After an unbelievable Tissot Sprint on Saturday, Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) bagged 12 points after storming to victory from pole position at his home race. The #41 now sets his sights on Sunday, where he has the chance to win his first race since 2023. Just days after announcing that he will retire at the end of the season, Espargaro now has the chance to have the perfect farewell. However, competition is high and with everything up for grabs, take a look at 10 amazing facts that you need to know ahead of the Catalan GP.  

1. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) has qualified on pole for the first time since Jerez last year, setting a new all-time lap record in Catalunya. This is his sixth pole in MotoGP™ and the second this season so far for Aprilia along with Viñales in Austin. He will be aiming to take his first Grand Prix win and podium since his win here last year.

2. Reigning Champion and on pole here last year, Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) has qualified second for his second top three in qualifying in 2024, along with last time out in Le Mans. He will be aiming to take his first Grand Prix podium in Catalunya, or his first win - his best GP result here so far is P6 in 2020 in MotoGP™.

3. After passing through Q1, Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse Racing) has qualified third for his first top three in qualifying since he stepped up to MotoGP™ in 2022. With Espargaro on pole, this is the first time there are two Aprilia riders in the top three in qualifying since Indonesia last year. He will be aiming to score his best result in MotoGP™ if he can beat his P5 taken in Valencia last year.

4. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) has qualified fourth, equalling his best qualifying result so far this year from Qatar and Spain. 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.

5. Rookie Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) qualified fifth for his second best-qualifying result so far in MotoGP™ after Americas when he qualified second. Aged just 20 years and 1 day old on Sunday, he will aim to become the youngest premier class winner, taking the record away from Marc Marquez (20 years and 63 days old in Austin in 2013).

6. After passing through Q1, Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) has qualified sixth for his third successive top six in qualifying (since Jerez). He will now be aiming to take his second premier class win or third podium.

7. Championship leader Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing), who crashed in Q2, has qualified seventh for his worst qualifying result since he qualified 12th in Austria last year. He will now aim to take his eighth MotoGP™ win.

8. Now third in the Championship once again, Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) has qualified 11th, his worst qualifying result so far this year. He will now aim to take his sixth MotoGP™ win.

9. Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) has qualified 12th for his worst qualifying since Germany last year. He will now be aiming to take his 11th MotoGP™ GP win.

10. Now the second in the Championship, Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) has qualified 14th for his worst qualifying result in MotoGP™ in Catalunya. He will be aiming to win for the first time since Emilia-Romagna 2021 (945 days ago). It would be his first Grand Prix win with Ducati and Gresini.

Will we see a repeat of the Sprint on Sunday? Make sure you tune in at 14:00 local time (UTC +2) to find out on motogp.com!