Marc Marquez takes first win since 2021, Pecco Bagnaia, Alex Marquez in huge crash as Jorge Martin extends title lead
Updated 01/09/2024 at 14:48 GMT
There were emotional scenes in Aragon, Spain as Marc Marquez won his first MotoGP race since 2021, a barren run stretching back over 1,000 days. It was a comfortable win for Marquez in the end but the real drama came behind him where championship leader Francesco Bagnaia was involved in a massive crash with Marquez's brother Alex that took them both out of the race.
ALCANIZ, SPAIN - AUGUST 31: Marc Marquez from Spain of Gresini Racing MotoGP racing with his motorcycle during MotoGP of Aragon Qualifying at Motorland Aragon Circuit on August 31, 2024 in Alcaniz, Spain. (Photo by Joan Cros - Corbis/Getty Images)
Image credit: Getty Images
Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP) tasted his first Grand Prix victory in 1,043 days, cruising around MotorLand Aragon to win with a five-second margin from Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing).
Martin found his element after a rocky sprint and qualifying to claim second place and extend his lead at the top of the riders' standings.
A shocking crash saw championship leader Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) and Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP) out of the race after an unfortunate collision on the dirty side of Turn 12, blowing the championship fight wide open once again.
Pedro Acosta (Red BUll GASGAS Tech3) found himself on the podium on home soil again, rounding off a great comeback weekend in Aragon after a rough few weeks before the summer break.
The title fight has shuffled entirely after the two exciting races in Aragon, as Martin snatches the lead from Pecco and Marquez climbs to third in the standings.
A perfect weekend for Marc Marquez has come to fruitition in the most glorious fashion after proving his dominance in Aragon by topping every session in the blistering Spanish heat.
The eight-time world champion cruised through the 17 twists and turns of MotorLand Aragon, pulling five seconds ahead of Jorge Martin in second.
This win marks his first Grand Prix victory in 1043 days, ending the winless drought that pushed him to a new team partnering with Franscesco Bagnaia next year.
Marquez said: "It was an amazing race, it was incredible to win in front of this amazing crowd.
"Today was a super difficult race especially because when you have the pace, the gap was difficult to full-focus on the riding on the last 10 laps.
"I was able to manage the gap well, I had something more just in case but I'm happy."
More smiles on the grid are seen from the all-Spanish podium, the same as the sprint Saturday, which features Jorge Martin in second and Pedro Acosta in third.
Acosta's performance this weekend in Aragon has cemented him as one of the best-placed rookies in the sport, adding yet another podium to his tally.
The Spanish GASGAS rider almost didn't make it onto the podium after being jumped by Alex Marquez and Francesco Baganaia but their incident at Turn 12 in the final five laps gifted him the place back.
A poor start from Bagnaia dropped him down to sixth place but the reigning world champion powered through the pack and had his eyes set on Alex Marquez in third place.
Bagnaia cut the gap down each lap on his hunt for a podium spot, inching just 0.5s away from Alex Marquez before they made contact.
It was going all too well for Bagnaia and Alex Marquez as they made contact coming out of Turn 12 on Lap 19 after entering the dirty side of the track, both riders retired from the race.
The unfortunate collision between Bagnaia and Alex Marquez blew the title fight wide as Martin leaves Aragon with a 23-point lead to the Italian reigning champion.
"It was a difficult start from the beginning," Martin said.
"I started spinning and lost some positions and I tried to recover fast but when I tried to take Pedro I almost crashed, from that point I just tried to keep a good pace.
"I was focused on the feeling, trying to understand the good line so second was the maximum we could do today.
"It was a long race, after the last eight laps I was quite long being alone but finally I'm happy for Marc because it's been such a long period - I'm so happy for him."
The track conditions caught out many riders in Aragon as Fabio Quartararo also suffered an end to his race on Lap 6 after skidding wide out of the dirty side of Turn 6.
With overnight rain hindering the previously-cleaned track, riders struggled to keep their bikes on the low-grip surface with track temperatures reaching 44°c.
Martin will enter the iconic circuit in San Marino next weekend as the new championship leader, cruising with a 23-point gap to Bagnaia who failed to score points this weekend
RIDER OF THE DAY: MARC MARQUEZ
Topping every session in Aragon this weekend, Marc Marquez relived the old glory days of pure pace and dominance.
The eight-time world champion demonstrated an incredible control of his tyres and bikes in tricky conditions that tested even the best of riders on the grid.
From establishing one of the largest qualifying gaps to the rest of the pack to finishing Sunday's race five seconds ahead of his nearest competitor, it has been a perfect performance from Marquez.
The Spaniard ended his 1043-day winless drought in the most glorious fashion, with little error to stain his victory on home soil.
Putting on a great show for the fans, Marquez hopped off his bike to kiss the ground and dance in front of his support section.
To add the cherry on top, Marquez' dominance this weekend launches him up to third in the riders' standings.
WHERE THE RACE WAS WON AND LOST
1/23 AWAY WE GO IN ARAGON - Francesco Bagnaia stalls on the start and falls down the order on the dirty opening sector of the track while Marc Marquez launches his bike into the lead.
3/23 OLIVEIRA DOWN AS SCRAP ENSUES AHEAD - Miguel Oliveira made a fatal error coming out of Turn 16 leaving the opening lap, while Pedro Acosta attempted an insane move trying to defend from Jorge Martin's lunge at Turn 8 but both drivers ran wide and put them under pressure from Alex Marquez lingering behind.
5/23 ALEX MARQUEZ JUMPS ACOSTA - Pedro Acosta lost his provisional third slot on the podium as Alex Marquez jumped him for the spot after capitalising on his battle with Martin.
11/23 PECCO PULLS ONE BACK - Francesco Bagnaia climbs up to fifth place after a poor start around the dirty side of the track, capitalising on a mistake made by Franco Morbidelli. Morbidelli ran wide on Lap 8, allowing three drivers to pass through as he tumbles down to eighth.
14/23 PECCO ON THE HUNT - The reigning world champion has found his way up to fourth place on Lap 13, on the hunt for Alex Marquez who is just 3.5s ahead.
18/23 MARQUEZ AND MARTIN UNTOUCHABLE? - Marc Marquez looks untouchable leading the grid by 3.9s ahead of nearest competitor Jorge Martin, who has managed to create a magnificent 6.9s gap to Alex Marquez.
19/23 PECCO AND ALEX MARQUEZ MAKE CONTACT - In a bold move attempting to go side by side, Pecco Bagnaia and Alex Marquez crash out of the race on Lap 19. A horrific incident saw Pecco run into the right side of Turn 12 but the dirty track left both riders out of the race after an unfortunate crash.
23/23 MARQUEZ TASTES VICTORY - Marc Marquez cruises to victory, clinching his first win in 1043 days on home soil after trials and tribulations were thrown his way.
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