There isn’t a denying that Jorge Martin’s MotoGP triumph in 2024 was constructed on consistency. No different rider was in a position to end on the rostrum week-in, week-out just like the Pramac Ducati man.
However whereas Martin’s capability to persistently ship these top-three outcomes in the end gained him the large prize, there have been additionally some standout moments that should not be missed when recapping his title-winning marketing campaign.
The Spaniard constructed a considerable lead within the championship within the early a part of the season and, whereas it ebbed and flowed because the yr went on, he was virtually all the time on the entrance foot.
In reality, Martin led the championship after 17 of the 20 rounds in 2024, regardless of his rival successful 11 of the 20 grands prix on the manufacturing unit Ducati this yr, and scoring seven extra wins in sprints. Martin knew when to strike, and he struck effectively.
Martin dominates in Portugal as Bagnaia tangles with Marquez
Martin’s storming Portuguese GP victory noticed him seize the factors lead he’d solely briefly lose all season
Photograph by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Photos
Bagnaia had drawn first blood in 2024 by defeating Martin in a straight duel to win the Qatar Grand Prix. It was vital for Martin to answer the defending champion subsequent outing in Portugal – and so he did.
Grabbing the higher hand in qualifying, Martin first closed the factors hole to the highest with a run to 3rd within the dash, as Bagnaia ended up fourth after making a expensive error whereas within the lead.
Then, in the primary grand prix, Martin introduced his A-game to Portimao as he led all 25 laps after seizing the lead at the beginning. Nobody may put any problem to the Spaniard, who in the end gained by just below a second.
Bagnaia was unfortunate to be caught up in a collision with Gresini’s Marc Marquez and endure his first retirement of 2024. However the truth stays that he was circulating in fifth place – and was on the verge of dropping to sixth – whereas Martin was main out entrance.
Crucially, the Portimao weekend gave Martin a wholesome 18-point lead within the championship, setting the tone for the remainder of the season.
Defeating Bagnaia at Le Mans supplies a breakthrough second
Martin makes a breakthrough by beating Bagnaia in a straight struggle at Le Mans
Photograph by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Photos
Martin’s subsequent grand prix victory was of even better significance. At Le Mans, the Spaniard was the quickest rider in each session that counted: pole place in qualifying, dominant within the dash and the triumphant winner in the primary race, the place he got here on high in a straight struggle with Bagnaia.
It was Bagnaia who nailed the beginning from second on the grid to seize the holeshot into Flip 1, however Martin merely bided his time behind him till making the decisive move with six laps to go. He held off Bagnaia over the subsequent few laps, till the Italian was demoted to 3rd by Marquez.
Whereas the sight of Bagnaia main Martin over the end line would develop into a typical incidence within the latter a part of the season, this victory demonstrated that Martin can outduel the two-champion when he’s at his prime – even in a Sunday race.
Bouncing again into the factors lead after his important German GP fall
Martin confirmed no ill-effects from his Sachsenring tumble by successful after the summer season break at Silverstone
Photograph by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Photos
A lot was made from Martin’s crash from the lead of the German Grand Prix. Very similar to Le Mans, Martin had been the standout rider on the Sachsenring and was on target to finish a clear sweep of victories that weekend till he dropped his Ducati on the penultimate lap of the primary race. Critics cited the error – the second such mistake of the yr after Jerez – as an indication that he hadn’t realized from his title defeat to Bagnaia in 2023.
Having misplaced the championship in Germany, crucially simply earlier than the summer season break, it was argued that the DNF was going to be a serious psychological blow for Martin.
However when the season resumed at Silverstone after a month-long break, the 26-year-old displayed each maturity and dedication to wrestle again the factors lead that he was satisfied belonged to him. A brand new element on his Ducati, which he hadn’t used earlier than regardless of being normal on different GP24s, was additionally launched to assist lower down on crashes.
Within the dash, Martin instantly grabbed the lead from Bagnaia, who went on to retire with a lap 4 crash. Then, in the primary race, it was once more Martin who completed forward of the 2, though the race was gained by Bastianini on the opposite manufacturing unit GP24.
For all of the speak of Martin having given away essential factors to Bagnaia within the title race, he was again on the high of the championship in only one weekend’s time.
Martin banks factors at Aragon as Bagnaia clashes with the opposite Marquez
Bagnaia’s crash with Alex Marquez gave a helpful factors benefit on the Aragon GP
Photograph by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Photos
The Aragon GP is usually remembered for Marquez’s comeback victory in MotoGP on a Ducati. However that race in Spain additionally performed an important position in tilting the championship in Martin’s favour.
