Written by Finn Glover, Edited by Vyas Ponnuri
MotoGP heads to the paradise of Australia's Phillip Island this weekend, one of the season's most anticipated and exciting races. One of the longest-serving races on the calendar, who will conquer the island, and be victorious in the state of Victoria?
Throwback: Australian Grand Prix 2023
There's only one way to describe last year's outing in Australia; chaos. It was Jorge Martin who claimed pole in qualifying, beating KTM's Brad Binder by over 0.4 seconds, with a sensational lap. That was Saturday morning, and on Saturday afternoon, typically, the sprint was expected to take place.
Yet, Sunday's weather was forecast to be extremely inclement. With gale-force winds and hammering rain, the chances of Sunday’s race taking place were slim. So, instead of hosting the sprint, Saturday afternoon would play host to the main race.
It was the first Saturday race since the Dutch TT 2015, and Martin led them off the line, scurrying off into the distance. The battles raged relentlessly behind, with Di Giannantonio leading the chasing pack behind Martin and Binder.
Then Di Giannantonio got through, but the real cause for concern was the other Pramac, Johann Zarco. The Frenchman was on a charge, and found himself in second going into the final lap.
And, to add more drama, Martin's tyres were dropping off significantly, and he was falling into the clutches of a four-bike train closing in quickly. Heading onto the last lap, the gap was nothing, and Zarco lunged for the lead at the Miller hairpin.
Bagnaia also sneaked through on his championship rival, relegating Martin to third, before Di Giannantonio pulled off a ludicrous move at the Hayshed to claim the final spot on the podium. Martin eventually plummeted to fifth, having been in such a glorious position for most of the race.
But, it was the fairytale ending for the other Pramac. Zarco claimed his first-ever MotoGP win, narrowly beating Bagnaia to the line. Di Giannantonio claimed his maiden podium in third, capitalising on Martin's failure, in what proved to be a crucial turning point for the championship.
Round 16: Japanese Grand Prix
In the latest chapter of MotoGP's twisting and turning championship fight, Motegi proved to be a magnificent round for Bagnaia, who claimed both the sprint and race victory, after a disappointing last few rounds.
Yet, sensationally, it was the rookie Acosta who claimed pole, after Motegi master Marc Marquez's lap was deleted.
The rookie battled his way to the front after a tough start in the sprint, remarkably passing two factory Ducati's on a satellite KTM. Yet, it all came crashing down at turn seven on lap 7, with Bagnaia inheriting the lead cruelly from a distraught Acosta.
He went on to win, albeit at a narrow margin. Yet the real battle was behind. Bastianini and Marquez somehow stayed on their bikes as they barged and banged for second place, with the Ducati Lenovo rider ultimately coming out on top.
The main race was a simpler story. In gloomy conditions, Bagnaia scuffled with Acosta at turn one, with Bagnaia leading ahead of two KTM bikes. Ultimately, he never looked back. The Ducati horde of the likes of Marquez and Martin barraged through, with their competitors falling, literally and metaphorically.
Martin inched closer to Bagnaia but could ultimately never challenge the Ducati rider, who was victorious in a perfect weekend. They led home a Ducati top five, with Marquez completing another all-Ducati podium.
After some Motegi madness, the championship top five is as follows:
1- Jorge Martin (Pramac) 392 Points
2- Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo) 382 Points
3- Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo) 313 Points
4- Marc Marquez (Gresini) 311 Points
5- Brad Binder (KTM) 183 Points
The Track
Arguably MotoGP's most visually stunning track, the gorgeous Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit is a fan favourite, if not THE favourite. With lush greenery and vivid blue seas as a backdrop, the 12 turns and 2.764 miles of surface are a pleasure to ride and view.
Featuring long looping corners suited for overtaking, heavy braking zones and a reasonably narrow racing line, the track blends challenge and simplicity to produce fabulous races year after year.
Whether it's a low-flying seagull or a bouncing wallaby, the challenges of Phillip Island aren't limited to the track itself. Alongside the animals, the early spring weather of Eastern Australia also poses an unpredictable challenge.
It is truly one of MotoGP's gems, and a race weekend fans and riders anticipate all season long.
A battle for first and third in the championship. Four races remaining. A Phillip Island weekend to look forward to. What else could you want? MotoGP is in an unbelievable position right now, so what are you doing if you're missing it?
There’s always a bit of unpredictability in this part of the season. With another Asian double header to follow, expect fatigue and stamina to play a big part.
148 points are theoretically up for grabs, and with a championship pendulum swinging each weekend, anything could happen. Upon its return, the island has produced two unbelievable races. What will 2024 have in store? Tune in to find out.
The race starts at 2 pm track time (4 am BST) on Sunday. Yet, it'll be worth the early wake-up call for anyone not near Australia.
Comments