‘It’s a proper old-school duel’
That was exactly what MotoGP has been lacking: Marc Marquez back to full strength, fighting up front, forcing his rivals to dig deep. That’s what happened at Jerez on Sunday, when Bagnaia fended off the six-times MotoGP champion to win the fastest-ever Spanish GP. It was probably the best the 27-yearold has ever ridden. Not only was he blindingly fast – setting a new lap record two laps from the finish, when his tyres were well shot – but also bumping and barging with the king of bump and grind. And coming out on top!
Marquez launched two attacks in the final few laps, both times using his superior speed through the Turn Seven and Eight lefthanders – because he’s always fastest when he’s turning left
– to slingshot past and take the lead into Turn Nine. Both times Bagnaia fought back, once hitting Marquez so hard that the right arm of the Spaniard’s leathers was black with Michelin rubber. And he managed to come out of that collision in front. Marquez isn’t used to losing battles like that!
Of course, there was more than just the battle for Jerez victory. Ducati race boss Gigi Dall’Igna wants Marquez to join his factory team in 2025, alongside Bagnaia, who would rather have a hole in the head than share his garage with someone as talented and devious as Marquez.
Why does Dall’Igna want Marquez? Because he believes he is still the most talented rider in the world and he needs someone special to counter the growing threat from Aprilia and KTM.
Bagnaia therefore needs to prove to Dall’Igna that Ducati doesn’t need Marquez and the best way to do that is to do what he did at Jerez – sliding his Desmosedici GP24 into the final corner and laying down end-ofrace lap times that made sure Marquez never got close enough for a last-lap divebomb.
This rivalry looks like being the story of 2024. Never mind all the problems of downforce aero, ride-height devices and front-tyre pressures – this is an old-school duel. May the best man win.
‘This rivalry could be the story of 2024’