Again to MotorLand: does one other duel await in 2024?
MotoGP™ returns to the stage of some spectacular duels in latest seasons, with the scene set for a repeat efficiency. However which?
Monday, 26 August 2024
Because the paddock arrived into MotorLand Aragon in 2021, now two-time MotoGP™ World Champion – and present Championship chief – Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Crew) had by no means received a MotoGP™ race. That modified on Sunday because the then #63 duelled eight-time World Champion, dwelling hero and anti-clockwise king Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) for the highest step, repelling seven assaults over the ultimate three laps to hitch the pantheon of premier class winners. Since that day, their respective paths have taken loads of twists and turns – and subsequent yr they converge as teammates. However an enormous chapter of what might turn into one of many sport’s greatest long run rivalries began proper right here. So can we anticipate a throwdown?
Bagnaia is on a roll because the paddock heads again to Spain. He’s now equalled his most variety of wins in a season already – seven – and arrives in Aragon from a double taken in fashion at Spielberg. He’s the rider to beat, the Championship chief, using in enemy territory and now trying down the barrel of a 2025 teammate whose presence can have its personal say on Bagnaia’s legacy. By the way, the identical rider who has a nook named after them at this very monitor. Motivation and type don’t are available in way more convincing packages than this.
Marquez, in the meantime, arrives in a scrappier run after two Dash crashes and a extra dramatic begin to the Austrian GP. However his tempo in Spielberg was dramatic otherwise. May he have been in a position to follow the pink machine up forward? Nobody else appeared doubtless to take action, and the stage appeared set for it too because the Bagnaia, Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing), Marc Marquez trio lined up on the entrance row. So now add in Aragon, the actual fact it’s anti-clockwise and residential turf, and there could possibly be fireworks this weekend – even with out contemplating {that a} single centimetre extra luck might have its personal say in turning his run of type round.
Having stated that, Martin can by no means be counted out. During the last stint of 2023 the #89 realized to be each quick and constant on the identical time, and he’s carried that into 2024 to stay proper within the combat on the entrance – additionally main the best way for a lot of the season – without having to stage any grand comeback. He’s quick all over the place, he’s made comparatively few unforced errors, and he’s solely 5 factors off the highest. He’s additionally nicely versed in sticking with and overhauling his fellow key contenders. Discovering that last tenth is one thing he’s executed earlier than and it will be no shock to see him show a key protagonist within the combat for victory.
After which there’s Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Crew). 2021 was not, after all, the final time Aragon welcomed MotoGP™. The final time it did, in 2022, it was one other duel – however this time Bastianini vs Bagnaia, and with the Beast popping out on prime. He misplaced somewhat floor within the Championship in Austria however his double at Silverstone was a reminder, if anybody wanted one, how briskly he’s. He lurks in third within the title combat, clearly hasn’t given up on it, and is 61 factors off the highest. There’s a most of 333 factors left on the desk in 2024, and Bastianini is among the riders, if not THE rider, who instantly involves thoughts when fascinated by 148 of them: Aragon, San Marino, Emilia-Romagna and Sepang. That stint begins right here.
There have been some positives for lots in Austria although. Brad Binder (Crimson Bull KTM Manufacturing facility Racing) was again within the prime 5 on their dwelling turf, and teammate Jack Miller had loads of pace to write down dwelling about, even when it got here aside on Sunday. Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Crew) had a stable weekend and took dwelling a prime six, and Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing) had some actual flashes of tempo even when some dramas acquired in the best way. At Aragon, we will additionally anticipate the return of Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Crew) to combat it out in the same group too.
For Aprilia, in the meantime, Aragon ought to promise somewhat extra. Spielberg noticed Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) take a Tissot Dash podium after which teammate Maverick Viñales lead the cost on Sunday in P7, however that doesn’t higher their earlier greatest on the venue. The very completely different MotorLand format, plus their data on the monitor and the house turf side for the #12 and #41, ought to see the Noale manufacturing unit again within the combine. Trackhouse Racing’s Raul Fernandez and Miguel Oliveira can even need lots extra on their 2024 RS-GPs and hope for the same uptick.
Seeking to rejoin that tight battle for the highest 5 or extra – and win it – are the likes of Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) and, most particularly, Pedro Acosta (Crimson Bull GASGAS Tech3). The #73 took a prime ten however had a more durable weekend, and the #31 had certainly one of his hardest but in MotoGP™, behind wildcard Pol Espargaro and with teammate Augusto Fernandez not far off nipping at his heels.
