The exciting outcome of the MotoGP World Championship in 2024 has two clear protagonists and a VIP guest. Marc Márquez, who once again unleashed all his magic in the Australian GP to come back from 13th place in the first corner to victory on the finish line, does not plan to waste the tension of the fight for the title to take advantage and continue expanding a legendary track record. Also his smile. The eight-time world champion, perhaps not from the position expected, is being the most uncomfortable rival of Jorge Martín and Pecco Bagnaia, the contenders engaged in an infinite duel for the crown since last year.
At Phillip Island both Márquez and Martín won. The first, swelling with confidence with a recital of overtaking despite having a motorcycle from the previous year: the entire grid fears, deep down, the level of the 93 already recovered and with the latest evolution of Ducati in its hands; the second, showing off his evolution on and off the track: he had the guts to fight for the win, but knew how to surrender to the greater pace and ease of the Catalan, using a calculator and careful management over the weekend, avoiding overtaking the limit and kiss the asphalt. Those same virtues were enough for the Italian last year.
A great Saturday and a Sunday ahead of the number one defender is all he needed, a result that allows him to maintain the lead where he did not have it last year. At this point, Martín came out 13 points behind Bagnaia in 2023. Now he is 20 points ahead of him. The dynamics of the course have not been the same, and the Spaniard has commanded the general classification after Sundays in 15 of the 17 events held, filing his innate speed and explosiveness characteristics in order to round out his piloting and blend in with the best characteristics of the enemy.
“It’s the same as always: when I go first, Pecco is second. When he goes first, I go second. I think that the level that we are showing every weekend, without getting off the podium, I don’t know if I’ve been 24 this year, it’s amazing,” the Pramac driver commented to DAZN. In fact, he has 26 of a possible 34 counting the sprints, capable of extracting his maximum potential almost every weekend. The man from Madrid has crashed three times in the race, compared to seven times for the Turin native, who was somewhat more affected in battles with other drivers. Luck, rather bad luck, can also be a decisive factor.
In this sense, Martín has shown differential restraint in the face of the brutal attacks of Enea Bastianini in Emilia-Romagna and that of Marc Márquez himself in Australia. He knew how to give in in time to avoid falling and signing two lethal zeros in the fight for the championship. Although both maneuvers hurt him in the heat of battle, the results prove him right now. The important thing is to stay ahead of Bagnaia, no matter what. “Now we are going to two circuits that I really like,” warns the Italian. However, in Thailand, the next stop, it was Martín who achieved a full score of points last year. The same result would give him a decisive push and would even give him a mathematical chance of being champion in Malaysia.
From those around the Spaniard, they think that being able to have a match ball in Sepang, two weeks from now, could be key to avoiding the enormous weight of another all or nothing in Valencia. Although Ricardo Tormo is a more inclined circuit for Martín, the truth is that Bagnaia has sealed his two consecutive crowns on the Spanish track. “We have to be close, because we know that the potential to win exists,” concluded the Italian, unable to dominate the table despite having surpassed his record of victories in one year: eight on Sundays and six on Saturdays, 21 podiums of 34 possible. The third place was his limit at Phillip Island and the frustration of being ten seconds behind the winner, who will be his next teammate and will challenge his status as leader at Ducati, was more than evident. Normal among elite competitors.
Marc Márquez, asked about his possible status as a World Cup judge, was blunt on the matter. “Each one makes his career and has seen it. I tried to win, as has happened in the past. You always try to get the most out of it,” said the eight-time world champion. In fact, the 93 sees an opportunity to continue adding thanks to everything that is at stake between the two fastest drivers on the grid today: “Jorge had more to lose than me, and that has also helped me a little” .
In the three remaining weekends, the fear of losing may outweigh the desire to win. Equality is maximum, and every small detail will be decisive. “Each track is a world, everything happens and it’s like starting from scratch,” Martín summarized. Bagnaia, for his part, is betting on another resolution in Valencia. There are six finals left.
