Will Martin spoil the party on Bagnaia’s home ground?

motogp.com

07 Sep 2024

Take a look at some interesting facts and records which could be broken on Sunday at the San Marino GP

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Saturday delivered further drama at the Gran Premio Red Bull di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini, with Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) charging to Tissot Sprint victory after an unbelievable start from fourth on the grid. The #89 finished ahead of Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), who was second best after starting from pole. Meanwhile, Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing) secured a maiden Sprint podium after a strong Saturday, as Sunday now awaits. Bagnaia has the opportunity to become the first rider to win eight or more races in a MotoGP™ season since 2019. But with Martin looking strong, will the #89 stop Bagnaia's party in Misano?

1. Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) has qualified on pole position for the second time so far this year with Assen, when he took both Sprint and GP wins, setting a new all-time lap record in Misano. This is his third pole at Misano in MotoGP™. He will be aiming to take his eighth Grand Prix victory so far this year to make it his best MotoGP™ season regarding wins. He will be the first rider with eight (or more) wins in a single MotoGP™ season since Marc Marquez in 2019 (12), and would join Marquez, Casey Stoner, Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo as the only riders to have won eight or more Grand Prix races in a single MotoGP™ season. He is still second in the Championship, 26 points behind Jorge Martin.

Bagnaia vents frustrations after demoralising Misano Sprint defeat

Despite taking P2, the Italian was bitterly disappointed he didn't take the top step in front of his vociferous home support

2. Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing) has qualified second for his first top three in qualifying since he qualified second at Jerez in 2021. He will now be aiming to take his first GP podium since he also finished P3 in Jerez in 2021.

3. Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) has qualified third, which is his second top three in qualifying so far this year along with Jerez when he took his only Grand Prix race podium so far this year, finishing P3. He will be aiming to take his first win since India last year.

Morbidelli finds his mojo: "It's quite a while since I've had this feeling"

The Italian enjoyed a very successful Saturday in Misano, taking a front row and a Sprint podium!

4. On pole here last year, Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) has qualified fourth, making it only the fifth time so far this year he has missed out on the top three in qualifying. On Sunday, he will aim to take his eighth MotoGP™ win and third of the season. He is now leading the Championship with a 26-point advantage over Bagnaia, meaning he is guaranteed to keep the lead on Sunday.

5. Rookie Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) qualified fifth for his fourth top six in qualifying so far this year. Aged 20 years and 106 days old on Sunday, he will aim to become the second-youngest premier class winner after Marc Marquez (20 years and 63 days old in Austin in 2013).

Martin: The others hadn't even started and I was already far in front!

The #89 reflects on the key moment in the Tissot Sprint that saw him beat title rival Pecco Bagnaia in front of his home fans

6. Via Q1, Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) has qualified sixth. He will now be aiming to stand on the podium for the second time so far this year along with Qatar (P2), or to win for the first time since Austria in 2021.

7. After passing through Q1, Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) has qualified seventh. He will now aim to add to his premier class podium collection (two with Honda and three with Ducati so far) or to take his maiden MotoGP™ win.

8. Fourth in the Championship tied on points with Marc Marquez, Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team), who missed the GP here last year, has qualified eighth. Victory on Sunday would be his seventh MotoGP™ win to equal Martin and Loris Capirossi in fourth on the list of most successful Ducati riders in the class. It would be his fourth podium in four visits to the track in the class.

LAST LAP: Sprint drama sees podium battle decided late on!

There was a big upset in the victory fight, but the rest of the medal and point scoring positions had to be decided at the very end in Misano

9. On pole last time out in Aragon, Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) has qualified ninth after crashing in Q2, for his worst qualifying result since he qualified 13th in Sachsenring earlier this year. He will now be aiming to take back-to-back wins for the first time since Americas and Emilia-Romagna 2021. It would be his fifth MotoGP™ win at Misano.

10. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) has qualified 10th for his best qualifying result since he qualified eighth in France. He will now be aiming to take his first podium since Indonesia last year (P3).

Can Bagnaia take his eighth victory of the season, or will we see Martin coming out on top? Make sure you tune in on Sunday at 14:00 local time (UTC +2) for the San Marino Grand Prix!