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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What guidance did he offer?

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

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

The scenarios that will determine the 2024 MotoGP title winner

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Fabio Quartararo expressed that he could have achieved a quicker pace, but obstacles hindered him during the Barcelona MotoGP Sprint. He mentioned that while the potential was promising, there was a significant lack of power and grip.

Fabio Quartararo ended the Barcelona MotoGP Sprint in a disappointing 10th place, although he was engaged in a fierce competition with multiple Ducati competitors during the latter part of the race.

In the last lap, Quartararo missed the chance to secure the final point as Brad Binder overtook him. Earlier in the race, he had been competing with Marc Marquez, Franco Morbidelli, and Marco Bezzecchi for a spot within the top eight.

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Quartararo stated that his argument would not have affected the outcome of the race.

"Although we had the speed to go quicker, we were obviously hindered, which sadly prevented me from passing."

"I believe the potential was there, but it lacked sufficient power and grip to compete effectively against them."

Quartararo believed his performance had improved compared to the Catalan Grand Prix that took place at the same track in May.

Quartararo expressed that the situation had improved somewhat, mentioning that it was pleasing to have Marc Marquez nearby, despite Marquez encountering a problem at the third corner.

"We couldn't attempt any clean overtakes; the move I made on [Marco] Bezzecchi wasn't a usual maneuver. It involved taking a huge risk, and I wasn't sure if I would end up making contact with him, so it wasn't a straightforward overtaking maneuver."

"It's challenging since our pace is quite slow and the traction is lacking. We're addressing the issue, but this circuit really tests these two elements."

Rins: "We couldn't get the setup right for me"

Alex Rins faced a setback early in the race as he fell to the back of the pack. This happened after he got tangled in the chaos following the incident Quartararo referred to, involving Marc Marquez at the third corner.

Marquez collided with Pedro Acosta, causing the front fairing of Acosta's motorcycle to tear off, which led to his withdrawal from the race. Meanwhile, Rins had to steer clear of the wreckage, which resulted in him falling to the back of the pack.

Rins explained that he managed to navigate two corners while dodging [Pedro] Acosta's fairing, which resulted in him dropping to the back of the pack.

"Beginning from that point, our race performance was decent; I managed to gain six positions and felt quite competitive. However, once I reached [Luca] Marini, my tires were completely worn out."

"I attempted to pass him and managed to lead for one lap. However, at the first turn, I went straight ahead because my front wheels locked up, preventing me from doing any more."

Rins faced similar challenges to Quartararo, primarily struggling with insufficient rear grip. However, he still managed to maintain a reasonable speed.

He mentioned that they are facing challenges in this Grand Prix, but he is figuring things out.

"We're having difficulty with traction and rear grip, yet I'm still managing to ride in the low 1:40s and high 1:39s. For tomorrow, if luck is on our side and I secure a strong position on the first lap, I believe we can achieve a decent finish between 10th and 13th place. I'm feeling confident, and I'm giving my all to make up for where the bike falls short."

Drawing a comparison to his colleague Quartararo, Rins remarked, "When I measure myself against Fabio [Quartararo] in this setting, it doesn't seem too bad. However, I'm still somewhat confused about my setup."

"After finishing the race, I tell my engineers the exact same thing that I mentioned during the Qatar event."

This year, we couldn't identify the optimal configuration for my needs.

"Frankly, I'm pushing the bike too hard. I can't just let it run smoothly. This is a downside because it puts extra pressure on the tires and leads to more errors on my part."

"It's more challenging when the bike isn't in your possession."

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

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The MotoGP 2024 championship features a rider in a particularly difficult situation.

A competitor is stuck between the rivalry of Bagnaia and Martin.

The championship for the 2024 MotoGP will be determined during the last race of the season at the Solidarity Grand Prix this Sunday. This follows Francesco Bagnaia's triumph in the sprint race, which has kept his championship aspirations intact.

As Barcelona prepares for this weekend's event, Jorge Martin of Pramac is at the top of the standings, holding a 24-point lead over Bagnaia.

