For the second year in succession, Jorge Martin and Pecco Bagnaia treated us to a stellar title fight that went down to the wire. Unlike in 2023, it was the Spaniard who emerged victorious in 2024, as Martin became the first rider to win a premier class title riding Independent Team machinery since Valentino Rossi in 2001.
In addition, it was only the fifth time the World Champion didn't win the most races in the modern era. Bagnaia's historic 11 Sunday wins played Martin's three, meaning it was the latter's consistency (on both a Saturday and Sunday) that saw the new Aprilia Racing star beat Bagnaia by 10 points come the end of the season.
So what other four occasions saw the title winner clinch fewer wins than their chief rival? Let's have a little look:
2006: Nicky Hayden vs Valentino Rossi
The unforgettable title tilt between Nicky Hayden and Valentino Rossi was the first time this happened in the MotoGP era. Hayden beat Rossi by five points having won two races out of a possible 17. Rossi picked up five victories, but the Italian's three DNFs - and a P13 in Valencia - proved costly.
2012: Jorge Lorenzo vs Dani Pedrosa
The great Spanish rivals went head-to-head in 2012, and it was Pedrosa who pocketed the most victories. The 'Little Samurai' won seven times in 2012 compared to Lorenzo's six, but it wasn't enough to stop the #99 from claiming a second premier class crown.
2013: Marc Marquez vs Jorge Lorenzo
In his debut season, Marc Marquez stood on the top of the motorcycling world for the first time - but he wasn't the rider who bagged the most wins in 2013. That honour went to Lorenzo who won eight times vs Marquez's six, as just four points split the compatriots at the close of play.
2017: Marc Marquez vs Andrea Dovizioso
Six wins apiece was part of the story that unfolded in 2017 as Marquez and Dovizioso treated us to a fascinating season. The #93 prevailed, eventually finishing 37 points ahead of the Ducati star.
2020: Joan Mir vs Franco Morbidelli & Fabio Quartararo
The last time we saw this unfold before Martin's 2024 feat was in 2020 when Mir won his second Grand Prix title despite winning just once. Two riders won three times in 2020: second-place Franco Morbidelli and ninth-place Fabio Quartararo. Consistency, like Martin, was key to Mir's triumph.