek at several riders as they debuted with their new teams and on their new motorcycles.

Captured in the latest images from the postseason test in Barcelona, MotoGP riders can be seen sporting their fresh team colors and riding their new motorcycles.

Ducati

The color red. pic.twitter.com/bVrUGDM5Rx— Crash MotoGP (@crash_motogp) November 19, 2024

The color red. pic.twitter.com/bVrUGDM5Rx

On Tuesday, Marc Marquez made his first appearance with the factory Ducati team, donning their red colors.

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Dressed in red leather attire, he had minimal branding and lacked significant sponsorship logos, as shown at the top of the page.

Franco Morbidelli made his first appearance with the VR46 Ducati team following his transition from the Pramac team.

Fermin Aldeguer made his first appearance with Gresini, stepping in for Marquez.

Jorge Martin, the fresh MotoGP champion, made his debut in the colors of his new team, Aprilia.

Marco Bezzecchi is set to join the factory Aprilia team as his new teammate.

Ai Ogura makes his first appearance on a MotoGP motorcycle, teaming up with the Trackhouse squad and Raul Fernandez.

KTM has announced that Pedro Acosta will join the factory team for the first time, where he will be teaming up with Brad Binder.

The revamped Tech3 KTM squad features the pairing of Enea Bastianini and Maverick Vinales.

Yamaha

Fabio Quartararo and Alex Rins continue as the main riders for Yamaha, but the team is set to introduce two new motorcycles.

The Pramac team has switched from Ducati to Yamaha and will have Jack Miller and Miguel Oliveira as their riders.

Luca Marini and Joan Mir remain as the official riders for Honda.

Somkiat Chantra has become the new teammate of Johann Zarco at LCR Honda.

Today marks Aleix Espargaro's first experience as a test rider for Honda Racing Corporation (HRC).

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

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"Stunned and apologetic, Forward releases statement regarding Misano pitlane event

'In the wake of the incident, the Klint Forward Factory Team, while still reeling and expressing regret, feels compelled to release a statement to address and correct the wild speculations that have emerged.'"

The Klint Forward Factory Team issued an official statement regarding the frightening incident that occurred in the pitlane on Saturday morning.

During the initial phase of Moto2's last practice session, Unai Orradre was involved in a collision with a track official who unexpectedly stepped onto the pitlane, directly in his path.

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Orradre's unoccupied motorcycle veered into the Aprilia MotoGP team's pit area.

Aprilia informed Crash.net that their team members emerged unscathed with 'no significant injuries,' but admitted the situation 'had the potential to be much more severe.'

"Aprilia's Aleix Espargaro recounted, "The motorcycle collided with my engineer's desk, but fortunately, Antonio [Jimenez, crew chief] and my data analyst had stepped out for coffee. The garage was wrecked by the bike. So, we were incredibly fortunate."

Orradre and the track official both escaped severe harm, with the Spanish rider coming back for the qualifying session.

Forward has released a statement to 'clear up any speculative stories' and wants to emphasize the 'utterly unpredictable nature' of the incident:

At the beginning of FP2 yesterday, a control operator positioned at the pit wall unexpectedly made their way towards the pits.

In that instance, Unai Orradre, an approaching rider, attempted to dodge the operator, sadly to no avail.

Following the collision, Orradre was unable to maintain control of his motorcycle, which ultimately came to a stop inside the Aprilia box, resulting in multiple damages.

The Klint Forward Factory Team, still reeling and regretful over the recent incident, feels compelled to release a clarification statement to quash the baseless speculation that has arisen in the aftermath.

Rider Unai Orradre, stepping in for Alex Escrig to make his first appearance in Moto2, remains stunned and apologetic alongside his team.

The Forward team expresses its sympathy towards Aprilia Racing and the Misano staff for their dedicated and professional service on the circuit. However, it emphasizes that the incident was completely unforeseen and unavoidable for everyone involved.

The Klint Forward Factory Team, while not undermining the significance of the incident, places its confidence in the media to accurately relay the event's details to both the public and its supporters.

For two decades, Peter has witnessed the dynamics of the paddock, observing the rise and departure of Valentino Rossi. He's currently leading the coverage on Suzuki's withdrawal and the challenges Marc Marquez faces with his injuries.

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Alex Marquez playfully challenges Pirro: “You claimed there wasn't much difference between GP23-24!”