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Martin was required to finish at least two points ahead of Bagnaia to secure the championship on Saturday. However, Enea Bastianini overtook him on the final lap of the sprint, pushing him down to third place.

As a result of Bagnaia, who rides for the factory Ducati team alongside Bastianini, securing victory in the sprint race, the difference in the championship standings has been reduced to 19 points ahead of Sunday's 24-lap grand prix.

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

During the qualifying session, Bagnaia succeeded in following Marc Marquez closely, securing the third spot on the starting grid. Meanwhile, Aleix Espargaro secured the second position, helping his good friend Martin, who used Espargaro as a guide, to place his Pramac-run GP24 in fourth.

During the sprint race, Bastianini didn't consider the championship in his plan when he passed Martin on the final lap. However, this move might become crucial depending on the outcome of Sunday's race.

Franco Morbidelli, who is part of Martin's Pramac team, has unintentionally become involved in the championship fight. This situation arose when he ended up trailing Marquez and Bagnaia during the Q2 session.

Morbidelli came close to achieving a lap time that could have pushed Martin down to fifth place on the starting grid, but in the end, the Italian rider secured that position himself.

During the sprint, Morbidelli was competing closely with Bastianini and Martin for a spot on the podium.

As Morbidelli competes independently, he finds himself in a distinct situation: one of his teammates is vying for the championship, and the other contender is also part of the VR46 Academy, just like him.

"It’s definitely challenging," Morbidelli remarked when Crash.net inquired about how he is managing the circumstances.

"Today, while I was pursuing Jorge, it proved to be challenging."

"It's crucial, and I prefer not to be caught up in any situation."

"I'm not currently competing for a championship, so I prefer not to get involved. I have a unique perspective as an observer of the competition."

He stated, "I aimed to pass Enea. I'm not shielding anyone. I have no desire to take on any particular part. I just want to focus on my own race. I don't wish to be involved in any other way."

When questioned about whether he would pass Martin if the circumstances allowed, he responded, "Yes, I would."

When questioned about overtaking Bagnaia, he responded identically: "Yes, it is indeed the right position to be in."

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Johann Zarco expressed some frustration, describing his feelings as "a bit angry," following a decrease in speed during the Barcelona MotoGP. He remarked that such feelings are "kind of normal" given the circumstances. Zarco mentioned that despite performing well, the performance was pushed to the limits of what the bike could handle.

During Friday's Practice session at the Solidarity Barcelona MotoGP, Johann Zarco secured a spot in Q2. However, on Saturday morning, he expressed his disappointment as he struggled to replicate the same pace in the Q2 session.

Zarco clocked in at 1:39.197, securing the fourth position by the close of Friday. However, in Q2, his speed dropped to a 1:39.494, placing him 12th on the leaderboard.

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Zarco expressed his frustration over not being able to replicate his lap time from Friday, attributing this to the limited leeway he has with the Honda RC213V when attempting to achieve a fast lap.

Zarco stated that there was a restriction with the bike during qualifying, which prevented him from improving his lap time, and in fact, his performance was slightly poorer today.

"I was somewhat upset, which is understandable. You can perform exceptionally well, but the bike's limits are pushed to the max, making it challenging to achieve consistently."

During the Sprint, Zarco managed to secure the 11th position. He maintained a pace similar to the riders at the tail end of the top 10, even though he initially lost some time at the start of the race.

During the race, when compared to strong competitors like Marco Bezzecchi, Brad Binder, and Fabio Quartararo, I felt that I could keep up with them. However, it seems I might have fallen slightly behind at the start of the race.

"We're a few tenths of a second behind what we need to keep up with them. I had a strong battle with Raul Fernandez, which cost me some time."

Zarco mentioned that he must be tactical to enhance his chances in Sunday's Grand Prix. He expressed his satisfaction by stating, "This is a positive development since, from the start of the year until about two-thirds of the way through, I was unable to consider race strategies, but now I can."

"I should probably focus on the latter half of the race to outperform the others in my group. By doing this, I can aim for a solid top-10 finish, which seems like an achievable goal right now."

Due to his viewpoint on optimizing his performance in the race, Zarco is leaning towards using the hard-compound rear tire for the Grand Prix.

