2024 Thailand Motorcycle Grand Prix: Live Sprint Updates

Live coverage from the Saturday sprint event in Thailand.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The dash begins at 9 in the morning UK time.

I

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

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

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

Thailand Dash: Updated Standings for the 2024 MotoGP World Championship

race summary

2024 Thailand MotoGP in Buriram – Results of the Sprint Race

finish line – Victory for Bastianini

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

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

Closing lap

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Event:

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

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

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

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

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

* Beginner

Recorded Achievements in Buriram MotoGP:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

* Newcom

Official Records of MotoGP in Buriram:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

<H2>Top Qualifying Performance of the Season

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Carlos Sainz leads in second practice while George Russell suffers a major crash and Max Verstappen encounters difficulties.

Carlos Sainz finished the prolonged second practice session of the F1 Mexico City Grand Prix at the top of the timesheets, while George Russell experienced a significant accident.

The driver from Ferrari finished with a lead of 0.178 seconds over Oscar Piastri from McLaren in the second free practice session, which was lengthened to 90 minutes to allow for testing of the 2025 tyres by Pirelli.

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In the morning segment, Yuki Tsunoda maintained his pace by clocking the third-fastest time for Red Bull, narrowly missing Piastri by just 0.001 seconds and trailing Sainz's leading time by less than two-tenths of a second.

Russell triggered an immediate stoppage by crashing heavily at Turn 9, which led to a 25-minute interruption of the session.

Mercedes verified that Russell was in good health after a visit to the medical center.

Charles Leclerc secured the fourth-fastest time driving for Ferrari, while Lando Norris followed closely, securing fifth place, also for Ferrari.

Norris's main competitor for the title, and the current leader of the championship, Max Verstappen, encountered difficulties when he couldn't record a lap time and spent a significant portion of FP2 on the sidelines. This was due to his team, Red Bull, looking into a problem with the power unit on the Dutch driver's vehicle.

Kevin Magnussen secured the sixth spot for Haas, surpassing the seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who lagged almost six tenths of a second behind Sainz.

Valtteri Bottas, local favorite Sergio Perez, and Liam Lawson completed the top ten for the teams of Sauber, Red Bull, and Racing Bull respectively.

Williams couldn't repair Alex Albon's vehicle quickly enough for him to take part in the afternoon session following significant damage from his major collision with Ollie Bearman of Ferrari during the first practice session.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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George Russell leads the first practice session, following a significant collision between Alex Albon and Ollie Bearman.

George Russell led the way in an abbreviated first practice session at the F1 Mexico City Grand Prix after a significant accident involving Alex Albon and Ollie Bearman.

The pivotal incident in FP1 took place as Albon experienced a sudden loss of control while entering a series of curves, resulting in his Williams spinning out. This led to a collision with Bearman's Ferrari before Albon's car forcefully crashed into the barriers at Turn 10.

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Both participants emerged from the mishap without injuries, and following an extended pause, it was Mercedes' Russell who dazzled on the timesheet with soft tyres, surpassing Ferrari's Carlos Sainz by 0.317 seconds.

Yuki Tsunoda pushed his RB to third place, trailing Russell's FP1 leading time by 0.701 seconds and surpassing Red Bull's Max Verstappen, who lagged by eight tenths of a second.

Nico Hulkenberg secured the fifth position for Haas, followed by McLaren's Oscar Piastri, Esteban Ocon of Alpine, and Valtteri Bottas from Sauber. Completing the top-10, Liam Lawson and the local favorite Sergio Perez finished for RB and Red Bull, respectively.

Positioned just after Williams' substitute Franco Colapinto in 11th place, Kimi Antonelli emerged as the quickest among the five rookies participating in the initial practice session while filling in for Lewis Hamilton in the Mercedes.

During his first appearance in a Mercedes FP1 at Monza, Antonelli was involved in an incident last month where his car collided with some loose debris on the main straight, leading to an immediate red flag situation.

Pato O’Ward finished in 13th place while piloting Lando Norris’s McLaren, aiming for the driving championship. Behind him, Felipe Drugovich secured the 18th position driving for Aston Martin, followed by Robert Shwartzman in 19th with Sauber, and Bearman was the last, concluding the session with a crash in his Ferrari.

Following the session, Red Bull announced they are looking into a problem with the power unit in Verstappen's car, but it's believed to be an earlier version from his selection.

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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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Robert Shwartzman Receives F1 Grid Penalty That May Go Unfulfilled

Robert Shwartzman has received a grid penalty in F1 that he may ultimately never fulfill.

Robert Shwartzman has received a five-place grid penalty, despite not being scheduled to compete in the upcoming F1 Mexico City Grand Prix this weekend.

Shwartzman took to the track for Sauber in the first practice session at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, stepping in for Zhou Guanyu.

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According to Formula 1 rules, every racer is required to relinquish one first practice session to a newcomer driver.

Shwartzman was among five newcomers participating in the initial practice session.

The driver supported by Ferrari has received a penalty for passing Yuki Tsunoda while double yellow flags were being waved.

The event took place after a collision involving Alex Albon and Oliver Bearman.

Displaying two yellow flags, Shwartzman overtook Tsunoda during the race.

The officials observed and stated: "After the event that occurred at [turn nine], Shwartzman went past both a single and a double waved yellow flag, and then overtook Tsunoda within the yellow zone at a high rate of speed.

"The sanction is the standard one for crossing a double yellow line, and although the officials acknowledge that the driver isn't slated to begin the race, they've enforced the customary penalty."

Shwartzman's punishment is peculiar because it's probable that he will never fulfill it.

At 25 years old, the driver is actively competing in the World Endurance Championship, having not secured a chance in F1 despite several impressive seasons in FIA Formula 2.

In a similar past event, Jenson Button received a grid penalty due to an incident in Monaco, serving as a substitute for Fernando Alonso.

Button never faced the consequences of that penalty since it was his last Formula 1 race, which was a single-time participation.

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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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