“I lightly teased him since I noticed he mentioned in several interviews that the difference wasn’t significant!”

Alex Marquez playfully mocked Ducati test rider Michele Pirro about some previous statements as Pirro made his comeback to the GP23 at the Solidarity Barcelona MotoGP event this weekend.

Marc Marquez's sibling, Alex, has seen his brother secure victories in three Grand Prix events riding last year's satellite motorcycle. Meanwhile, riders of the current GP23 model have collectively achieved just two podium finishes, frequently attributing their challenges to problems with the front end, unlike their experiences with the former GP22 model.

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Throughout the year, Pirro has been focused on refining the GP24 model at the factory, a bike that is poised to clinch the world championship this Sunday, with either Jorge Martin or Francesco Bagnaia as the rider.

He has been called up to ride the older motorcycle again as a substitute for the injured Fabio di Giannantonio at VR46.

On Saturday, Alex shared with me, "Michele mentioned, 'the bike is really putting a lot of pressure on the front'."

I responded, "you mentioned there wasn't much of a distinction between 23 and 24!"

"I playfully teased him because I noticed in several interviews he claimed there wasn't much of a difference!"

Pirro's shift in perspective likely stems from the fact that the last time he rode the GP23, more than a year ago, it was equipped with the rear tyre design from 2023.

"Pirro expressed satisfaction in observing the distinctions between the 23 and 24 motorcycles," he remarked following his completion of the Sprint in the 21st position, marking his initial MotoGP race of the season.

"The 23 motorcycle faces challenges in certain aspects with the [2024] tire. While it might perform adequately in a few competitions, in others, it becomes harder to control."

Michelin updated its rear tire for the current year. The most recent Ducati GP24 was engineered with the new tire's features in mind. However, the improvement in rear grip seems to have disrupted the equilibrium of the GP23.

Marquez acknowledged, "Michele mentioned to me, and it's accurate, that they altered the back tire this year."

"Perhaps the bike from the previous year, equipped with the previous year's tire, was more suitable for the front-end issues he's currently experiencing."

"Thus, the situation remains as it is, and he now understands the distinction clearly."

Marquez clarified, "I'm not implying that the GP24 is definitively superior [to the GP23]."

"Certainly, in a few aspects, it might not be as good since it's impossible to enhance a bicycle in every single aspect."

Number 73 will only need to wait a few more days to personally experience the variances as he is set to make his first appearance on the GP24 during the post-race test scheduled for Tuesday.

“He emphasized having no expectations for his upcoming machine. He encouraged enjoying the experience, tuning into the 24 bike's behavior, striving to complete as many laps as possible, and communicating his impressions to Ducati.”

In response to a question about whether he believes the difference between Ducati's satellite and factory teams will be less significant than it was this year, Marquez answered:

"I'm hopeful that the 24 outshines the 25!"

"Similar to the transition from GP22 to GP23, it was remarkably balanced. With some luck, we'll experience a similar situation and even tighter competition than we did this year."

Marquez shared his thoughts following his fifth-place performance in the Barcelona Sprint.

Throughout this weekend, Alex has consistently performed better than his brother in every round except for the qualifying session. In that session, Alex fell to the eleventh position while Marc took advantage of a slipstream from Francesco Bagnaia to secure a spot on the front row.

"I was quite optimistic during the Sprint. I even entertained thoughts of contending for the win," he shared. "Given that I was in fourth place and if I managed to swiftly pass Enea and Martin…

"However, when the GP24 isn't following another rider closely, without the benefit of a slipstream, we can at least get near them by the time we reach the braking point. But in my case, I was behind Enea, who was drafting off Jorge, and it felt like saying goodbye."

"I'm really upset about how my qualifying went; it wasn't at all what we were aiming for," he added. "They invalidated one of my laps because I slightly went off track onto the green, and that lap would have placed me in the sixth position.

"Fortunately, we managed to secure the optimal positions in the initial turns, and that will continue to be crucial [on Sunday]. Our speed is solid. We're confident. We have it all, yet passing is notably challenging at this location."

The upcoming Grand Prix on Sunday will mark the final race for the Marquez siblings as teammates, with Marc set to join the official Ducati team, partnering with Bagnaia in 2025.

"Alex mentioned that Gresini feels like a large family, and having Marc as his brother only adds to that wonderful experience this season."

