The MotoGP series visited Misano this weekend (the first of two Misano rounds this year). On Saturday, Jorge Martin (Ducati) took the Sprint victory ahead of Pecco Bagnaia (Ducati) in second and Franco Morbidelli (Ducati) in third.
In Sunday’s race, Martin made a crucial error when he pitted for a change to wet tires after a light rain began to fall on the track. Martin was the only rider among the championship points leaders to do so, and he ended up a lap down while the track quickly dried out.
Sunday’s race saw Marc Márquez (Ducati) take another race win ahead of Pecco Bagnaia in second and Enea Bastianini (Ducati) in third.
Martin still has the championship points lead, but it has been narrowed to seven points. 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.
The short rain was too much fun. I was sure that once it dried out, Pecco would overtake Marc. Not sure what happened, but Marc found the magic and started inching away. All MotoGP riders are incredible talents, but a handful of them are obviously from a more advanced planet.
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“Not sure what happened” – I still haven’t figured out why linking to other sites is taboo for some commenters here, but (as usual) (National Treasure) Cameron has the analysis.
https://www.cycleworld.com/motorcycle-racing/misano-motogp-race-report-2024/
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So with all the technology in the end the right call was made with Pecco’s sense of “smell” and Marquez’ good sense to “follow the local guy”. Amazing.
Maybe we really should get rid of all the electronics + aero.
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Maybe Repsol sponsors the factory Ducati team? Anyway, Marc is a stud.
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More bad news for Honda. Repsol is bowing out after 29 years. One might say that is because of the switch to non-fossil fuels in 2027. I would say it might be because Honda used to do it’s battles at the front of the pack and not the back like it’s doing now. A guy has to wonder what’s going on over there. HRCs secret sauce has turned into a watery flaccid mustard. Their dirt bikes are still doing well. But road racing? Not so much. The street bikes have all gotten so horribly lame. Maybe Honda is so focused on modes and automatic transmissions that the idea of making a competent race bike is lost on them. You can’t win a race with a mode. Even if you call it win. Tune in next week when Honda finally releases the holy grail. The 700 pound adventure bike with fifteen modes, a cloud transmission and the 23 inch front wheel of the future! Glorious! BRAWNDOs all around.’s got ‘lectrolytes.
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“You can’t win a race with a mode.”
With the technologies they’re leaning into now, races cannot be completed, let alone won, without different modes. They’d run out of fuel for one..
Honda is still world #1 and the US market never recovered from the 2008 crash so it’s not surprising that they’re not designing for “US”. FWIW, they’ve been trying to get automatic shifting off the ground since the late 60’s and they also invented the seamless shifting gear box that is now ubiquitous in MotoGP. I think everyone is baffled by how lost HRC and Yamaha are in motoGP right now.
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Yamaha seems to be slowly getting with the program. Honda will probably bow out before too long. Their results seem to indicate a lack of commitment. They are throwing guys out on test bikes. But it seems that they are only doing so to prevent the race team from coming in last place.
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Quartararo seems to be making progress but Rins, who has won more recently, is WAY in the back and that guy was deadly with the (believed to be) similar Suzuki.
It would’ve been really interesting if Suzuki had stuck around. I wonder if they would’ve met the same difficulties as the other Japanese makes?
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Rins has had some serious injuries this year and even last year. He’ll ride better if he can get healthy.
Thanks for the explanation Phil, I wasn’t aware that he was riding around injuries.
By the way, MotoE at San Marino was fun to watch.
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“HRCs secret sauce has turned into a watery flaccid mustard”
LOL amazing. I thought of this immediately:
“You’ve got the boomin’ system, but it’s sloshing out doo-doo
You think it’s chocolate milk, but it’s watered down Yoo-hoo”
(Beastie Boys, “Professor Booty”, _Check Your Head_, 1992)
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Fantastic race with some interesting twists. The moment Martin entered the pit lane he looked back to see none of the leaders join him and that shock showed in his body language. As soon as the track surface deteriorated Marc leap ahead showing vastly superior riding skills. Pecco played his cards well settling for runner up. Acosta put up a great effort and once again proved he belongs. I hope Marc can close the points gap over the next three races, it’ll make for a absolutely awesome season ender.
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Super exciting race, lots happening. I am not too optimistic for Marquez. Both of these wins came under somewhat extraordinary circumstances. With things back to “normal” (familiar tracks, weather), the GP23 should fall back in line, making it hard for him to mix with the GP24’s, which have been a level up this year.
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When it got damp, the change in scene at the front of the pack was dramatic as the wet-weather riders stormed forward. That was the most exciting part of the race for sure!
Martin makes just a FEW more mental errors than Pecco, it seems like, and this was an example. If you’re leading a rider in points, ALL you have to do is follow that rider around, no matter what else is happening. Tough day? Lose a couple of points and regroup next time. Or, totally blow it, that’s an option too. LOL.
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And it’s interesting who the wet weather riders are, isn’t it? I think Marquez is just comfortable at the traction limits from his days riding around all of the Honda’s problems.
And yeah, Jorge pitting was a big oopsie.
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See my “Cameron” reply elsewhere in thread. Basically he was figuring this stuff out in Moto 2 to have an advantage. This is how his feel is so beyond….
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