-KTM Factory Racing’s Brand Binder finishes second
-Sprint winner Jorge Martin crosses the line in third
-Pecco Bagnaia leads the Championship after Round One
The first round of the 2024 MotoGP World Championship turned out to be just the start that fans were hoping for. After Saturday’s Sprint Race, Sunday’s main race was more exciting and action packed with a bit of drama even before the start.
Start delayed
As the MotoGP field lined up to start the main race, Trackhouse Racing Team’s Raul Fernandez threw his hands up in the air to signal an issue with his bike. This forced the race director to delay the start as Raul hopped on to his spare Aprilia and joined the back of the Grid. The race distance was shortened from 22 laps to 21 laps because of the delay and as the field lined up for the second time on the grid, the race got off to a cracking start.
Pecco Bagnaia shows his class
The defending Champion who had a poor Sprint race on Saturday made an aggressive start as the lights went out. The Lenovo Factory Ducati Team rider stormed past Pramac Ducati’s Jorge Martin in the opening laps of the race and checked out into the distance as the rest of the riders played catch up. Pecco showed his class as a multiple champion, leading from the front and controlling the race pace, lapping consistently in the 1min 52 second range. He was unchallenged throughout the race and crossed the finish line with a comfortable lead.
Terrific action behind the race leader
As Pecco cruised at the front of the field, KTM Factory Racing’s Brad Binder and Pramac Ducati’s Jorge Martin were engaged in an exciting duel for second in the race. The duo traded places multiple times as each tried to outbrake the other, especially at Turn One where MotoGP bikes slow down from 350kmph to 99kmph in a matter of few meters. Eventually, Binder managed to slip past Martin and secure second position as he set off in hot pursuit of Pecco. The KTM rider did manage to close the gap to under a second on a few occasions but everytime he did so, Bagnaia responded by stretching his lead and maintaining a healthy gap.
Impressive rookie
GasGas Tech3 Racing’s Pedro Acosta, the 2024 MotoGP rookie showed everyone why he’s touted as the next big star as he charged up the field with some brilliant overtaking moves in the first half of the race. The 19-year old was right up there with the experienced riders.
His pace was so quick that at one point he managed to pass Gresini Racing’s eight-time World Champion Marc Marquez who himself was putting up a great show aboard his Ducati in P4. At one point it looked like Acosta would challenge for the podium but his inexperience in tyre conservation over a full race distance on a MotoGP bike costed him dearly. In the closing laps of the race, the Spaniard fell down the order as those who’d saved their tyres for a late charge managed to get past him. Nevertheless, he ended the race in P9 and has gained valuable experience.
Pecco Bagnaia leads the Championship
With 31 points in hand, Pecco Bagnaia leads the MotoGP World Championship after Round One. Brad Binder is second with 29 points and Jorge Martin is third with 28 points in the bag.
The Second Round will take place in Portugal at the fast and flowing Portimao race track from 22 to 24 March.