Zarco mentioned that he believes their choice will be the hard compound rear tire, although he expects some others might opt for the medium compound. He emphasized that the race isn't feasible with the soft compound rear tire.

"I aim to rely on the stable performance of the hard rear tire. It might not provide an exceptionally great sensation, but from the midpoint of the race to the finish, it could potentially offer an advantage of about two-tenths over the medium tire. This is the strategy we need to adopt."

"In order to have a successful race, I must put in significant effort right from the start."

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

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Davide Tardozzi from Ducati gives a frank opinion on losing the championship

Ducati leader lays out the context for today's championship showdown

Davide Tardozzi from Ducati is under no illusions about the chances of their top rider clinching the MotoGP championship today.

Francesco Bagnaia trails Jorge Martin by 19 points as they head into the final race of the season, the Solidarity Barcelona MotoGP, scheduled for Sunday afternoon.

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Bagnaia needs to secure a victory in the race and rely on Martin finishing in 10th place or worse to keep his title. On the other hand, Martin can clinch the championship by ending the race in ninth place or higher.

Ducati's factory team racer, Bagnaia, emerged victorious in Saturday's sprint race, preventing an early surrender of his championship title.

"The aim was to ensure the championship remained active," Tardozzi stated to TNT Sports.

"Winning the race on Sunday is our only option. However, we are aware that Jorge possesses the necessary speed to manage the race and secure the points required to clinch the championship."

"We are sure of it, but it's wise to stay open-minded because unexpected events can occur."

Tardozzi mentioned that Pecco came in feeling positive and had been sure of the bike's setup since Friday.

"He believes he has the speed necessary to win the races."

"The medium tire has the potential to alter everything."

Bagnaia, who has claimed the championship title for the past two seasons, receives support from the official Ducati team.

If Martin secures a victory today, he will claim the championship as a Ducati rider, but he plans to take the #1 plate to Aprilia in 2025.

If Martin were to secure a victory, it would result in Ducati being outperformed by one of their independent teams.

Paolo Campinoti, the head of Pramac, expressed his contentment by stating, "While there's room for more happiness, I'm satisfied with the current situation!"

"The key priority is to avoid errors and complete the race."

His issue on Friday stemmed from the track being cold, which caused him difficulties with getting a good grip.

On Saturday, he experienced fewer issues.

Campinoti shared his intentions for Sunday's celebration: "I'm going to party hard! But come Monday, it's back to the grind."

However, come Monday, Campinoti's crew is set to leave Ducati and start gearing up to act as a satellite team for Yamaha in 2025. This adds another layer of significance to Martin's triumph, should he manage to achieve it.

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

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Joan Mir had the chance to make it into Q2 before a crash during the final practice session at the Barcelona MotoGP. "I felt really good with the first set of tires and was able to perform quite well…"

Joan Mir believed he could have secured a spot in the top 10 during MotoGP Practice at the upcoming Solidarity Grand Prix in Barcelona, but a late accident thwarted his efforts.

Mir decided to cut short his initial attempt as he was trailing behind Jorge Martin, who headed into the pits on his Pramac Ducati at the conclusion of the lap.

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Mir believed he might have been better off heading to the pits for a fresh tire to keep pace with Martin during the second stint. However, after switching tires, he experienced reduced grip, and in his attempt to compensate for this, he ended up crashing at turn 10.

"I had an incident with the last tire," Mir explained. "I think I could have performed at a higher level. However, we need to figure out what went wrong because with the first tire, I felt really confident and was able to perform well."

"I managed to drive quickly on the lap when I headed into the pits; it was the best lap I could achieve today."

"I noticed that the bike was performing smoothly, and I attempted to keep up with [Jorge] Martin. When I observed Martin heading into the pit, I decided that it would be better to make another attempt with a fresh tire. I had some flexibility, so I thought it was a good opportunity to try and enhance my lap time."

"For some unknown reason, the traction with the second tire was significantly different and not even close to being the same."

"I attempted to apply additional pressure on the brakes to make up for the reduced traction, which led to my crash. We'll analyze the situation for tomorrow."

