MotoGP 2024: Bagnaia Eats Into Martin’s Championship Lead With A Win In Thailand

In a tumultuous rain-soaked Thailand Grand Prix, reigning world champion Francesco Bagnaia proved his mettle, winning the race from current championship leader Jorge Martin. Bagnaia rode his factory Ducati GP24 in a smooth and slick manner to narrow his deficit to Martin to just 17 points. This was Pecco’s ninth win of the season, his best in the class so far.

Bagnaia’s victory also helped the factory Ducati team wrap up the team’s championship as the Italian marque already earned the Constructors’ title in Italy, five races ago. With the race result, it is now mathematically certain that only Martin or Bagnaia will be crowned as champion in Valencia. Eight-time world champion Marc Marquez’ and Enea Bastianini’s championship chase came to an end as the two crashed out in separate incidents and ended up remounting to finish way down the order.

Pecco didn’t have the best of starts from pole position. Martin was the early pace setter, storming to take the lead into turn 1. And it wasn’t until Pecco started to put pressure on the Spaniard that Martin faltered a bit, running wide into turn 3, handing the lead over to the chasing Italian. Marquez also got the better of him during this instance only to climb on to the back of Bagnaia by mid-race distance. Just as it seemed that he would take over the control of the race, Marquez lost the front end and thus, his faint chance of championship win. He did end up finishing the race in tenth.

It was a KTM battle for the final spot on the podium. While Australian Jack Miller was holding third for the majority of the race, it was rookie Pedro Acosta who snatched the position away from Miller with a couple of laps left. Thanks to their small scuffle, VR46 Ducati rider Fabio di Giannantonio was able to catch up to the duo but could only get past Miller. This would be di Giannantonio’s final race for the season as the Italian would undergo shoulder surgery so that he can be fit to challenge in 2025 with a factory-spec Ducati GP25.

With just two sprints and two races to go, Bagnaia has to be at his best and hope for a bit of help from other racers if he wants to retain his crown for a second-year in a row. Martin has to make sure to finish right behind Pecco even if the Italian would win every single race session from here on, so that he can win his maiden title and then depart to Aprilia for 2025. We don’t have to wait for long as the next race is just a week away in Malaysia at the lovely Sepang International Circuit.