The Jerez round of the MotoGP championship this weekend saw a massive crowd of Spanish fans, and two exciting races.
On Saturday, the Sprint race saw an unusually large number of crashes, primarily resulting from water seeping through the track surface (it had rained earlier in the day). After Marc Marquez (Ducati) crashed out of the lead, Jorge Martin (Ducati) went on to win the Sprint ahead of Pedro Acosta (GASGAS) and third place Dani Pedrosa (KTM). Pedrosa was elevated to third place when Fabio Quartararo was penalized eight seconds for a tire pressure infraction.
The full GP on Sunday turned out to be one of the best races ever. Marquez again showed great speed and caught the leader Pecco Bagnaia (Ducati) after Bagnaia inherited the lead from a crashing Martin.
When Marquez reached the rear wheel of Bagnaia with just a few laps remaining, a classic battle ensued between the two champions. Twice, Marquez passed Bagnaia, who immediately cut under Marquez on the corner exit to re-take the lead. One of those cut-backs saw the two riders bump into each other, but they hardly lost any momentum.
The way Marquez approached the rear wheel of Bagnaia made it appear that he had superior pace near the end of the race, but Bagnaia had a surprise in store when he set the fastest lap in the race with just two laps remaining. He created a comfortable gap over Marquez that he held all the way to the checkered flag. Marco Bezzecchi (Ducati) placed third.
Despite his misfortune on Sunday, Martin continues to hold the championship points lead ahead of the next round at Le Mans.
For full results and points for Saturday’s Sprint race, visit the MotoGP site here.
For full results and points for Sunday’s MotoGP race, visit the MotoGP site here.
i’m not happy that Martin crashed but it’s a bit of somekind of a relief that someone other than MM fell off while in the lead.
taking nothing away from Pecco…but i have to think MM was thinking, while riding in second for the last lap…don’t crash, don’t crash, don’t crash…forget the overtake attempt…don’t take out Pecco…just grab second today…finish the race and get some points.
Pecco is smart. MM was faster on older motorcycle.
pecco is smart…well sure he is.
MM has just recently stated that he is now starting to get the new bike figured out and matching his riding style.
his results for the season seem to accurately show that as true. looking forward to the rest of the season.
Like MM. And Pedro besides
And Honda
if you go online, and watch the post race interview of MM93, he describes what he was thinking the last laps when trying to catch and pass Peco. Writing that you “have to think”, might only be your opinion, you are entitled to it, but why not research it? I realize not everyone is really into motogp, but pages like this are full of “I think” people, when the honest true answer is out there, one just has to look. In the interview, he said he thought he could win, and tried it, but Peco won, fair and square. 7 races in, MM93 is starting to learn how to ride the Ducati, and Lenovo Ducati signed him to a 70 million dollar contract. did you see how Gigi reached in to shake his hand in the winner circle? a thank you for not knocking down peco and looking forward to working with you in the future, big smile on his face. Who would have thought 3-2 years ago, MM93 would jump ship from HONDA, it is 2024.
“Gigi reached in to shake his hand”, “a thank you for not knocking down peco”
interesting.
is that what Gigi actually said or is that what you ‘think’ was said or implied?
either way…if you believe (or it was actually said) that was Gigi’s sentiment i’m confused as to why you posted your greivance with my suggesting that MM was thinking “don’t take out Pecco”.
“Who would have thought 3-2 years ago, MM93 would jump ship from HONDA, it is 2024”
a lot. a lot of people were thinking(wishing) MM should jump ship.
MM was smashing himself to pieces trying to get his Honda over the line like the old days. everybody (MM and Honda included) knew the Honda was not up to par with the competition’s bikes.
i had hoped MM would just retire and enjoy his life. i hope he does well (earns a championship) in 2024 and/or 2025 and then retires. then the MM haters will have to satisfy themselves with someone else to whinge on about. that will be a nice break.
