Marc Marquez Concedes 2024 MotoGP Title Chase: ‘Game Over’ After Indonesian Setback

Marc Marquez concedes that his chances for the 2024 MotoGP championship have ended.

Marc Marquez acknowledges defeat in his pursuit of the championship title.

Marc Marquez has indicated that both his and Enea Bastianini's chances of winning the 2024 MotoGP championship are effectively over after failing to score points at the Indonesian Grand Prix.

Both competitors had a slim chance of contending for the championship in the closing stages of the season. They were trailing championship frontrunner Jorge Martin by 50 and 53 points, respectively, following the Mandalika sprint race.

A dramatic engine malfunction for Marquez and a fall from third place for Bastianini during the Indonesian Grand Prix have left them trailing Martin by 75 and 78 points respectively as they approach the Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi this weekend.

Although it's still possible for Marquez to win based on the numbers, he admits that the 2024 championship is essentially a battle between only two competitors: Martin and Francesco Bagnaia, as they head into the last five races.

When questioned about whether the title race was primarily between Martin and Bagnaia before the Motegi event, he responded affirmatively.

"In my opinion, it's a direct competition between the two of them, particularly because they are slightly quicker than the rest."

"It appears that neither Bastianini nor I managed to earn any points in Mandalika."

"We dropped a lot of points, and the game is effectively over because the gap is too large to bridge. However, it will still be enjoyable."

"Our aim is to compete against both of them, as they are expected to be extremely quick in the remaining races."

After his victory at the Aragon GP, Marquez mentioned that he has already achieved his goals for the 2024 season, which is why he hasn't seriously considered himself a strong contender for the championship title.

His primary objectives now are to enhance his consistency during qualifying sessions, particularly following three consecutive crashes in Q2, and to end the year on a high note.

He stated that he intends to conclude the season positively by maintaining consistency and working on his areas of weakness, as he mentioned prior to the Mandalika and Misano events.

"Let's try to compete for a spot on the podium."

Bastianini, as the Japanese GP approaches, still holds onto a slim possibility of winning the title. He remarked, "The points difference in the championship is increasing, yet it hasn't reached a point where it’s mathematically out of reach."

Heading into the Japanese Grand Prix weekend, only 21 points separate Martin and Bagnaia at the top of the standings, after Martin's victory in Indonesia last weekend.

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