Written by Finn Glover, Edited by Meghana Sree
After unimaginable floods tore through Spain’s Valencia region, it means that it is unfortunately not possible to race the season finale at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo. Yet, in the face of tragedy, MotoGP chooses to race on.
The season finale will now be held at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, for the Solidarity Grand Prix. It will be a momentous weekend; if only for one reason. The title fight that has engrossed us all will finally be decided this weekend. Jorge Martin vs Francesco Bagnaia. Let the battle commence!
Throwback: 2024 Grand Prix of Catalunya
Unsurprisingly, this is the first rendition of the Solidarity Grand Prix. But, it will be held at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, the home of the Catalan Grand Prix.
Earlier this year, the circuit played host to one of the most dramatic weekends in 2024; an exciting omen for this weekend’s action. Just after announcing his retirement, Aleix Espargaro claimed an unbelievable pole followed by a surprising sprint win in a superb Saturday for the local hero.
Yet, he only won the sprint after three leaders shockingly crashed out individually. Pedro Acosta and Bagnaia scuffled for the lead early on, before Trackhouse’s Raul Fernandez joined the party and sensationally claimed the lead after launching a move on Acosta at Turn 5.
Yet, just a lap later his fairytale came to an end, at Turn 10. Binder then took over the lead, until he too crashed out.
That meant championship protagonist Bagnaia was seemingly on course to an unexpected victory, until he dramatically crashed out on the final lap, at Turn 5. That meant, after all the chaos, Espargaro would waltz into victory lane, after 12 laps of absolute madness.
The main race was a bit calmer, with redemption for Bagnaia who claimed a wondrous win in the Spanish heat. At the beginning, it was him, Martin and Acosta scuffling for the lead; with the homeboy Martin coming out on top and leading the majority of the race.
With just six laps to go, Bagnaia seized his initiative and launched it at Turn 5, claiming the lead and ultimately the win.
Yet the performance of the day came from Gresini’s Marc Marquez, clambering from 14th to third on a GP23 Ducati – replicating a performance not dissimilar from his old Honda dominant days.
Round 19: Grand Prix of Malaysia
To finish off the gruelling Asian leg, MotoGP headed to the scintillating Sepang International Circuit, in what turned out to be one of the most epic, extraordinary, and championship defining weekends in recent history.
The top two in the championship were the top two on the grid. Bagnaia and Martin were in a class of their own, ready to duke it out in the steamy heat of Sepang. Yet in the sprint, the duel didn’t last long. On just lap three, Bagnaia threw it all away, crashing at Turn 9 and losing grip of the championship trophy.
And that was all Martin needed to speed off into the distance, gathering a 29 point lead heading into Sunday. That meant it was all or nothing for Bagnaia, he had to win and beat Martin to keep his championship hopes alive.
And oh boy did he fight for it. After a red flagged start following an awful crash with the KTM team and Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo, the next restart proved to be one of MotoGP’s best ever battles. They had between each other a total of 17 passes for the lead in the space of three ludicrous laps.
Sometimes a simple launch up the inside, other times a divebomb from absolutely nowhere. It was truly, and undeniably, MotoGP at its finest. Bagnaia was the gladiator who won what was the duel of the decade.
Elbow to elbow and wheel to wheel, it has painted the picture beautifully, and who knows, maybe this could be recreated in Barcelona?
The race began to simmer down, allowing us to catch our breath. Marquez crashed out on lap seven, and the battles roared on behind, but that didn’t change the outcome at the front. Bagnaia kept his championship hopes just about alive, winning the race.
Martin now has a 24 point advantage with 37 points to play for. To win this championship for a third year consecutively, Bagnaia needs just about all the luck he can get.
After a good old Sepang showdown, the championship top five is as follows:
1 - Jorge Martin (Pramac) 485 Points
2 - Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo) 461 Points
3 - Marc Marquez (Gresini) 369 Points
4 - Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo) 368 Points
5 - Pedro Acosta (GASGAS Tech3 KTM) 209 Points
The Track
Of course we would have loved to have been racing at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo, but, from a neutral perspective, the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya offers a lot more overtaking and action points than Valencia normally would. This year, it proved its quality producing one of the finest weekends of the season.
The 2.894 mile, 14-turn circuit is a world away from MotoGP’s last five outings in Eastern Asia. Regularly used, average temperatures, and a place of comfort and knowledge for the majority of riders, it is very different to what the riders have recently been used to.
And add in a bit of season finale frenzy, then you’ve got an absolute barnstormer of a race lined up for you.
The track has a plethora of long looping corners with multiple lines, mixed in with the occasional long straights and heavy braking zones. These factors blend to provide an action packed, drama fueled track bolstered with plenty of overtaking opportunities.
It is also a track which punishes mistakes, often being a race defined by who makes the least errors in the heat and haze of its usual summer slot.
But all this knowledge can practically be thrown out the window, with the Solidarity Grand Prix being held in a completely different season to the usual Catalan race. It adds extra uncertainty to what is a boiling hot flame ready to explode.
After 20 races, 15 countries, nearly 1000 laps of racing and countless miles ridden, MotoGP has finally reached its season finale. 248 days ago in the haze of the Qatari desert, Martin claimed a dominant sprint victory at Lusail. And he will certainly be looking to replicate that this weekend.
For Bagnaia, it is do or die. If Martin outscores Bagnaia by two points on Saturday, the championship is over. He needs a perfect weekend, and maybe a bit of misfortune on Martin’s side. But, as this season has told, expect the unexpected, and expect heaps of drama along with on track action.
The battle for third is also revving up, with Marquez and Enea Bastianini separated by just one point.
By Sunday, we will have a champion crowned. Will it be Bagnaia, claiming a tremendous third consecutive championship and doing Ducati proud?
Or will it be Martin, possibly the anti-hero in this story, after announcing his departure from the Ducati camp to run off to Aprilia for 2025? After coming so close last year, he is looking for retribution, and looking to win his first ever championship.
Last year, it was Bagnaia in the position to lose heading into Valencia. This year, he’s doing the chasing. As MotoGP heads to Barcelona, will he be able to hunt down the ultimate prize, the MotoGP Championship?
It’s time to sign off the season in style, and produce a race to make Valencia proud.
Tune in, don’t miss it. MotoGP: The Finale. 1pm GMT. Who will take the crown?
Comments