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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Enea Bastianini described his victory in the Thai MotoGP Sprint as exceeding his expectations. He admitted that based on his pace, he did not feel prepared to secure a win that day.

Enea Bastianini showcased a commanding performance in the Thai MotoGP Sprint, leading from start to finish. He swiftly established a lead and skillfully maintained it after the initial three laps.

Bastianini secured a victory with a 1.3-second lead, yet both his display and the outcome were unexpected for the Italian.

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"The race today exceeded what I had anticipated," Bastianini remarked.

"The qualification session was [good], but after reviewing my speed, I realized I wasn't prepared to secure a victory today."

"However, in the end, I'm not sure, I gave my all throughout the entire race, starting from the very first lap."

"Being alone on that track could actually be beneficial, as it allows you to brake more forcefully and manage the tire temperature more effectively."

Bastianini was at the front for nearly the whole race. Initially, Jorge Martin had a quicker start and overtook him, but when Martin attempted a bold move to pass Francesco Bagnaia during braking, both riders ended up going wide. This allowed Bastianini to seize the opportunity and take the lead.

"When I found myself leading after the first corner, I thought to myself, 'Alright, it's time to push hard for three or four laps to create a gap,'" he said.

"In the end, I decided to take some risks to make it happen, and ultimately, it was the right decision. I handled the situation effectively throughout the race, maintaining a consistent gap of 1.3 to 1.4 seconds from the rider behind me."

Bastianini attributed his performance to adjustments made in the setup of his Desmosedici GP24. However, he still has reservations about maintaining his speed throughout the Grand Prix.

"Currently, it appears that we've discovered something, as we tend to be competitive during the qualifying sessions," he stated.

"However, we are facing additional challenges when it comes to long-distance. We need to address this issue for the last three races."

After the race, Jorge Martin expressed his dissatisfaction, noting that riding amidst a group of bikes increased the difficulty due to the heat. Bastianini concurred with Martin's observation but pointed out that leading the pack also presents its own set of challenges.

"The Italian remarked that it might be advantageous to be at the front, allowing for greater exertion."

"It's often like this, and all the cyclists are aware of it. When you're trailing, you need to avoid the slipstream because if the pressure builds up, it could lead to serious trouble."

"It’s challenging to maintain concentration when you’re by yourself. It gets significantly hotter when you're trailing, but being alone makes it harder to keep your focus. Nevertheless, we need to remain attentive for tomorrow."

Let's turn our attention to the topic of tires. For Saturday's Sprint, the majority of riders opted for the medium-compound rear tire. However, Enea Bastianini believes that the hard-compound tire will be necessary for Sunday's longer race.

Bastianini expressed concern that using medium compound tires on the rear for the Grand Prix could be risky for him.

"Additionally, during the Sprint, the front was under some pressure, and when I began to push harder, the front started to shift slightly."

"The hard compound rear tyre is likely the most suitable option. Though it's not my ideal choice for tomorrow, it's probably what we'll go with."

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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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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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Fabio Di Giannantonio expressed, "If enduring pain is necessary, we might as well aim for speed." He further elaborated, "I truly pushed myself to endure the discomfort…"

Fabio Di Giannantonio managed to secure an eighth-place position in the Thai MotoGP Sprint, which wasn't quite as impressive as his performance in Australia just a week prior. However, on the second-to-last day of his racing season, the Italian rider successfully turned around what initially appeared to be a challenging weekend in Buriram.

The issues stemming from the shoulder injury he sustained in Austria have resurfaced, and they will cause his season to conclude this Sunday at the Thai Grand Prix.

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On Friday, Di Giannantonio experienced problems related to his posture. By Saturday, he believed he had managed to improve this, at least partially, for both the qualifying session and the Sprint race.

"We began using a mild pain reliever today and plan to keep using it tomorrow," stated Di Giannantonio.

"I changed my mindset slightly, thinking that if I'm going to experience pain, I might as well try to push myself to go quickly. So, I made a conscious effort to endure the discomfort, since I would be feeling it regardless."

