Jorge Martin becomes MotoGP World Champion and takes the Number one to Aprillia
In a nail-biting finale, Jorge Martin clinched the 2024 MotoGP™ World Championship, securing his title as the first-ever Independent Team rider to win the crown in the MotoGP™ era. Racing for Prima Pramac Racing, the 89 made history by finishing third in Barcelona, while Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) took a stunning victory, his 11th of the season. Despite Bagnaia’s relentless pace, Martin’s podium finish was enough to seal his champion status, a remarkable achievement capping off an epic season.
Bagnaia’s mastery off the line saw him snatch the holeshot, with Martin in hot pursuit. However, Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) quickly made his presence known, challenging Martin and latching onto Bagnaia's tail. With Marquez pushing hard, it was clear that the race for the podium was far from over.
The chase continued with Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) and Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) jostling for positions behind Martin. As Bastianini dropped back, Espargaro pressed forward, showing determination in his final race as a full-time rider. Meanwhile, Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing) and Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) engaged in their own fierce battle further back.
At the front, Bagnaia kept a blistering pace, holding a half-second lead over Marquez and consistently setting lap times in the 1:40 range. Though Marquez initially seemed to struggle, he fought back to match Bagnaia’s relentless speed. Martin, safely holding third, stayed focused on the ultimate goal: securing the championship.
The battle for fourth saw Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) edge out Espargaro in a tight finish, narrowly missing the podium by 1.512 seconds. Espargaro held on to fifth, a fitting end to his distinguished MotoGP™ career.
The field further back saw intense action as Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team), Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3), and Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) rounded out the top 10. Jack Miller and Miguel Oliveira bid farewell to their teams with competitive rides, while Johann Zarco and Maverick Viñales secured the final points.
As the season closes, anticipation now turns to the 2025 Barcelona Test. With Martin stepping up as the newly crowned champion and the riders readying their new machines, the excitement is far from over.