"I believe we might have a chance to advance to Q2 today."

One of Mir's challenges during a time attack is that his usual way of riding doesn't align well with the current setup of the RC213V. When he's trying to achieve a quick lap, it's more difficult for him to consciously modify his technique to match the bike, something he manages more easily in a race setting.

Mir mentioned that when using a worn tire, the pace slows down, allowing for more time to contemplate your actions.

"When I have a new tire, riding feels more natural to me, and that's when this issue occurs."

"I'm making an effort, but it's challenging to switch your style overnight. Whenever they modify something on the bike, I find myself reverting to my usual style. This is essentially what's going on right now."

On Friday, numerous riders, including Mir, were caught off guard by the unexpectedly low grip levels on the track at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. This occurred even though the temperatures were significantly cooler than what is typically encountered during the Catalan Grand Prix, which is usually held at this venue in early summer.

"I anticipated that the colder temperatures would provide better traction," Mir stated.

"It's quite challenging to get the tires to function properly. The softer rear compound offers a slight improvement, but the overall grip on this track remains quite inadequate."

Mir stated that the limited traction will complicate selecting the right tires for the races.

"It will be challenging to grasp," he remarked. "Tomorrow, we plan to run additional laps using the soft compound tire to better comprehend its degradation. This is necessary because all the tires experience significant spinning at this track—the medium tire spins considerably, and the high wear is a result of this excessive spinning."

"We need to grasp the importance of the soft tires: they will be crucial for the race, as experiencing a decline in performance here could mean losing two seconds."

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

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KTM evaluates future in MotoGP due to financial challenges

KTM leader talks about dedication to MotoGP

KTM's plans for their MotoGP endeavor in 2025 are expected to proceed unchanged, even though the Austrian company has faced financial challenges this year.

KTM has recently revealed that it has reduced its board of directors from six individuals to just two. This decision is part of several actions, including staff reductions, aimed at addressing the company's financial difficulties.

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In 2024, the Pierer Mobility Group has experienced a decline in sales, attributing this downturn to the economic recession in Germany and the cost of living crisis in the United States.

All these factors have resulted in a 90% decrease in KTM's stock prices since February 2022.

KTM has needed temporary financial support to assist the troubled brand. CEO Stefan Pierer has informed local Austrian media that production will halt temporarily and more employees will be laid off.

Recent developments have raised worries regarding the future of KTM's MotoGP initiative, which presently includes two teams competing in the top category.

Nevertheless, Herve Poncharal, the head of the Tech3 team, has mentioned that he was informed that KTM's ongoing issues will not have any immediate impact on the MotoGP program.

According to Motorsport.com, Poncharal expressed his admiration for Stefan Pierer and Hubert Trunkenpolz.

"Hubert and I had a conversation recently. He mentioned that the most challenging part has passed. They have given me their assurance that they are certain about the decisions they have taken."

"They are now faced with difficult choices, which include deciding on the number of staff, decreasing production capability, and implementing price reductions to clear out inventory."

"Currently, these are the most significant challenges."

"There are consequences for racing, but I've heard that MotoGP is not something they want to interfere with."

"According to Stefan and Hubert, who are in charge, it would be an error to do so, as it's the brand's leading product."

"I prefer hearing directly from them instead of going through a newspaper article. I go straight to the source for information, and I've been told there's nothing to be concerned about."

"Certainly, they endure hardships and are faced with difficult choices, yet this is inherent in managing a business. Life has its highs and lows."

Crash.net contacted KTM for an official statement regarding the situation, but the company stated that it currently has no information to share.

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2024 Barcelona MotoGP Solidarity Event – Complete Qualifying Outcomes

Here are the comprehensive results from the qualifying rounds for both the Saturday Sprint and the main race on Sunday during the Solidarity Barcelona MotoGP held at the Circuit de Catalunya. This event marks the 20th and concluding round of the 2024 world championship season.

