At the final winners’ ceremony for the 2024 MotoGP season, two-time world champion Francesco Bagnaia stood on the podium — alongside Marc Marquez and Jorge Martin — after winning the Solidarity Grand Prix in Barcelona, Spain. The Italian anthem rang out along the main straight as teams and spectators watched the top three riders one last time this year.
But there was a big, bright smile on Martin’s face, even though he was on the third step. Everyone knew what that meant. The Spaniard, who started from fourth place, achieved what he set out to achieve at the start of this season. After 20 thrilling races, Martin de Prima Pramac was crowned 2024 MotoGP World Champion, 10 points ahead of Bagnaia.
There were joyous celebrations and raw emotions as the 26-year-old crossed the finish line, becoming the first rider from an independent team to win the championship in the modern era of MotoGP. (An independent team, like Prima Pramac Racing, partners with a factory, like Ducati, to use their bikes and technology). Martin kept his cool when it mattered most, putting in a mistake-free weekend to secure his first crown while denying his rival a third in a row.
Jorge Martin in his Martinator avatar. | Photo credit: Getty Images
Jorge Martin in his Martinator avatar. | Photo credit: Getty Images
What began as yet another season of “The Rematch” (a term used to describe a high-stakes showdown between two championship contenders) kept fans in suspense until the very end. A battle between Martin and Bagnaia was always on the cards, especially considering the conclusion of the previous season: Bagnaia clinched his second title with a comfortable lead of 39 points over Martin.
However, since the first round in March, Martin was a man on a mission. He announced his championship challenge with a sprint victory in Qatar, followed by a P3 in the main race. Victory in Portugal in the next round put Martin at the top of the points table, a position he only ceded once to Bagnaia. This time, Martin made sure to protect his lead by working on the one factor he knew had cost him before: consistency.
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His strong suit has always been shorter sprint races, and he has continued that trend, taking seven wins and 10 podiums in 20 races. However, it was his better GP results that strengthened his campaign. Martin appeared on the podium Sunday 15 times – including three race wins – and maintained a critical nine-race points streak, consistently finishing in the top three. But Bagnaia never stopped knocking on his door, taking advantage of every opportunity to pass, or at least attempt to do so.
Close match: The fierce fight between Martin (left) and Bagnaia (right) kept the supporters in suspense until the very end. | Photo credit: Getty Images
Close match: The fierce fight between Martin (left) and Bagnaia (right) kept the fans in suspense until the very end. | Photo credit: Getty Images
Bagnaia won 11 of 20 races, including the penultimate round in Malaysia, to stay in contention. The 27-year-old had a better start to the weekend at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, the replacement venue for Valencia’s Circuit Ricardo Tormo, which was abandoned due to catastrophic flooding in the area. Martin could only qualify fourth, giving the advantage to pole-sitter Bagnaia, who now had two attempts to close the gap to 24 points.
Over the course of 12 laps, Bagnaia’s teammate Enea Bastianini executed a perfectly timed overtake on the final lap to snatch second place from Martin, helping Bagnaia by the narrowest of margins and keeping his hopes alive. However, this bold move may not have only benefited Bagnaia, as Bastianini was also battling Márquez for third place in the championship.
Martin quickly moved up to second place and maintained his pace behind the leader, but Bastianini was often breathing down his neck. He certainly wasn’t expecting a move of this nature on the final lap, but the Pramac driver opted not to engage and settled for third, aware that a tense showdown was still to come .
A title that had eluded him in 2023 was finally in his hands, with Martin giving his team the perfect parting gift. As he prepares to join Aprilia in 2025, the next conquest awaits him: not to hunt down his rival but to defend his crown. | Photo credit: AP
A title that had eluded him in 2023 was finally in his hands, with Martin giving his team the perfect parting gift. As he prepares to join Aprilia in 2025, the next conquest awaits him: not to hunt down his rival but to defend his crown. | Photo credit: AP
On Sunday, when the lights went out, Martin got another good start and found himself behind Bagnaia before being overtaken by Marquez. Ahead of him were the new Ducati duo for the 2025 season – a seat Martin was vying for, which went to the 31-year-old Gresini rider. But at that moment, it didn’t matter. Martin knew he just needed to finish in the top nine, and that’s exactly what he achieved, albeit six places better.
Arriving around the final turn, Martin was overcome with disbelief and ecstasy, finally realizing his dream at the culmination of a 10-year journey marred by injuries and setbacks.
A title that had eluded him in 2023 was finally in his hands, with Martin giving his team the perfect parting gift. As he prepares to join Aprilia in 2025, the next conquest awaits him: not to hunt down his rival but to defend his crown.
