MotoGP Spain 2024, sprint race: Martin wins ahead of Acosta in the crash festival. 3rd Quartararo

Certainly not a pretty sight. In the sprint of the Spanish Grand Prix, the fourth act of the 2024 MotoGP world championship, literally anything happens. On the now dry asphalt of Jerez after the morning’s rain, a few wet patches remain which become decisive throughout the 12 laps of the race. So unfortunately many end up on the ground, making this sprint the festival of falls. Bastianini, Vinales, Alex and Marc Marquez, Diggia, Bez, Binder, Zarco, Aleix, Rins, Miller, Aleix and unfortunately also Bagnaia finish in the sand, but Bagnaia does not fall due to the wet conditions but due to a questionable contact with Binder at the start of the race.

The winner, however, is absolutely worthy. Jorge Martin confirms himself as a phenomenon on Saturday: not without difficulty he wins the sprint and significantly extends his lead in the world championship, given that all his rivals end up behind or on the ground. Martinator starts well and tries to push forward, but halfway through the race he makes a mistake and finds himself behind Marquez. The cabroncito, however, is one of many to fall and therefore the Spaniard returns first without rivals, triumphing for the second time in the season in the sprint. Second is Acosta, once again at the highest levels, third is Fabietto Quartararo, who from 23rd place takes advantage of the many crashes and takes home a podium which is pure oxygen for Yamaha. A sensational Dani Pedrosa off the podium.

Many were disappointed. First of all Marc Marquez who had enough to bring home his first gold medal with the Ducati, but he pays the price at the end like many others. It’s a shame for Bez who, after good qualifying, could have obtained his first excellent result of 2024, while Vinales also did badly and licked his wounds in Andalucia after the triumph in Austin. For Pecco, however, things are a little different: GoFree fights with Diggia, Bez and Binder in the early stages, and in turn one, entering Marco, he finds himself sandwiched by Bezzecchi and Binder’s KTM which makes an entrance of its own, finishing to the ground. An important zero for the world championship. Similar story for Bastianini who finds himself in the barriers in a simultaneous crash with Alex Marquez and Binder himself after they all hit a wet patch. Martin thanks and finds himself +29 on Acosta second in the championship, +33 on the Beast. Bagnaia even lapped.

Hopefully tomorrow everything will be different, with a race and not a rodeo. Watch out for Marquez who has the pace to win his first race with the Ducati, with Martin and Bagnaia very close.

The ranking: Martin, Acosta, Quartararo, Pedrosa, Morbidelli, Raul Fernandez, Marc Marquez, Augusto Fernandez, Oliveira, Mir.

– Ready to go and Binder takes off, then Martin and the Marquez brothers. Quinto Bagnaia, then Bezzecchi and Bastianini and Diggia. Martin immediately attacks Binder and passes him, like Marquez. The South African, however, isn’t up for it and attacks Marquez in his own way, but goes long and also loses positions on Bez and Bagnaia. Brad then hangs up on Pecco, who was attacking Bez at the time. A sandwich comes out and GoFree ends up on the floor.

– Martin flies in front, then the Marquez brothers with Marc ahead of Aleix. Fourth Binder under investigation for the crash with Ecco. Fifth Bastianini, then Acosta and Bezzecchi. Espargarò, Miller and Diggia fell behind.

– Halfway through the race, however, Marc changes gear and tries to close the gap on Martinator. Jorge gives him a hand, he makes a mistake, he barely stays on his feet but Marc has arrived and his compatriot passes at the first opportunity. Cabroncito in the lead ahead of Martin, then Alex, Binder, Bastianini, Acosta and Bezzecchi.

– With five laps to go, however, everything changes: in the same corner Binder, Bastianini and Alex Marquez fall in a few meters. A few corners later Bez ends up on the ground, then Marc Marquez and Vinales. A very strange situation, with Quartararo third to take advantage of it.

– In the last corners Diggia, Zarco and Marini also fall. Martin wins ahead of Acosta and Quartararo. Fourth Pedrosa, then Morbidelli.

There are 20 positions gained by Fabio Quartararo. The best recovery in the history of sprinting.

Pedro ACOSTA: “We didn’t have the pace. It was tough, I started well and made some overtaking. In turns 5 and 6 there was a large wet patch and many of us risked falling. But I did it and I’m second in the world championship. I’m very happy”:

Jorge MARTIN: Today, staying upright was already something complex and he succeeded in his objective, gaining points over everyone else in the general classification.

Brad BINDER: Always aggressive, but he is exaggerating now with these incomes always at the limit.