Barcelona Solidarity MotoGP – Complete Results from Qualifying Sessions

* Beginner

Records for the Barcelona MotoGP:

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Fastest lap: Aleix Espargaro with a time of 1 minute and 38.190 seconds (2024)

Quickest lap of the race: Pedro Acosta completed it in 1 minute and 39.664 seconds (2024)

Francesco Bagnaia secures the last pole position for the 2024 MotoGP season, surpassing Aleix Espargaro and Marc Marquez at the Solidarity Barcelona Grand Prix.

Jorge Martin, who is currently at the top of the world championship standings, will start from the second row in today's race. To prevent the championship from being decided on Sunday, he needs to finish at least two points ahead of Bagnaia.

Before the session began, a visibly tense Martin sat in the garage, eyes shut, going over his qualifying lap in his mind. On his initial attempt, he benefitted from a planned slipstream provided by his close friend Espargaro.

However, this only placed Martin in third position, as the defending champion Bagnaia was at full throttle right from exiting the pits, securing a provisional pole position while pulling Marquez into second place.

As the final segment of the session commenced, Marquez, who will be a teammate in the future, and Franco Morbidelli closely followed Bagnaia's rear wheel. All three riders managed to enhance their performance, securing the positions on the front row.

In his last qualifying round riding for Aprilia, Espargaro, followed closely by Martin, came remarkably close to surpassing Bagnaia, missing the mark by just 0.055 seconds, and managed to position himself between the Ducatis on the front row.

Martin managed to secure only the fourth position, placing him at the front of his teammate Morbidelli and KTM's Pedro Acosta on the second row of the grid.

Marquez later mentioned that he was aware Pecco was pleased to lead other riders past Martin earlier today.

Franco Morbidelli and Fabio Quartararo from Yamaha advanced to Qualifying 2 by finishing at the top in Q1, while Joan Mir from Repsol Honda just missed the cut.

Brad Binder and Jack Miller, riding factory KTM bikes, will begin the race from 18th and 19th positions on the starting grid, respectively, with Miller having taken a fall. Meanwhile, Augusto Fernandez, who is on the same GASGAS team as Acosta, will start in 21st place.

The 12-lap sprint race in Barcelona is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.

How Martin Can Clinch the MotoGP Title in the Barcelona Sprint on Saturday:

– Martin secures the Sprint victory.

– Martin comes in 2nd place while Bagnaia does not claim the win.

– Martin takes 3rd place, and Bagnaia finishes no higher than 5th.

– Martin ends in 4th place, with Bagnaia not exceeding 6th place.

– Martin finishes 5th, and Bagnaia does not place better than 7th.

– Martin achieves 6th place, while Bagnaia finishes no higher than 8th.

– Martin comes in 7th, and Bagnaia does not place better than 9th.

– Martin secures 8th place, with Bagnaia finishing 10th or lower.

As the weekend's championship decider approaches, Martin is ahead of Bagnaia by 24 points.

This implies that Martin has the opportunity to be named the premier-class champion for the first time. He could also make history by becoming the first satellite team rider to secure the title in the 'MotoGP' era. This could happen if he wins the Saturday Sprint or earns at least two more points than Bagnaia.

Although Martin seems to have the advantage, the possibility of rain and chilly weather conditions suggest that another unexpected event might occur in what Bagnaia, the two-time defending champion, refers to as a "championship full of errors."

Barcelona has stepped in as a substitute for the usual final event in Valencia, which was called off due to severe flooding.

During MotoGP's event at the circuit in May, local favorite Aleix Espargaro revealed his intentions to retire during the Thursday session. The following day, he topped the charts in practice, secured pole position in qualifying, and emerged victorious in the Sprint race, benefiting from a final lap error by Bagnaia.

Bagnaia struck back by winning the grand prix, while Martin, despite starting in seventh place after a qualifying crash, secured second position. Meanwhile, Marc Marquez, who failed to make it to Qualifying 2, impressively climbed from 14th place to finish on the podium in both races.

Gresini's Marquez is currently leading by just one point over Enea Bastianini in the competition for third place in the world championship standings. Notably, Marquez will be taking Bastianini's spot on the factory Ducati team next year.

The outcome for the fifth position overall and the highest-ranking rider not on a Ducati will be determined this weekend. Rookie Pedro Acosta currently holds a 3-point advantage over Brad Binder, who will soon join him as a teammate on the factory KTM team.

