MotoGP, Thailand Race LIVE: Bagnaia surge hits Buriram, Martin and Acosta on podium

Since the Sprint race of this Thailand Grand Prix that took place this Saturday, the 2024 MotoGP World Championship has entered another dimension. Jorge Martin managed to finish second in the event, just ahead of Pecco Bagnaia, third. And this means that, mathematically, Martin only needs to finish just behind Bagnaia in all the races between now and the end of the year to be champion… A parameter to follow and verify from this Sunday with this long and grueling race in Buriram. Before getting into the fray, here is the presentation of the starting grid.  

Francis Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) qualified on pole for the fourth time this year with Assen, San Marino and Emilia Romagna, setting a new lap record at Buriram. it's about the 22nd pole position for Bagnaia, all with Ducati, which means he becomes the pilot Ducati with the most poles in the category, surpassing Casey Stoner. He finished P3 in the Sprint, and if he wins the GP race, he will be the first driver to win nine victories (or more) in a single MotoGP season since Marc Marquez in 2019 (12).

Only Marquez (13 – 2014, 12 – 2019, 9 – 2018), Valentino Rossi (11 – 2002, 2005, 9 – 2003, 2004, 2008), Casey Stoner (10 – 2007, 2011) and Jorge Lorenzo (9 – 2010) have won nine or more Grand Prix races in a single MotoGP season. He remains second in the championship, but now has 22 points behind Martin.

Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) qualified second for his second best qualifying result so far this season after Portugal where he was on pole. He won the Sprint and will now try to take his eighth MotoGP victory, his third of the season and his second double after Silverstone. He is fourth in the championship, eight points behind Marc Marquez.

George Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) qualified third despite crashing in Q2, making it the 12th time this year he has qualified in the top three (and the third time in his three visits to Buriram in MotoGP). He finished second in the Sprint and on Sunday he will be looking for his ninth MotoGP win overall, and fourth of the season. He still leads the championship, but with 22 points ahead of Bagnaia. Martin can now afford to finish P2 behind bagnaia in all Sprint and GP races, and to clinch the title.

Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) qualified fourth, his eighth time this season qualifying in the top six. He finished P7 in the sprint and will be aiming for a second podium finish so far this season with Jerez, after finishing P3, or his first win since India last year.

Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP) qualified fifth despite crashing in Q2, making it his best qualifying in Buriram since qualifying third in 2019 when he took victory and the championship. He finished fourth in the sprint and will be aiming for victory for the fourth time this year with Aragon, San Marino and Australia. If he finishes on the podium on Sunday, it will be his 150th GP podium.

fabio quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team) qualified sixth, equalling his best qualifying result since Indonesia so far this season. He finished tenth in the Sprint but will be aiming for his and Yamaha , so far this year if he manages to beat his P7 obtained at the Portuguese GP, the San Marino GP, the Emilia Romagna GP and the Indonesian GP.

A victory of Ducati would be their 15th consecutive victory, a new personal record. Ducati would be the first manufacturer to win 15 consecutive races in the premier class since Honda won 22, from Malaysia in 1997 to Assen in 1998. This would be their 17th victory in 2024, thus equalling their own 2023 record for most wins in a single season by the same manufacturer.

Peter Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) qualified seventh as the best KTM/GASGAS rider. He crashed in the sprint and rejoined, then retired. Aged 20 years and 155 days Sunday, he will try to become the second youngest winner of the premier category after Marc Marquez (20 years and 63 days in Austin in 2013).

Fabio DiGiannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) qualified eighth for his final race of the season, as he will miss the last two GPs due to shoulder surgery. He finished P8 in the Sprint. A win on Sunday would be his second in the premier class and a podium his third.

Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP) qualified ninth for his 10th top-nine finish in qualifying so far this season. He finished fifth in the Sprint, but will now aim to add to his collection of premier class podiums (two with Honda and three with Ducati) or claim his first MotoGP victory.

Maverick Vinales (Aprilia Racing) qualified 10th as the best Aprilia, which is the seventh time he has missed the top nine in qualifying so far this season. He finished P20 in the sprint, and he will now aim to claim his 11th MotoGP victory and second with Aprilia with COTA this season. –

The pilots Yamahahas and Aprilia will be looking to give their constructor(s) their first win in Buriram. So far their best results here are P2 and P7.

Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing) who crashed out in Q2, qualified 11th for his worst qualifying since qualifying 13th at Silverstone earlier this year. He finished P6 in the Sprint and will be aiming for his first GP podium since finishing P3 at Jerez in 2021, having come close earlier in Indonesia and securing a Sprint podium at the San Marino GP.

Johann zarco (Castrol Honda LCR) qualified 12th for his third best qualifying result of the year after Indonesia, where he was seventh, and Aragon, where he was 10th. He finished 12th in the sprint and will now look to secure his best GP result with Honda if he beats the 9th place he obtained in Indonesia.