"When I'm able to manage it, I can pick up the pace significantly. However, when the pain becomes overwhelming, I revert to an incorrect posture and end up losing a lot of time."

This weekend poses a challenge — both with handling the bike and physically — yet I believe I've performed well nonetheless. We must remain focused and strive to give our best despite these circumstances.

In general, Di Giannantonio felt satisfied with his performance on Saturday. He began in Q1, successfully advanced to Q2, and managed to earn points even though he faced challenges at the start of the weekend on Friday. These challenges included not just his physical state but also his self-assurance while riding the bike.

"I'm pleased because we completely turned the weekend around since yesterday," he mentioned.

"Yesterday, we struggled with speed and confidence on the bike, but today we saw significant progress. I’m grateful to the team for their outstanding work."

"We performed well during the qualifying rounds, securing a strong start from the third row. However, during the race, I encountered significant issues with the brakes, which led to several errors on my part."

"It's unfortunate because I believe I have the speed to match Alex Marquez. However, we need to focus on the positives from the Sprint race. I feel we showed good pace, and I think we're well-prepared for tomorrow. I anticipate performing well in the race."

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Alex Rins: ‘I'm determined to return to using the same chassis as Fabio’

"I rode alongside Fabio… He performed quite well, and the difference is evident. I can't bring the bike to a stop."

Alex Rins plans to switch back to using the same Yamaha chassis as his teammate, Fabio Quartararo, after encountering difficulties in the heavy braking zones during Friday's practice session for the Thai MotoGP.

In the afternoon session, Quartararo initially led the pack and remained among the top three as the time attack phase commenced. However, he faced ongoing challenges in getting the best performance out of new tires on the M1, which resulted in him dropping to 12th place, trailing by 0.591 seconds.

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Rins struggled to climb the ranks and ultimately finished in 18th position, trailing Quartararo by just under half a second.

"It wasn't the simplest of days," Rins remarked. "The morning went fairly well. I was feeling alright, especially given that I hadn't ridden here since last year."

"The afternoon session proved to be quite challenging. We opted for the soft front tire, which caused significant difficulties due to the elevated track temperatures."

"We switched to the hard front tire that we used in the first practice session, and I immediately felt more at ease and confident. However, there was still a significant gap. To clarify, changing to the hard front tire didn't result in a 0.5-0.6 second improvement."

Rins trailed Quartararo during a timed assault, highlighting problems with his braking.

"The timed laps were really challenging for me. I rode alongside Fabio for my second set of tires. He was performing quite well, and the difference was obvious," Rins explained. "I can't bring the bike to a stop. I'm overshooting in every braking zone, particularly in the first and third corners."

He expressed that he feels challenged with the bike's front end. "Take Corner 3, for instance; I apply the brakes at the same spot as Fabio," he noted. "Fabio serves as my sole benchmark since we both ride the Yamaha."

"Compared to him, when we apply the brakes at the same spot, I experience significant front-end motion, such as locking and bouncing. This has been happening in numerous races."

When questioned about whether there is any technical distinction between the M1 models that could explain the variations in braking performance, Rins disclosed that he had reverted to using the 'standard' chassis.

"We're using a different chassis. At Phillip Island, we chose to return to the standard version since it's the one I've competed with the most," Rins explained.

Fabio's modification and the chassis I used for two previous races felt decent to me. However, since I have more familiarity with the other chassis, we chose to revert to it.

Certainly, for Saturday, I plan to switch back to the chassis that Fabio is using, the one we received in Misano, so our bikes will be more alike.

"I want to avoid mirroring Fabio's setup since our riding techniques differ. However, the bikes will at least have similar specifications."

Rins also verified that he had tested the newest iteration of Yamaha’s Ducati-inspired ride-height system. This system, which operates automatically, is engaged by pressing a button while entering a corner and then automatically lowers itself upon exiting.

