Marc Marquez won the Motegi sprint and main race, closing the championship gap to two points. Late penalties in the sprint promoted Diogo Moreira to second, while Martin struggled with fuel management in the main race.
Jorge Martin won the MotoGP Americas GP sprint in Austin, celebrating with a wheelie on the in-lap that ended in a crash but left him unharmed; the victory ended his 500+ day drought since his 2024 title, and he credited Aprilia and his recovery from winter injuries as he looks ahead to tomorrow's race.
Jorge Martin clinched the 2024 MotoGP world championship, becoming the first independent rider since 2001 to win the title, after a season marked by both his stellar performance and Pecco Bagnaia's errors. Martin's consistency and ability to manage bad days were key to his victory, despite Bagnaia's numerous race wins and technical issues. The championship was a testament to Martin's skill and resilience, as he prepares to take the number one plate to Aprilia in 2025.
Pecco Bagnaia emerged as the 2023 MotoGP world champion after an incredible title fight with Jorge Martin. The season was filled with significant moments, including Bagnaia's dominant start in Portugal, Vinales taking out Bagnaia in France, Martin's victory in Germany, Martin's penalty in Austria, Bagnaia's crash in Barcelona, mistakes by both riders in India and Indonesia, Martin's last-lap disaster in Australia, a "bad tyre" for Martin in Qatar, and Martin's collision with Marc Marquez in the final race. Bagnaia ultimately secured his second title with a dramatic win.
Valentino Rossi, the nine-time World Champion, is present in the paddock as Pecco Bagnaia and Jorge Martin compete for the MotoGP Championship title in the season finale.
MotoGP riders, including title hopeful Jorge Martin, are criticizing the tyre pressure rules implemented mid-season, claiming that it is already affecting the quality of races and could lead to a "big disaster" in 2024. The rule, aimed at preventing tyre failures, requires riders to start with different pressures depending on their race strategy. However, riders argue that it limits their ability to showcase their potential and puts immense pressure on engineers. MotoGP plans to remove first-offence warnings next year, potentially leading to exclusions from races for tyre pressure breaches. Riders are calling for a reevaluation of the rule to preserve the racing style.
Marco Bezzecchi dominated both Practice sessions at the Assen TT, pipping Championship rival Jorge Martin for the top spot. Jack Miller rounded out the top 3. Francesco Bagnaia struggled in Practice 1 but improved in Practice 2 to finish in the top 4. Maverick Viñales finished in 5th place, while Fabio Quartararo took 6th. Marc Marquez crashed and failed to make the Q2 cut. Johann Zarco also failed to secure a place in Q2.
Ducati dominated the MotoGP race at Sachsenring, with the top five finishers riding the Italian company's Desmosedicis. This was the first time a MotoGP manufacturer monopolised the top five since Honda ruled the 2003 Brazilian Grand Prix. Ducati also had eight bikes in the top nine, surrounding one KTM in sixth. The race was the first time a premier-class GP finished without a single Japanese motorcycle finishing inside the top ten in fifty-four years. Jorge Martin won the race, his first GP win since August 2021, and the first time a Ducati had triumphed at Sachsenring since Casey Stoner won the rain-soaked 2008 German Grand Prix.