Alex is set to begin the season's final race ranked tenth in the world championship, trailing Franco Morbidelli by five points and leading Aleix Espargaro by eight points.

For two decades, Peter has witnessed the rise and departure of Valentino Rossi from the racing scene. He's currently leading the coverage on Suzuki's withdrawal and the ongoing challenges Marc Marquez faces with injuries.

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Espargaro responds to Bastianini's comment: 'He was trailing me by three seconds on a factory Ducati.'

Aleix Espargaro looks back on a flawless MotoGP finale, calling it a "perfect 10 out of 10" weekend.

Aleix Espargaro has responded to Enea Bastianini's criticism of his strategy in protecting Jorge Martin during the MotoGP Solidarity Grand Prix on Sunday, labeling Bastianini's remarks as inappropriate.

The Aprilia racer secured the second position in qualifying for his last race as a regular MotoGP competitor, managing to position himself between the ultimate victor, Martin, and the quick group trailing behind.

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During the initial laps of the Sunday grand prix in Barcelona, Espargaro and Bastianini engaged in a fierce battle for the fourth position. The Aprilia rider eventually secured the spot but later slipped to fifth, while Bastianini fell back to seventh.

Bastianini dropped to third place in the rankings, with Marc Marquez moving ahead of him. The Ducati rider expressed dissatisfaction with Espargaro's approach during the race, believing that Espargaro wasn't performing at his best to assist Martin.

In response, Espargaro countered by stating: "I was informed that Enea remarked it's unfortunate to conclude a career this way, without competing for a spot on the podium."

"Absolutely, my only reply was that making such a statement isn't just."

"In the final lap, I expected him to challenge me, but he was trailing three seconds behind on a factory Ducati. Therefore, I'm unsure what he meant."

"Alex Marquez delivered an outstanding performance in the race and managed to surpass me. On the other hand, Enea did not. I gave it my all. If he believes I was deliberately slow, that’s just not feasible."

"I exceeded my boundaries. I was the sole rider to place a bike among the Ducati lineup."

Pushed boundaries like never before to defend Martin

Espargaro described his final weekend in MotoGP as an experience beyond his wildest dreams, with Martin clinching the world championship as a perfect conclusion.

He gave his last round before retiring a perfect score of 10 out of 10.

"I consider myself incredibly fortunate. I'm truly thankful for the experiences I had over the weekend. I couldn't have imagined a more perfect weekend."

"After 20 seasons, bidding farewell at my home track, in my own country, surrounded by family, with unexpected moments, embraced by Aprilia's support, and being extremely competitive – coming very close to securing pole position."

"I battled with the Ducatis on my own to try and secure a spot on the podium. Jorge clinched the championship, and I gave him a bit of assistance. Overall, I'd rate it a perfect 10 out of 10. I genuinely consider myself extremely fortunate."

"Before the race, we had a brief conversation. We both sensed that he was up against all the Ducatis, which is quite understandable since they were trying to keep their championship title."

"The emotion I experienced was that I was solely responsible for safeguarding my younger brother's reputation."

"Although being on the grid for the last time was highly motivating for me, my concentration was entirely on the race once it began."

"I pushed my bike to its absolute limits more than ever before, aiming to safeguard him as much as I could. I'm extremely pleased and proud to have been able to assist him in some small way."

Espargaro stated that at one point during the grand prix, he believed he had the speed to secure a victory. However, he found it "impossible" because the performance decline of Francesco Bagnaia's and Marquez's soft tires was not as significant as anticipated.

When questioned about his chances of winning the race, he responded with, "There's no way."

At the beginning of the race, I felt confident that I had the speed to compete for the win. It surprised me somewhat because I was aware that the competitors ahead were using the soft tires.

"I pushed the motorcycle to its utmost capabilities, more than I ever have before, applying the brakes extremely late. However, I also aimed to be somewhat cautious, considering I might have an edge towards the race's conclusion."

"I'm not sure what Ducati's strategy is, but their soft tires seem to have more durability than mine."

"I stayed cautious throughout the race, but the final 10 laps were extremely challenging for me. Despite having a harder tire compound compared to others, I struggled with traction."

"I'm really glad I could assist Jorge in safeguarding his position, and towards the end, I aimed to get near the podium, but it just didn't happen."

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MotoGP unveils unprecedented spectator numbers

Below are the spectator figures for each MotoGP event this season

MotoGP has revealed an all-time high in attendance figures for this year.

