Written by Finn Glover, Edited by Vyas Ponnuri
Aragon isn’t gone any more! After a year's absence in 2023, the much-loved Motorland Aragon circuit returns to the MotoGP calendar. A track that often produces close finishes; what will Aragon pose in terms of this super-tight championship fight?
Grand Prix of Aragon: 2022
In 2022, it was Enea Bastianini reigning supreme in a dramatic and incredibly close race in the searing Spanish heat. He beat fellow Italian Francesco Bagnaia by just 0.042 seconds, after completing a daring last lap move into turn seven.
The race did however prove crucial in the championship fight that season, with Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo being clattered by the returning Marc Marquez on Lap 1, turning the momentum in the eventual championship winner, Bagnaia’s, favour. Also on lap 1, Marquez hit Japanese rider Takaaki Nakagami on the run to turn 8, sending him into a nasty accident resulting in him missing many races.
In a less Ducati-dominated season, Aragon was a track where they did show their strength. Now, in 2024, a season largely dominated by the Italian supremo, those past signs may prove ominous to the other manufacturers.
Round 11: Austria
It was a Spielberg blockbuster by Bagnaia last time out, claiming both the sprint and race victory by a sizable margin, putting himself back on top of the championship.
Jorge Martin led from early on in the main race, yet heading onto lap 2, Bagnaia breezed past into turn one. The pair tussled for the first few laps, until Bagnaia rocketed off into the distance, never looking back.
The same story can be corroborated for the sprint. After an enticing first few lap tussle, Martin made a mistake and skipped the chicane, provoking a long-lap penalty and ultimately making him fall out of contention.
The damage was however limited by Marc Marquez, who crashed whilst running in 2nd in the sprint. He also ran wide at turn one on lap one of the main race, dropping him out of the higher points finishes. A battling recovery did catapult him back to 4th, but it was still a disappointing weekend for the champion.
Bastianini also continued his fine form, getting a P4 and P3 in the sprint and race respectively, keeping himself in championship contention.
The championship top 5 following Austria is as follows:
P1- Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati) 275 Points
P2- Jorge Martin (Pramac Ducati) 270 Points
P3- Enea Bastianini (Ducati) 214 Points
P4- Marc Marquez (Gresini) 192 Points
P5- Maverick Vinales (Aprilia) 139 Points
The Track
A favourite amongst fans and riders alike, the Aragon circuit is fast, flowing and a challenging prospect for the riders. Nestled in North Eastern Spain near the town of Alcaniz, Aragon’s remote location along with searing weather makes it a physical challenge also.
The track is 3.155 miles long, made up of 16 challenging corners and two very long straights. Often, the races come down to the very last corner, with a long straight leading into a vast, multi-lined corner where potentially anything could happen.
The track is noticeably undulating, with the track filled with dramatic gradient changes. One part in particular is the turns eight-nine corkscrew-esque sequence, where the riders plummet a few metres downhill, whilst dealing with a challenging change of direction.
Jorge Martin versus Pecco Bagnaia seems to be the obvious thing to watch this weekend. With the championship contenders perched by five points, one mistake or one overtake could have vital implications, with just seven races remaining after this weekend.
But, one to watch this weekend is the man himself, Marc Marquez. With six wins at Aragon, he knows this track like the back of his hand, and certainly knows how to win. And it has to be said, this may be his best chance to win since that race in 2021, at Misano.
And it’s a track where home knowledge may prove vital, with nine out of 14 races at Aragon won by Spaniards in the past.
So will it be Marquez’s return to glory at his home race? Or perhaps someone unexpected may steal the glory? But one thing is for certain, is that we are guaranteed another twist in this dramatic championship fight. What will it be? Tune in at 1 pm BST to find out.
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