MotoGP Barcelona FP1 LIVE: Takaaki Nakagami opens the show ahead of Pedro Acosta and Alex Marquez

The 2024 Catalan Grand Prix, renamed the Solidarity Grand Prix, is shaping up to be a bumper season finale. Floods in the Valencia region have disrupted the original schedule, forcing organizers to move the event to Barcelona.

Barcelona hosts the final race of the 2024 MotoGP, an event that was originally scheduled to be held in Valencia. The "Dana" storm, which has devastated Spain in recent days, hit the Valencian Community particularly hard, causing more than 200 deaths and many missing. Due to the severe damage and human impact, the Spanish authorities have taken the decision to move the finale to Montmelò. This Grand Prix, now called " Barcelona Solidarity Grand Prix », will highlight various initiatives to raise funds in support of the Valencia region.

It is in this particular context that George Martin tops the world championship with 24 point in advance on Pecco BagnaiaThe latter, to hope to win the title, will not only have to win the race, but also count on a mistake from Martin. If this scenario does not come to fruition, Martin will become MotoGP world champion for the first time before joining Aprilia.

Other battles will also be on the programme, notably for third place in the championship. Marc Marquez, in his last race with Gresini Racing before his departure to Ducati, and Enea Bastianini, who will take the path of KTM next year, are currently fighting for this position, with Marquez in the lead, two points ahead bastianini. In parallel, Marco Bezzecchi (who will leave VR46 Racing Team to join Aprilia) and Franco Morbidelli (who will move to VR46 Racing Team) could also sneak into the top 5.

The coming weekend will also be special for Aprilia, who will see Maverick Vinales et Aleix Espargaró on the RS-GP for the last time. If Casa Particular in Viñales changes course by joining KTM next to bastianini. I will espargaro, this will be the end of his racing career, since he will become a test driver at Honda next year. Only a few wild cards will allow him to return to the track.

At KTM, Peter Acosta, rookie of the year, will look to conclude his brilliant season before joining the official team, alongside Brad Binder. This will also be the last race for Jack Miller on the RC16 before its transfer to Yamaha in 2025, just like for Augusto Fernandez.

Now that the introductions are done, what will this start to the last meeting of the season have in store for us? Before we know, here is the table that summarizes the facts known so far.

MotoGP™ Barcelona, ​​Spain	5-2024	11-2024
FP1	1'39.579 Jorge Martin (See here)	1'40.501 Takaaki Nakagami
Practice	1'38.562 Aleix Espargaro (See here)
FP2	1'39.294 Aleix Espargaro (See here)
Q1	1'38.208 Fabio Di Giannantonio (See here)
Q2	1'38.190 Aleix Espargaro (See here)
Sprint	Espargaro, Marc Marquez, Acosta (See here)
Warm Up	1'39.505 Enea Bastianini (See here)
Grand Prix	Bagnaia, Martin, Marc Marquez (See here)
All time lap record	1'38.190 Aleix Espargaro (See here)

Barcelona here we come!!!

The last of the last awaits us this long weekend, a grand finale that will see a driver become world champion...a happy one...and his runner-up...a ​​little less happy...

Let's go !!!

On track for 45min!!!

Pirro Falls..

Zarco takes the lead in 1.43.768s.

Acosta falls and drags AFernandez down with him, no injuries

Red flag..for debris on the track.

Mir has the reference time in 1.41.976s ahead of AMarquez, Zarco, Miller, Binder, Bradl, Rins, MMarquez, Marini and Acosta.

Green flag, the drivers return to the track...38 minutes remain to fine-tune the various adjustments.

Martin takes the lead again in 1.41.820s. But AMarquez responds and recovers this best time in 1.40.915s. Next: Martin, Bagnaia, Vinales, Nakagami, Marini, AEspargaro, Binder, Quaratararo and Acosta complete the top 10

Acosta takes the lead in 1/40.912s!!

There are 24 minutes left in this very calm session…

Martin at work…3rd fastest time in 1.40.971s..

With 17 minutes to go, the forces present are as follows: Acosta in 1.40.912:XNUMXs ahead of AMarquez, Martin, Bastianini, Bagnaia, Vinales, MMarquez, Quartararo, Nakagami and Marini.

Nakagami Falls

5min left ..Acosta dominates his subject in 1.40.912s. Behind, the troop follows as follows: AMarquez, Binder who improved, Nakagami who did the same, Martin, Bastianini, Bagnaia, Vinales, MMarquez and Quartararo..

The Japanese driver with the new tire takes the lead in 1.40.501s.

End of session: Nakagami finishes ahead of Acosta and AMarquez

During the start tests, Bagnaia was caught by Vinales...and went down.

1 Barcelona Grand Prix MotoGP FP2024 Standings:

Classification credit: motogp.com