Martin was no match to Marquez in low-grip circumstances all weekend, however he settled for second when victory was out of attain. That meant he got here away with a wholesome tally of 29 factors from a weekend most of 37. His rival, in the meantime, scored only one solitary level.
Bagnaia hinted at a defective tyre for his dismal droop to ninth within the dash, whereas a collision with Alex Marquez took him out of the primary race. He had simply grabbed third place after a poor begin had left him within the decrease reaches of the highest 10.
Bagnaia had beforehand retaken the lead within the championship with victory in Austria, however Aragon put Martin again forward on the leaderboard. He was by no means headed within the standings once more.
Martin repairs harm of rain gamble in second Misano spherical
A chance pitting early for rain didn’t repay, however Martin recovered his losses within the return to Misano
Photograph by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Photos
Martin had made a blunder within the first Misano race by pitting for the moist bike when the primary drops of rain started to fall on observe. A full bathe by no means materialised and he was pressured to return to the pits and swap again to his main dry-weather bike, leaving him a season-worst fifteenth. His snug 23-point lead had come down to only seven factors.
However his response within the second Misano occasion was similar to one which adopted his crash out of the lead at Sachsenring.
Each Martin and Bagnaia’s team-mate Bastianini have been in a position to draw back from the chasing pack instantly, participating in their very own duel on the entrance. Martin did lose out on victory after Bastianini pressured him off the observe on the ultimate lap, however second place was nonetheless essential for his championship hopes.
That was as a result of Bagnaia crashed one more time whereas operating behind Martin on observe, handing the latter an prolonged 24-point lead within the championship.
Redemption in Indonesia permits Martin to take a agency maintain in title struggle
Redemption a yr on in Indonesia made Martin an enormous favorite for the title run-in
Photograph by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Photos
Martin’s victory within the Indonesian GP was vital in additional methods than one. Precisely 12 months prior, he had crashed out of the lead throughout an important stage of the 2023 title run-in, simply when the momentum was constructing in his favour. So successful in Mandalika was nothing wanting redemption.
Secondly, Martin had gone winless because the French GP in Might, having given away a simple win in Sachsenring and misplaced first place to Bastianini in Misano II.
It took one other error, within the dash race the place Martin lowsided out of the lead on the opening lap, however when he lastly stood on the highest step in a grand prix once more, he did so in fashion. Main out entrance from pole, the Spaniard resisted strain from KTM rookie Pedro Acosta within the center portion of the race, earlier than extending his result in win by 1.4s.
Bagnaia lacked the tempo to problem the rostrum runners all all through the race and was fortunate to complete third, 5.5s off the lead, after his team-mate Bastianini fell simply 4 laps from the end.
Bagnaia crashes (once more) in Malaysian to present Martin match level
One other expensive crash within the Malaysian dash race left Bagnaia with an excessive amount of to do
Photograph by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Photos
Championships are sometimes determined within the penultimate spherical of a season and it will be truthful to say that the occasions of Sepang performed into Martin’s fingers.
Whereas it was Bagnaia who claimed pole place, Martin instantly seized the lead within the dash to place strain on his title rival. With a factors deficit to beat, and Marquez closing within the distance, Bagnaia dropped his bike at Flip 7 and crashed out of the race.
Martin went on to take his seventh dash win of the yr and lengthen his result in 29 factors. From there, it was all the time going to be a tough activity for Bagnaia to displace him from the highest.
Martin overcomes nerves to seal title at rescheduled finale
The Spaniard overcame crippling nerves to seal a primary MotoGP world title
Photograph by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Photos
Whereas Martin did present indicators of nervousness in Barcelona as he inched nearer to the title, he did not put a foot unsuitable all weekend. Such was his lead within the championship that he may end as little as ninth within the race, however his technique was clear and wise – he’d purpose for the rostrum, however not chase Bagnaia for the win.
When it comes to tempo, it was definitely an off weekend for the Spaniard. In follow, he was the fourth-fastest rider at finest and that is the place he completed in qualifying, lacking out on the entrance row for the primary time since his crash in Motegi. However it nonetheless put him in a robust place for the remainder of the spherical.
Third place within the dash, after a last-lap move by Bastianini, and third within the grand prix, weren’t by any means his finest outcomes of 2024. However it was greater than sufficient for him to raise the title and depart the Ducati fold as a MotoGP world champion.
A pair of third locations within the Barcelona finale was greater than sufficient to seal the title
Photograph by: Dorna