It was a troublesome one in Austria for a number of. Some points for Luca Marini (Repsol Honda Crew) and Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) – though the latter completed – affected their Sundays, though Honda did take two factors because of a P14 nabbed on the final lap by a charging Takaaki Nakagami (IDEMITSU Honda LCR). In the meantime Joan Mir (Repsol Honda Crew) had a more durable one and can need extra at Aragon within the Honda battle and the combat for factors too. Of nobody is that extra true, nonetheless, than Yamaha.
Neither Fabio Quartararo nor Monster Power Yamaha MotoGP™ teammate Alex Rins scored in Austria, and so they’ll wish to put that proper ASAP at Aragon. Additionally they had a check within the meantime as work continues in the direction of getting again into that combat on the entrance, and fairly curiously referred to as on the skills of MotoGP™ Legend Andrea Dovizioso to hitch them on monitor for that as check rider Cal Crutchlow continues to get well from damage. That was at Misano, so might show fascinating on the occasions showing on the horizon, however the first mission at MotorLand might be clear: factors.
We’ve seen some true classics at this monitor and the 2024 season thus far guarantees a lot potential for an additional to thrill us as we return to the venue. With so greater than factors on the road as honour, popularity, glory and extra go up for grabs, you don’t wish to miss the Gran Premio GoPro de Aragón this weekend!
SHOWTIME
Saturday
Tissot Dash: 15:00 (UTC +2)
Sunday
Grand Prix: 14:00 (UTC +2)
Moto2™: will the shape guide shuffle once more in Aragon?
The Austrian GP was a weekend the place the Moto2™ World Championship frontrunners endured more durable instances – and one the place no person might match Celestino Vietti (Crimson Bull KTM Ajo) on Sunday afternoon. The Italian received on the Crimson Bull Ring for a second yr in succession as a visit to a distinct problem within the type of MotorLand Aragon now beckons.
Vietti’s debut win within the well-known Crimson Bull KTM Ajo colors was a dominant one. Two podiums on the spin have been a implausible begin to the second half of the season for the #13, as a second for Alonso Lopez (Sync SpeedUp) ended his mini podium drought. Jake Dixon’s (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Crew) P3 was his third prime three on the spin because the Briton continues to seek out nice type, as Aron Canet (Fantic Racing) – a podium finisher at Aragon in 2022 – narrowly missed out on a podium.
These 4 riders might be searching for extra of the identical efficiency in Aragon, however title chase chief Sergio Garcia, his MT Helmets – MSI teammate Ai Ogura, Joe Roberts (OnlyFans American Racing) and Fermin Aldeguer (Sync SpeedUp) might be hungry for way more.
Garcia’s P14 noticed him acquire simply two factors – the hole now at 20 – on the luckless Ogura, with the Japanese star’s first crash of the season seeing him endure a fracture in his proper hand. Roberts’ quiet weekend noticed him claw again some essential factors on Garcia, whereas Aldeguer’s P20 now sees him drop to P5 – behind his teammate – within the general standings… how will the grid shuffle once more at MotorLand?
Moto3™: Alonso appears to be like to hammer dwelling his benefit in Aragon
A showstopper from David Alonso in Spielberg noticed the Colombian declare an exceptional seventh win of the season, regardless of having to cope with a Lengthy Lap penalty. The most recent 25-point assortment sees the CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Crew star land in Aragon with a whopping 71-point lead within the Moto3™ title race. The query now could be: can anybody halt the #80’s unbelievable momentum?
Regardless of the drama that unfolded for Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets – MSI) in Austria, the Spaniard stays Alonso’s chief Championship chaser. Sunday promised way more than a P9 for Ortola, as he was left to stew on stalling his bike because the riders rolled as much as the grid. Nonetheless, that restoration journey was one thing fairly particular, however now it’s all about beating Alonso at each alternative.
2022 Aragon podium finisher, Daniel Holgado (Crimson Bull GASGAS Tech3), bagged his first rostrum since Le Mans sees the #96 keep in P3 general, as David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports) nicked P2 from his grasp by simply 0.005s in Austria. That end result for Muñoz noticed him transfer as much as P5 within the Championship, one place behind Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) because the Dutch star hopes Aragon could be the place he wins for the primary time since Jerez, as a result of a P5 wasn’t what Veijer ordered from Austria.
Catch me should you can is the shout from Alonso – how will the chasers reply at MotorLand?
