Marc Marquez’s Dominance Returns at Aragon, Bagnaia Takes a Hit
- ADV News
- October 9, 2024
The 2024 Spanish Grand Prix in Aragon saw the return of an unstoppable Marc Marquez, showcasing vintage form and reminding everyone why he’s an eight-time world champion. Racing for Gresini Ducati, Marquez topped every session, claimed pole position, and stormed to commanding victories in both the Sprint and the 23-lap grand prix, leaving no doubt about his dominance.
For reigning world champion Pecco Bagnaia (Lenovo Ducati), it was a weekend to forget. After qualifying third behind Marquez and rookie Pedro Acosta (Tech3 GasGas), Bagnaia struggled with poor traction, particularly due to problematic tires, and could only salvage a single point from the Sprint. Starting from third on a slippery track, he was unable to find grip and quickly dropped positions.
By the first corner of the full-length race, Bagnaia found himself in seventh place, while Marquez took the holeshot, followed closely by Acosta, Jorge Martin (Pramac), and Alex Marquez (Gresini Ducati). As if he needed any help, Marc Marquez benefited from a collision between Martin and Acosta, which gifted him a 1.3-second lead early in the race. By the third lap, Marquez had widened the gap to two seconds, sealing the race as a test of his concentration rather than a contest for victory.
As the laps progressed, Marc remained untouchable, maintaining his lead with flawless precision. Behind him, Alex Marquez overtook Acosta, while Bagnaia fought his way from fifth to fourth by lap 11, looking to salvage a podium. However, a dramatic crash between Bagnaia and Alex Marquez on lap 18, after a risky maneuver, ended both riders’ races, marking Bagnaia’s sixth DNF of the season.
Marquez cruised to the finish line 4.789 seconds ahead of Jorge Martin, with Pedro Acosta rounding off the podium in third after benefiting from the chaos behind him. The race marked Acosta’s first double podium weekend in the premier class, having also finished third in the Sprint.
Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM) finished fourth, followed by Enea Bastianini (Lenovo Ducati) in fifth. Six Ducatis finished in the top eight, with Franco Morbidelli, Fabio Di Giannantonio, and Marco Bezzecchi rounding out the Ducati-heavy leaderboard.
This critical race reshaped the championship standings, with Martin now leading Bagnaia by 23 points, 299 to 276. Marquez’s win also moved him ahead of Bastianini by a single point, standing at 229 to Bastianini’s 228. The battle for the title just got more intense as the season heads toward its final stages.
Marc Marquez is officially back, and the championship race just heated up.
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