—“Writing that you “have to think”, might only be your opinion, you are entitled to it, but why not research it? I realize not everyone is really into motogp, but pages like this are full of “I think” people, when the honest true answer is out there, one just has to look”
–well the proper response to your policing is to simply suggest you stuff it. i did not catch the rules here stating that we are not to share opinions and every statement posted must solely be fact based and fact checked. we are not entitled to our opinions, only those opinions the mods allow. there surely is often times more than one answer out there.
anyhoo, you should be happy to know, with help ( https://www.cycleworld.com/motorcycle-racing/jerez-motogp-race-report-2024/ ), i did some research and found the following…
-MM- “I didn’t give up completely but I didn’t make that extra push to fight with him because the risk was too high [of making] three zeros in a row.”
-MM-“…if I hadn’t given up at the right time, I, Pecco, or maybe both of us would have crashed. In turn 10 I felt the blow on my arm and leg—at that moment you can crash alone or take your opponent to the ground as well. I lifted the bike, lost the position, but got 20 points.”
-MM-“There is respect and rivalry with Pecco,” Márquez said. “…for me it is a pleasure to fight with him who is world champion and the benchmark of Ducati. Today we fought again and I was fast enough to try to attack him.”
—yes…so…apparently MM seems to have been concerned with not risking another crach and backing off the pressure so as to earn points and not crash out Pecco.”
wow!! now we are confused right?!.
according to the resident experts here…that stuff certainly does not describe MM at all…he is dirty and unsafe and incapable of riding clean and safe and should be banned.
everyone knows it but are afraid to say it. MM should most certainly taken out Pecco as that is what he always does, doesn’t he?
-Bagnaia said, “Where there is respect there is a show, and fun.
so confused…the Champion is saying he respects and enjoys racing with MM…what is he insane?!?? Mick and Dirk need to have a long talk with Pecco I guess. iirc, this isn’t the first time Pecco has stated he enjoys racing with MM.
Right on, bro. My reply elsewhere ICYMI
He seems to be maturing.
““…if I hadn’t given up at the right time, I, Pecco, or maybe both of us would have crashed. In turn 10 I felt the blow on my arm and leg—at that moment you can crash alone or take your opponent to the ground as well. I lifted the bike, lost the position, but got 20 points.”
Wisdom.”
Kevin Cameron is one of the sagest observers of the sport ever. Feel free to argue with him if you must, however.
https://www.cycleworld.com/motorcycle-racing/jerez-motogp-race-report-2024/
Marquez got some rubber on his sleeve for his efforts to pass Bagnaia.
Others have not been as fortunate as that when Marquez made passing moves.
Right so just MM has made contact with other riders? Tragic.
No, MM should be banned for life. He simply cannot safely race with others. Go home and stay there.
He is a good dancer.
“No, MM should be banned for life. He simply cannot safely race with others”
Right. great observation genius. 😉
–question for you genius…why is MM racing with others and not banned since, according to your expertise, he is a danger to all?
–another question…how many riders on the paddock, who actually race, and race with MM, share your genius observations and have also stated MM should be banned from racing? the last comment I read from someone who recently raced with MM stated that was like old times (seemingly enjoying the experience) and not stating MM should be banned.
–you’re just better then those racers right?
Valentino Rossi and Marco Bezzechi have said it out loud that MM is dangerous and a “dirty rider”. I suppose they are not geniuses in your mind, but they are saying what some others are thinking, but afraid to say, undoubtedly. MM calls himself an “asshole” on the track, who “would rather ask for forgiveness than permission”. Some consider this approach to be poor sportsmanship.
“Valentino Rossi and Marco Bezzechi have said it out loud that MM is dangerous and a “dirty rider”. I suppose they are not geniuses in your mind, but they are saying what some others are thinking, but afraid to say, undoubtedly. MM calls himself an “asshole” on the track, who “would rather ask for forgiveness than permission”. Some consider this approach to be poor sportsmanship.”
poor sportsmanship?
i’m not an employer of MM but ‘I think’ his employers want him to win and have kept him employed because he gives them what they want and at the very least he proves he is trying. I don’t know that for sure…I have’t researched it.
