MOTOGP AT CATALUNYA: BOTH MARQUEZ BROTHERS WINNING AND DUCATI SEALS CONSTRUCTORS CHAMPIONSHIP
MotoGP returned to Catalunya after a two week stop from the Balaton Park, let’s run through what happened in this weekend’s evebt.
Free Practice 1
Pedro Acosta laid down an early marker in Barcelona by topping the opening session with a 1’38.979, his late flurry of laps ensuring all four KTMs ended inside the top ten. The Spaniard’s growing momentum was evident as he once again demonstrated his ability to deliver under pressure. Johann Zarco surprised many by claiming P2, while Marc Marquez, having led for much of the session, ultimately secured third. Maverick Viñales enjoyed a welcome return to form in P4, slotting in just ahead of Alex Marquez.
Honda’s resurgence was further underlined by Luca Marini in sixth, ahead of Brad Binder. Marco Bezzecchi continued his recent strong form in P8, while Aleix Espargaro impressed as a wildcard in ninth. Enea Bastianini rounded out the top ten to give KTM a quartet inside the leading positions. By contrast, Francesco Bagnaia endured a torrid opening, languishing in 23rd and with much to ponder heading into the remainder of the weekend.
Free Practice 2: Pre-Qualy
The Austrian marque continued to impress in Friday’s later running, with Binder leading teammate Acosta as KTM locked out the top two positions. Alex Marquez kept the pressure on in third, while title contenders Bagnaia and Jorge Martin both found themselves stranded in Q1 territory. Bastianini briefly headed the timesheets before Marc Marquez produced a blistering 1:38.444. Yet as the session reached its climax, Binder’s 1:38.141 confirmed KTM’s superiority, leaving Ducati’s reigning Champion mired in P21 after a yellow-flagged final push. Zarco, despite a late crash, clung to P8, with rookie Ai Ogura impressively sealing an automatic Q2 berth in tenth.
Qualifying
Qualifying provided its own drama. Alex Marquez produced a stunning late lap of 1:37.536, a new all-time record, to secure pole position on home soil. Fabio Quartararo emerged from Q1 with a sensational effort to claim second, while Marc Marquez completed the front row. Q1 itself was stacked with champions, but Bagnaia and Martin both faltered, unable to escape the cut. Quartararo and Fabio Di Giannantonio duly advanced.
In Q2, Acosta looked poised for a breakthrough, momentarily setting a new record before his time was deleted. Ultimately, Alex Marquez delivered the decisive lap, Quartararo slotted into P2, and Marc Marquez recovered to secure third. Franco Morbidelli spearheaded Row 2 in fourth, ahead of Acosta and Di Giannantonio. Zarco, Ogura, and Bastianini filled Row 3, while Marini completed the top ten ahead of Binder and Bezzecchi.
Sprint Race
The Tissot Sprint was packed with drama. Alex Marquez led convincingly before crashing out of P1 with four laps to go, gifting victory to his brother Marc Marquez, whose unbeaten run extended once more. Quartararo capitalised to claim second, while Di Giannantonio completed the podium with a composed ride. A thrilling KTM battle saw Acosta narrowly beat Bastianini and Binder, the trio covered by just 0.075s across the line. Zarco, Marini, and Ogura rounded out the points-paying positions. Ducati’s consistency was rewarded regardless, as the Italian marque clinched their sixth consecutive Constructors’ Championship, their seventh in total, thanks to Marc Marquez’s Sprint triumph.
Grand Prix
Sunday’s Grand Prix brought redemption. Alex Marquez banished the disappointment of Saturday by withstanding immense pressure from Marc Marquez to claim his second premier-class victory, and his first on home soil. After losing the lead off the line, the Gresini rider struck back on Lap 4 and controlled proceedings from there. Marc gave chase but ultimately settled for second, keeping his title bid firmly intact. Bastianini completed the podium, earning his maiden Sunday rostrum with KTM after outpacing Acosta in the middle stages.
Further back, Quartararo finished P5 after resisting late pressure, while rookie Ogura impressed with a career-best sixth. Bagnaia salvaged seventh after climbing from 22nd on the grid, showcasing determination if not outright pace. Marini continued Honda’s revival in P8, ahead of Miguel Oliveira in ninth, with Jorge Martin closing out the top ten. Points also went the way of Raul Fernandez, Joan Mir, Viñales, Jack Miller, and Fermin Aldeguer.
The result means Marc Marquez’s relentless winning streak has finally ended, though he still extends his commanding lead in the standings. Crucially, the title cannot now be sealed in Misano, ensuring the battle rolls on to the Japanese Grand Prix, with the Marquez brothers, KTM, and a resurgent Yamaha all adding intrigue to the championship picture.
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