Jorge Martin of Spain wins 2024 MotoGP championship in Barcelona
Al Jazeera
Jorge Martin finishes third in the Solidarity Barcelona MotoGP to become first independent rider world champion of the MotoGP era.
Prima Pramac Racing’s Jorge Martin has been crowned the 2024 MotoGP world champion after finishing third in the season-ending Solidarity Grand Prix, which was won by his title rival Francesco Bagnaia of Ducati.
Martin led by 19 points heading into the final race of the season on Saturday, and the Spaniard needed to finish in the top nine to clinch the title if polesitter and twice-champion Bagnaia won the race. Gresini Racing’s Marc Marquez finished second.
Bagnaia had done everything to close the gap in the title race, with victory in the final Grand Prix his 11th of the season, but Martin’s 32 podiums across sprints and races earned him the title by 10 points.
Bagnaia and Martin made superb starts off the line and the title rivals went into turn one first and second. Marquez was third but he dived in on the inside of turn one on the second lap to overtake Martin.