—MM did to VR what VR did to many in his day. however MM dethroned and utterly humitilated VR 10X worse than VR did to others upon his arival in to the premier league. there was contact between VR and MM from both sides but that means nothing as MM could have and did beat VR fairly and squarely on most days.
i’d wager VR never once dreamed that anyone in his lifetime would have the skill, talent, and drive to vanquish him and couldn’t even have fathomed that anyone would ever do so in such an easy manner as MM did. VR upped the whole game (as MM did again) but dethroned and bitter is how i will remember VR.
so, VR and his prodige sharing the same negative opinion of MM simply means nothing at all especially considering this…why is MM still racing if the great VR says he shouldn’t be? VR is still, and forever more will be, the king of MotoGP insn’t he?
-i was just told above that i shouldnt post opinions and “i think” stuff and that i shold research everything instead “but pages like this are full of “I think” people”.
-how do you know what others are thinking and why aren’t they saying what’s on their minds?
dangerous is the sport and dirty is what many of the riders say (about the competition) after their race has ended.
a lot of MotoGP riders had great success in the absencse of MM. easy street. ‘i think’ a lot of those same riders and more would thoroughly love to see MM gone for selfish reasons.
Zarco ‘was’ a super dirty rider in my opinion (not lately so much at all). i’m guessing he just gave up trying to win at any cost. i’m sure many riders of the sport of racing have named many other riders dirty after having unpleasant encounters.
it’s funny how some riders actions are “that’s just racing” and some riders actions are “he’s dirty and should be banned”. broken record.
“dethroned and bitter is how i will remember VR”
Unfortunately – exactly. How he let MM into his head that bad and threw away his last shot at a championship,which he had in the bag, in such spectacular fashion – incredible.
Very well-reasoned take overall. It’s hard to think of a world champion (MotoGP or F1) that has not had their moments. MAYBE Prost kept his Gallic nose clean, I don’t remember – even he probably had a Moment or two. Obviously Senna did, and Schumacher, and certainly as you point out VR….
He seems to be maturing.
““…if I hadn’t given up at the right time, I, Pecco, or maybe both of us would have crashed. In turn 10 I felt the blow on my arm and leg—at that moment you can crash alone or take your opponent to the ground as well. I lifted the bike, lost the position, but got 20 points.”
Wisdom.”
Kevin Cameron is one of the sagest observers of the sport ever. Feel free to argue with him if you must, however.
https://www.cycleworld.com/motorcycle-racing/jerez-motogp-race-report-2024/
Mick – you’re a dick.
Like I haven’t heard before, since the third grade. It’s been a while though.
I’ve never had a hero so I don’t understand the mentality. Obviously some people don’t like others making negative comments about their heroes.
I still suit up and race from time to time and have for decades in several different disciplines. If I see or hear about a racer who makes contact with other racers far more often than average, I reserve the right to form a negative opinion of them.
MM is the motorcycle version of Dale Earnhardt. Fortunately the only person Dale killed was himself. But he should have been banned because it could easily have been someone else.
I don’t know about banned but I’ve always wished there were a rule that stated if a rider egregiously took down another rider, the rider who caused the crash have their fortunes tied to their victim. Victim DNF + no points = aggressor DNF + no points. Victim out for the rest of the season injured, aggressor out for the same period.
Things would clean up really fast.
Interesting sprint. MM ping ponging off the field as usual to get back to the front. At least there were 2 bikes racing in the main event.
“Are you NOT ENTERTAINED!?!?!”
There were a couple of passes, racing action..
Does anyone else find it concerning that 30% of the field failed to finish both days?
I think the carnage during the sprint race was way more than the full race on sunday. “wet spots”, “damp patches”, were the talk of everyone after the race. MM93 attributed his fall to being 4″ off the race line, and hitting one. using pause during the sprint, one could easily see them about the track. One corner alone took out 5-6 riders.
Mayhem seems to work for the Japanese. A Yamaha in P5 and a few Hondas mid pack. Sunday not so much. Six Japanese bike finish in the last six spots. That’s gotta be crushing those guys.
joe b, seemed to be the same number of DNF’s in both races, spread across a longer duration in the 2nd race, obviously.
It seems Bagnaia figured out how not to fall down into Marquez, when passing him. There is hope for him yet.