What will this have in store for us? Thailand Grand Prix ? Before you know it, here is the table that summarizes the facts known so far.

MotoGP™ Thailand, Buriram	2023	2024
FP1	1'30.520 Jorge Martin (See here)	1'30.492 Marco Bezzecchi (See here)
Practice	1'29.826 Jorge Martin (See here)	1'29.165 Marc Marquez (See here)
FP2	1'30.550 Maverick Vinales (See here)	1'29.888 Marc Marquez (See here)
Q1	1'29.743 Alex Marquez (See here)	1'29.406 Fabio Quartararo (See here)
Q2	1'29.287 Jorge Martin (See here)	1'28.700 Francesco Bagnaia (See here)
Sprint	Martin, Binder, Marini (See here)	Bastianini, Martin, Bagnaia (See here)
Warm Up	Fabio Quartararo (See here)	Marc Marquez 1'39.056 (See here)
Course	Martin, Bagnaia, Binder (See here)	Bagnaia, Martin, Acosta (See here)
All time lap record	1'29.287 Jorge Martin 2023 (See here)	1'28.700 Francesco Bagnaia (See here)

To begin, a final reminder of the starting grid...

It's the rain this morning that has made its appearance above the Buriram track while the festivities for the day's race are being prepared! Enough to spice up this beautiful morning that will undoubtedly be tinged with fights!!

Here we go, we're going live!!

There are 3 GPs left before the season ends... No mistakes are allowed, everything is still to play for!

We're shaking you up this morning, but it's already time for predictions!! It's hard to say... who can benefit from... the crime? Who is fast on a wet track? Zarco, Binder, MMarquez?? It's your turn!! Who do we put a coin on??

On the way to grid layout!!

26 laps will be completed

Well, it started badly for the younger Marquez who made a mistake when he was about to position himself on the starting grid!!

We suspected it a little, the race is declared "wet"!! In "Flag to Flag" mode, the riders will be able to enter on their own initiative to change bikes.

Alex Marquez will start from the back of the grid following his fall...

Work in perspective on Alex Marquez's motorbike!!!

The choice of tires….

There's a feeling of fighting in the air... Fortune favors the bold... they say!!

Warm-up lap!!

It's 25° in the air and 28° on the track

They are launched and it is Martin who turns in front ahead of Bagnaia and MMarquez. Quartararo and Acosta complete the top 5

The duel at the top is here!!!

Martin takes off after 2 laps, 0.850s separate him from Bagnaia. Behind, MMarquez, Quartararo, Binder Morbidelli, Acosta, Miller, AEspargaro and Di Giannantonio complete the top10

MMarquez is pressing behind Bagnaia…

Bezzecchi Falls.

Quartararo falls following Morbidelli’s stroller…

Bagania takes the lead with 22 laps to go, Martin having missed his chance…MMarquez also takes advantage, he is now 2nd

Long lap for Morbidelli following incident on Quartararo

Savadori Falls

MMarquez gains time and comes back to Bagnaia, he is 0.844s behind..the next lap, he comes back to 0.699s

Fall of RFernandez..

Morbidelli Falls.

With 18 laps to go, the top10 is made up of: Bagnaia, MMarquez, Martin, Miller, Binder, Bastianini, Acosta, Vinales, Di Giannantonio, AEspargaro and AFernandez

Bastianini's fall

Attempt to overtake MMarquez on Bagnaia… it goes through but the Ducati rider catches him back… he remains the leader… Martin gets closer but is held back at the back despite everything. The expected fight between these 3 is in full swing!!

MMarquez returns to the charge on Bagnaia…0.133s separate the 2 drivers!!! Behind Martin has given up the affair..

MMarquez starts but no... it doesn't work... he goes to the mat following... he nevertheless rejoins the race...

With 10 laps to go, the top10 is made up of: Bagnaia (2.764s), Martin, Miller, Binder, Acosta, Di Giannantonio, Vinales, AFernandez, AEspargaro and AMarquez

Another fall for Savadori..he starts again. He abandons following.

AMarquez's great race, starting last!!

Zarco is 9th.

Fight between Acosta and Binder: the rookie passes his elder, he thus takes 4th position.

Rins Falls

3 more rounds...

MMarquez must return1 position for irresponsible behavior..on Rins

Fall of Afernandez..

Di Giannantonio passes Binder, he recovers the 5th position…Acosta does the same on Miller to gain the 3rd position…he succeeds the cadet!!! What passion!!

Last round..

Bagnaia leads the dance ahead of Martin and Acosta

Bagnaia wins ahead of Martin and Acosta

motorcycle, Thailand Race: Ranking