Let's Talk MotoGP: It Was the Best Race of the Year

Every year, the question arises: what was the best MotoGP race? And in 2024, answering this question is harder than it seems, especially because no round of this year was memorable. Are you ready? Let's go!

 

Some great races

 

What is striking, when studying this campaign, is the proportion of average races to good ones. Indeed, many were completely crushed by the four main players of this year, namely, Jorge Martin, Pecco Bagnaia, Marc Marquez and Enea Bastianini. Ducati's dominance coupled with Aprilia's drop in form after the first third of the season did not help in creating lasting memories. As I said before, I don't think 2024 will go down in history.

 

 

Let's mention a few nice contests, but which I didn't keep. Note that I'm only talking about Sunday races here. Chronologically, the Grand Prix of the Americas was not bad, quite lively at first. Marc Marquez's fall contributed to the dramatic dimension, it should be noted. But in the end, Vinales won with more than two seconds in advance, it wasn't very close. The French GP was okay, with the battle for second place between Marquez and Bagnaia, but once again, Martin was never really worried, even in the final moments. I liked the Sachsenring, with the fall of the "Martinator" which made me get up from my seat, but the twenty-some laps before were hardly lively. The British Grand Prix, with Bastianini's victory, was also quite tasty.

The scenario of the first Grand Prix held at Misano was enjoyable; the rain helps to create great moments of tension. The problem is that the outcome was decided quite early, a posteriori. I could have included the Malaysian GP in my top 2, yes, but the huge battle between the two main leaders of the championship did not last long enough to be significant. It was very beautiful nonetheless.

 

The two elected officials

 

My criteria, although subjective, are quite precise. For a race to please me, there must be a close battle, also and above all, tension. It is necessary that it involves major players, and not drivers who usually play for fifteenth place. In short, I like it when something happens, when a moment is created, and sometimes, this involves falls.

So I isolated two sleeves. The first, which is not my favorite, is none other than the Australian Grand Prix.. Phillip Island is always magical, as it forces our heroes to surpass themselves. In a sumptuous setting, it is easier to mark memories. This confrontation between Jorge Martin and Marc Marquez, thanks to the latter, was beautiful because he was also symbolice. It was not Marquez's first victory in 2024 – it might have moved him into first place – but it was certainly his least circumstantial triumph. Martin, in the midst of a title fight, had to make no mistakes on a track that had betrayed him the year before.

 

 

The only problem was that Bagnaia, the other protagonist, was never in the game. He rode on the defensive, without any real ability to impose himself. The Italian still finished ten seconds behind. Then, Marquez's overtaking of Martin didn't shock me.

 

An anthology race

 

My chosen one, as you may have guessed, took place on Spanish soil, in Jerez de la Frontera. This clash of titans between Marc Marquez and Pecco Bagnaia, two of the most crowned drivers of the 21st century, was as symbolic as it was grandiose. I enjoyed it because the context added tension; the two had clashed in Portugal two races earlier! Bagnaia, always clinical and very clean – remember that double overtake at the end of the back straight –, did not let himself be intimidated. Marquez, at home, had the first chance to play for victory on Ducati. Jorge Martin seemed very fast, but he crashed. It's a shame, but it added spice.

It was unbreathable, on a track MotoGP no less legendary than Phillip Island. Bagnaia won the race by just three tenths, less than what separated Marquez from Martin in Australia.

In my opinion, she was still not at the level of 2023 Thai Grand Prix or 2022 San Marino Grand Prix, my favorite races of these respective years. It remains nonetheless a great vintage.

I'm curious to hear your thoughts on this. Which race left the biggest impression on you in 2024? Tell me in the comments!

As a reminder, this article only reflects the thoughts of its author, and not of the entire editorial team.

 

 

Cover photo: Michelin Motorsport