The number of people who attended the final event of the season in Barcelona on Sunday has pushed the yearly total attendance over three million, setting a new record.

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Barcelona MotoGP Event Draws United Crowd

Before the Weekend – 26,081

Saturday – Count reached 46,

Sunday- Sixty-two thousand, one hundred

TOTAL: 134,848

I

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

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Gigi Dall’Igna: “This is what makes racing exciting” | Ducati experiences both victory and defeat

The general manager of Ducati Corse shares his thoughts on Jorge Martin's championship win and Francesco Bagnaia's loss.

Jorge Martin's victory in Barcelona on Sunday marked Ducati's third consecutive MotoGP rider's championship, a triumph that likely brought a mix of emotions.

Although Ducati celebrated a victory with Martin and the Pramac team, they faced a setback with defending champion Francesco Bagnaia and the official Lenovo team.

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Adding to the complexity of the situation, Ducati rejected Martin as Bagnaia’s teammate for the upcoming season, opting instead for Marc Marquez. As a result, Martin, along with what is likely the #1 plate, is heading to Aprilia.

Ducati deserves recognition for maintaining equal support for Martin's bid for the title, alongside Bagnaia, right up to the final moments, defying the predictions of numerous observers.

This involved stopping any more technical improvements, particularly a 2025 chassis that Bagnaia favored during the Misano test, in order to prevent affecting the competition among the riders.

In fact, between the two of them, it was Bagnaia who faced a race-ending technical issue at Le Mans.

However, it is the seven instances where the Italian did not score any points, along with two additional races where he earned only 1 or 2 points, that will be the most significant factors during the off-season. This comes after a year in which Bagnaia secured victory in eleven grand prix events, won seven sprints, yet ended up ten points behind Martin.

The initial comments from Dall’Igna were directed towards Martin, a racer he recruited from KTM's Moto2 team to make his first appearance on a Desmosedici in 2021.

Since joining Pramac, Martin has achieved significant success, securing eight grand prix victories. He finished in second place behind Bagnaia last season and made history by becoming the first satellite rider to win the MotoGP world championship.

Dall’Igna characterized Martin’s season as almost flawless.

Gigi Dall'Igna commented that, despite the apparent simplicity on paper, Jorge Martín executed an excellent performance by maintaining his composure and securing the championship following an almost flawless season.

"I want to extend my congratulations to him and express my gratitude for once more bringing a Desmosedici GP to the pinnacle of success."

Addressing his own champion who faced defeat, Dall’Igna suggested that there were lost chances this season, but remarked that “this is the beauty of racing.”

"Pecco has delivered outstanding performances throughout the year, clearly demonstrating his exceptional talent. However, racing can be unpredictable, and outcomes don't always align with our hopes. This uncertainty is what makes the sport so exciting."

Ducati is saying goodbye not only to Martin and Bagnaia's teammate, Enea Bastianini, but also to the Pramac team, which will transition to Yamaha starting in 2025.

Dall’Igna expressed gratitude towards Enea for their two seasons together and expressed joy that Enea managed to showcase his full potential again after what was undoubtedly a challenging year in 2024.

Expressing admiration for the collaboration with Pramac, Dall’Igna remarked: “Winning today is, or perhaps more importantly, the perfect way to bid farewell to Pramac Racing, an incredible team of experts we've collaborated with seamlessly for two decades. A heartfelt embrace goes to each member, beginning with our dear friend Paolo Campinoti.”

In 2024, Ducati experienced an exceptional year, setting new records for both wins and podium finishes. The highlight was having eight Desmosedici GP bikes lead the way in the Sprint Race in Thailand.

"I would like to express my gratitude to everyone at Ducati Corse for their dedicated and passionate efforts, which have led to the outstanding achievement we are celebrating today. Go Ducati!"

Marc Marquez is set to join Bagnaia for his first appearance with the factory Ducati team during the post-race test on Tuesday.

"It's time to celebrate now, before we begin getting ready for the upcoming season. Our aim is to keep improving and maintain our status as the leading constructors in MotoGP," Dall'Igna stated in conclusion.

For two decades, Peter has been involved in the paddock, witnessing the arrival and departure of Valentino Rossi. He is currently leading the coverage on Suzuki's departure and the injury challenges faced by Marc Marquez.

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