Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) will lead the grid for the final race of the MotoGP 2024 season after delivering a phenomenal performance in Q2 at the Motul Solidarity Grand Prix of Barcelona.
The reigning champion clocked a blistering 1:38.641 on his last flying lap, securing pole position and setting the stage for a dramatic conclusion to the season.
Bagnaia’s stellar lap put him just 0.055 seconds ahead of Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing), who clinched second on the grid after a strong session. Espargaro worked closely with Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) during the session, showcasing impressive teamwork. Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) completed the front row with a remarkable lap, finishing only 0.157 seconds behind Bagnaia.
Earlier in the day, Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) topped FP2, with Bagnaia and Martin closely following as teams finalized their setups. Q1 brought its share of drama, with Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing) and Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) securing the final spots for Q2. Jack Miller’s late crash at Turn 5 dashed his hopes of advancing, while Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) suffered a setback with an early Q2 crash.
In the decisive Q2 session, Bagnaia led from the outset, fending off challenges from Martin and Espargaro. Despite intense pressure in the final minutes, Bagnaia improved his time, while Martin, who had been targeting pole, settled for fourth on the grid. Franco Morbidelli’s strong showing pushed Martin off the front row, leaving him to start from the second row alongside Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3).
Viñales spearheads the third row, with Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) and Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) joining him. Notably, Joan Mir (Repsol Honda Team) narrowly missed Q2 and will start from 13th, while Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) struggled, qualifying 18th.
The focus now shifts to the title-deciding Tissot Sprint, set for 15:00 local time (UTC +1). Bagnaia’s pole position gives him a critical edge, but Jorge Martin, starting from fourth, remains a serious contender for championship glory.
Top 10 Qualifiers:
- Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team): 1:38.641
- Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing): +0.055
- Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™): +0.157
- Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing): +0.208
- Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing): +0.245
- Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3): +0.308
- Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing): +0.351
- Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team): +0.437
- Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team): +0.480
- Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™): +0.568
Credit Photo : MotoGP