Miguel Oliveira is set to compete again for his last outing with Trackhouse after being sidelined for five rounds because of fractures in his left wrist sustained in Mandalika.

Michele Pirro, a test rider for Ducati, has been summoned to fill in for VR46's Fabio di Giannantonio, who is currently recovering from recent shoulder surgery.

Due to the venue switch at the eleventh hour and the drop in temperatures, Michelin is providing a maximum of seven tire choices for this weekend, consisting of four front tires and three rear ones.

I'm

For two decades, Peter has been present in the paddock, witnessing the arrival and departure of Valentino Rossi. He is deeply involved in covering Suzuki's departure and Marc Marquez's struggles with injuries.

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Pole position was clinched, and the strategy paid off as the clever Bagnaia provided a slipstream for Marquez during the MotoGP qualifying session in Barcelona. Marc Marquez commented that the front row position wasn't entirely genuine, acknowledging that Pecco Bagnaia used intelligence to ensure there were competitors between him and Martin.

Francesco Bagnaia not only secured a vital pole position for the decisive Solidarity Barcelona MotoGP event but also helped Marc Marquez achieve a spot on the front row.

Although Bagnaia is trailing Jorge Martin by 24 points, he has decided against using cautious strategies during the races. However, he suggested that he might assist other riders by providing a slipstream during qualifying sessions.

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On Friday, Marquez was in eighth place, but he made the most of his opportunity by closely following Bagnaia during both Q2 sessions.

The Gresini team member had company on the track, and at one point, Bagnaia had brought Marquez up to second place, with Franco Morbidelli moving into third.

Martin, on the other hand, was aided by his close friend Aleix Espargaro.

However, the Aprilia rider missed out on taking pole position from Bagnaia by a mere 0.055 seconds on his last lap, while Martin managed only to secure fourth place, leading the second row.

In parc ferme, Bagnaia admitted his strategy of assisting others: "Yes, that's what I intended this weekend. I attempted to lend a hand to someone yesterday and did the same today. My goal was to have more riders between myself and Jorge, and it was successful."

"He's beginning in 4th position, which is quite competitive, but I'm generally pleased because I believe our speed is strong both in terms of overall pace and during time attacks. We just need to stay focused and get ready for this afternoon."

Marquez promptly recognized the help he received.

"The current Gresini rider, who will soon team up with Bagnaia, stated that they are always truthful and that it isn't a genuine front row since he benefits from Pecco's slipstream."

"He’s intelligent and requires other riders to separate him from Martin. I realized yesterday that he would continue to push forward, even if there were other riders trailing."

"Today, it wasn't just me trailing; there were also other riders during the initial attempt, and Morbidelli was involved in the second attempt. This is because Pecco requires these actions."

"He is incredibly quick and handling his ride excellently. I took advantage of his slipstream to secure a spot on the front row. We'll have to wait and see how things unfold. However, the aim for the race is to finish in the top five."

Bagnaia's strategy was undermined by Espargaro securing a last-minute second place.

The Spanish racer poses a significant challenge for winning the Sprint, especially after his victory in the May event. Additionally, he is expected to support Martin, who will be joining Aprilia in the future, if the need arises.

"I gave it my all," Espargaro stated. "When I used the initial set of tires, I had a terrible experience. I encountered an issue with the front and nearly lost control three times."

"I was very fortunate to avoid an accident. Once I got back to the garage, I made the unusual decision to switch the front, a move we typically don’t make during the qualifying rounds."

"I began the second attempt without much confidence, but right away I sensed that the bike was in good condition."

"I realized Martin was trailing, so I aimed to give my all and complete the best lap I could. Although I wasn't a fan of the soft front tire, I still managed to achieve a time of 38.6, which is quite impressive."

This afternoon, Martin must earn two points more than Bagnaia in order to clinch the championship.

For two decades, Peter has been involved in the racing scene, witnessing the rise and fall of Valentino Rossi's career. He is currently leading the coverage on Suzuki's departure and Marc Marquez's struggles with injuries.

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