As Hopefully the race can bring some Joy to the
devastated region of Spain…
With the horrible flooding in Spain, particularly
in the Valencia region. And 211 people having been reported as Deceased as of
November 2nd. While the number continues to increase. DORNA, the MotoGP rights
holder cancelled the MotoGP season finale scheduled for November 17th at
Valencia’s Ricardo Tormo circuit.
Thus, we waited over the penultimate MotoGP
weekend’s outing in Malaysia a Fortnight ago to learn when and where the
season’s final race would occur? Although reportedly DORNA made its ambitions
known Sunday morning in Sepang, planning to race at Barcelona the same weekend.
Saturday’s Sprint race in Sepang seemed to live
up once again to Moto Matters Zara Daniela’s apt assessment of anointing Jorge
Martin as “The Sprint King”, but I’m getting ahead of myself as usual here upon
No Fenders…
Back in October, roughly one month ago, MotoGP
headed Down Under to Phillip Island, Australia Mates! Where Martin dually
continued His dominance of winning on Saturday. Taking His fifth Sprint race of
the season ahead of Marc Marquez and Enea Bastianini on the podium. With title
rival Francesco Pecco’ Bagnaia finishing fourth.
As this pumped up Martin’s lead in the title
fight to 16 “markers” ahead of Bagnaia. Then Sunday was vintage Marc Marquez.
As Ye Pinball Wizard reportedly had a horrible launch due to His rear tyre
spinning on an errant tear-off! Seeing the Spaniard drop to P13, before
rebounding to fifth on lap-1!
Marquez ran down the two title protagonists who
were running 1-2. Before Marquez claimed the lead towards race’s end. With
Martin settling for second and Bagnaia some nine seconds adrift in third. Thus
Martin increased His championship lead to 20 points with three rounds
remaining.
Seven days later the MotoGP Circus arrived in
Buriram, at the Chang International Circuit in Thailand. Where Saturday’s
Sprint race result saw another twist…
“The Beast!” Aka Enea Bastianini took full
advantage of the title rivals and the rider He’s scrapping for third place
overall with, promptly vaulted into the lead. Which He would never relinquish,
and simply motored away from the field!
Jorge Martin eventually got around Pecco’
Bagnaia for second, with Bagnaia’s future teammate Marc Marquez a quiet fourth.
This allowed Martin to stretch His points lead to 22 markers.
Yet Sunday’s main race saw Bagnaia ultimately turn
the tide against thee Martinator’. Although Martin got the Hole-shot on the wet
track and aggressively attempted stretching His advantage in the tricky
conditions.
As Martin
who made many mistakes overall, went wide and allowed both Bagnaia and Marquez
to pass Him on lap-5. With Jorge just watching the two Ducati Axmen taking swings
at each other for the lead, before Marquez slid wide and tumbled down to P16.
This saw Bagnaia hold a three second lead
across the stripe ahead of Martin, clawing back five points and whittling
Martin’s title lead to a slim 17 points.
Then it was on to steamy Sepang a week later,
MotoGP’s penultimate round. Where once again the tables were turned upside down.
As the rain began falling just prior to Saturday’s Sprint race commencing…
Although Bagnaia had snatched Pole away from
Martin, with both riders setting new lap records. Martin got another Hole-shot
over Pecco’ and effectively romped away to His sixth Sprint race win of the
season.
Couple that with a crucial mistake by Bagnaia
on lap-3 in Turn 9, reportedly a notoriously tricky corner according to the
Pundits. Saw the Italian apparently touch the wet, white corner paint and
inexplicably go down! For which I thought I heard a screaming “Captain
Stubing”, Err lead Pundit Gavin Emmett proclaiming that the championship was
over! For which I was left pondering how that could be true?
And after Emmett calmed down a Wee bit’, I
noticed He and His Booth Mate Neil Hodgson were claiming that Martin now had
one hand on the title…
Since Martin’s win netted Him twelve points,
increasing His championship lead to 29 points, prior to Sunday’s main race.
Naturally Bagnaia didn’t roll over, and after a
horrible first lap incident. Where Jack Thriller’ Miller was lucky to escape
without harm to His legs after Joan Mir had run over them in the melee!
Bagnaia who’d kept Martin at bay on the first
start, did even better on the restart, and led wire-to-wire for His tenth
victory of the season. Although the first four laps were simply scintillating!
As Martin did everything possible to pass Bagnaia! Making several lunges with
the pair of Ducati riders running side-by-side down the front straight!
Yet Bagnaia wasn’t to be denied, and Martin
wisely settled for runner-up aftert trying to push late in the race and almost
making another costly mistake!
Thus, the points table sees Martin lead Bagnaia
by 24 points (485-461) prior to the Saturday Sprint race at Barcelona. With a
maximum of 37 points still on offer. And I won’t try figuring any of the points
permutations. Other than Jorge Martin is the 2024 MotoGP Champion provided He
has a 26 point lead on Sunday.
Whilst interestingly, fighting over third place
in the championship is Marc Marquez vs. Enea Bastianini. With Marquez replacing
the Italian at the Factory Ducati team next year.
As Marquez leads by one single point: 369-368! And you know The Beast relishes defeating Marquez before moving to KTM’s Satellite Squad…