In the first practice session, I tested it extensively. It performed well, but I prefer the manual option as it feels more comfortable to me, he remarked.

To put it differently, Rins continues to favor having complete authority over the timing of lowering the rear when exiting.

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Live Coverage of the 2024 Thai MotoGP Qualifying!

Stay tuned for real-time updates from the qualifying rounds taking place on Saturday at the 2024 Thai MotoGP event. As the season nears its conclusion with only three races remaining, Jorge Martin enters Saturday with a 20-point advantage over the current titleholder, Francesco Bagnaia.

Martin is currently riding a wave of success, having outperformed Bagnaia in both races at Phillip Island. Last year, he dominated in Buriram by securing the Pole Position and winning both the Sprint and Grand Prix races.

However, both championship hopefuls must remain vigilant as they face competition from Marc Marquez, who secured a win at Phillip Island last weekend and has previously claimed two victories at Buriram while riding for Honda.

Last year, KTM contended for the win with Brad Binder, while Marco Bezzecchi and Yamaha's Fabio Quartararo also finished among the top five.

Because of the high temperatures and the pressure on the tires, Buriram is one of the locations where Michelin opts for rear tires with a more rigid structure.

During Friday's practice session, Marc Marquez recorded the quickest time, with Martin, Bastianini, and Bagnaia trailing behind him

Following a rain-free Friday, thunderstorms could potentially occur on both Saturday and Sunday.

The qualification session is scheduled for Saturday morning at 10:50 AM local time, which corresponds to 4:50 AM in the UK. The 13-lap Sprint race will then commence at 3:00 PM local time, or 9:00 AM for

Good morning from Buriram! We're just 20 minutes away from the final practice session for the Thai MotoGP. Right after that, we'll have Qualifying 1 and Qualifying 2.

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Results from Saturday's practice session at the Thai MotoGP in Buriram, marking the 18th round of the 2024 World Championship series.

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Records from the Official Buriram MotoGP:

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Fastest lap: Marc Marquez completed it in 1 minute and 29.165 seconds in 2024.

Quickest lap in the race: Marco Bezzecchi completed it in 1 minute and 30.896 seconds in 2023.

Marc Marquez leads the timing charts in the last practice session for the 2024 Thai MotoGP in Buriram.

Franco Morbidelli, Francesco Bagnaia, and Jorge Martin secured the top four positions, all riding Ducati bikes, while Pedro Acosta was the leading rider for KTM.

Because of the increased heat and pressure experienced by the tires, Buriram is one of the locations where Michelin opts for rear tires with a more rigid structure.

Marc Marquez started the session using fresh hard tires on both the front and rear. Towards the end, he changed to a worn hard tire at the front and a worn medium tire at the rear.

This morning, the preferred choice for tires was a hard compound on the front and a medium compound

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

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

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2024 Thai MotoGP, Buriram – Complete Results from Qualifying

Here are the comprehensive results from the qualifying session along with the starting grid for the Saturday Sprint and the main race on Sunday at the Thai MotoGP in Buriram, which is the 18th round out of 20 in the 2024 world championship series.

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Records from the Official MotoGP Event in Buriram:

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Fastest lap time was achieved by Marc Marquez, clocking in at 1 minute and 29.165 seconds

Quickest lap time in the race: Marco Bezzecchi completed it in 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 Buriram. Meanwhile, his championship competitor Jorge Martin and Marc Marquez, who was fastest in practice, both suffer crashes during the Qualifying session.

Martin held onto a front-row position, trailing Enea Bastianini, while Marquez found himself in fifth position, sandwiched between Marco Bezzecchi and a strong performance by Yamaha's Fabio Quartararo.

Because of the increased heat and pressure on the tires, Buriram is one of the locations where Michelin opts for its more robust rear tire construction.

Miguel Oliveira remains unable to compete due to fractures in his right wrist sustained in Mandalika, and Aprilia test rider Lorenzo Savadori has taken his place at Trackhouse.

The Buriram Sprint race commences at 3 p.m. local time.

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