2024 Thailand MotoGP News and Results

Cycle News Staff | October 27, 2024

Sunday MotoGP Race

Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) reigned supreme with a stunning wet weather win under pressure at the PT Grand Prix of Thailand. The #1 battled Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) for the lead before the #93 crashed out of contention, leaving Bagnaia to steel his nerves and get the hammer down at the front to escape Championship leader Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) by nearly three seconds. With that statement made, the gap at the top is back down to just 17 points with two race weekends remaining, and it’s now officially two contenders for the crown. #TheRematch is on!

Behind that battle there was another, with Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) claiming the final spot on the podium after a stunning showdown against Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jack Miller.

2024 Thailand MotoGP News and Results — **Bagnaia (1) won when he most needed to and reduced Martin’s (89) title points margin to 17.**

There was drama before the Grand Prix began, with the wet conditions catching out Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) on the sighting lap. He made the start though, and as the skies above Buriram continued to brood, the lights went out to decide the winner of the 2024 Thai Grand Prix.

Martin made a rocket start, snatching the advantage on the run to Turn 1 as a shuffle through there saw Bagnaia emerge in second, Marquez move up to third and Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) lose out as Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) went on the attack.

The Championship rivals began to duel – locking horns on the opening laps as Martin went wide, Bagnaia took over but the #89 responded swiftly as he sliced past the Italian at Turn 4. Martin began to extend his lead to almost half a second, shadowed by Bagnaia, with Marquez on their tail as Acosta duelled Quartararo in their wake. The rookie then sailed well wide, giving himself work to do as Quartararo suffered a worse fate following contact from Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing). The Italian was given a Long Lap, and the Frenchman was forced to rejoin at the back.

Back at the front, the first frisson of drama came on Lap 5 as Martin made a crucial error, running wide at Turn 3 and dropping down to third position – behind Marc Marquez. That gave Bagnaia the lead and made it a different tone of Jaws music for the reigning Champion as the #93 continued to shadow him.

More drama hit in the meantime, as Morbidelli’s day soon went from bad to worse, crashing out at Turn 8, moments before Bastianini’s Grand Prix also came to a halt at Turn 8, with the #23 losing the front and ending any hopes of scoring strong points on Lap 9 – after Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) had also slid out.

Meanwhile, Marc Marquez began his charge for victory, sending a move down the inside at the final corner. It was repelled. The #93 began to pile on the pressure though, with Martin lurking and waiting for an opportunity to pounce in P3. Marc Marquez sent his next attack on Lap 13, unable to make the move stick, with Bagnaia fighting back.

Marc Marquez continued to push to the limit, but then he pushed over it. The #93 made a crucial mistake at Turn 8 – skitting across the track on his knee and almost, almost saving it, but it wasn’t to be. The eight-time World Champion was on the floor on Lap 14, promoting Martin into P2. #TheRematch was all but guaranteed, and the top two were now leading the race – in reverse order.

Bagnaia pounded on at the front, with Martin not able to home in but this now a battle of nerves. It was a nail-biting finale to the Grand Prix at the front as the laps ticked down for what must have seemed like hours for Bagnaia, but behind we were treated to an incredible show of a different kind.

After his earlier dramas, Acosta was back on terms with Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and managed to slice past the South African, then next up was Miller. The Australian put up a stunning fight as the two went toe-to-toe, sideways and all which ways in a high-speed game of chicken, but in the end the rookie was able to make it stick.

At the head of the field, Bagnaia sealed the deal. Nearly three seconds clear and taking his first wet weather MotoGP™ win when he needed one most, the reigning Champion cuts it back down to 17 points ahead of the final two races. With plenty on the line too, Martin’s composure in second ensures it’s still some gap at least – to falter would have been to cede the title lead. And he didn’t.

Acosta completed the podium after his late charge, in the end finishing ahead of Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) as the Italian put in his own final bout of glory. Miller was forced to settle for fifth, ahead of teammate Binder, with Aprilia Racing rider Maverick Viñales next up. The #12 was a further 2.60s behind, crossing the line in front of CASTROL Honda LCR’s Johann Zarco in P8 who takes Honda’s best GP result of the season so far.

Meanwhile, Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) and Alex Marquez rounded out the top 10 after a dramatic Thai GP. Marc Marquez recovered to 11th, walking away with key points after beating Luca Marini (Repsol Honda Team), Takaaki Nakagami (IDEMITSU Honda LCR), Bastianini and Joan Mir (Repsol Honda Team), with the #36 securing the final point. Marquez also had to drop a position and did so somewhat contentiously, having earlier made contact with Mir.

2024 Thailand MotoGP Results

1	Francesco Bagnaia	(Ducati Lenovo Team)
2	Jorge Martin	(Prima Pramac Racing)	+2.905
3	Pedro Acosta	(Red Bull GASGAS Tech3)	+3.800
4	Fabio Di Giannantonio	(Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team)	+4.636
5	Jack Miller	(Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)	+5.532
6	Brad Binder	(Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)	+5.898
7	Maverick Viñales	(Aprilia Racing)	+8.498
8	Johann Zarco	(CASTROL Honda LCR)	+17.672
9	Aleix Espargaro	(Aprilia Racing)	+18.588
10	Alex Marquez	(Gresini Racing MotoGP™)	+21.163

Moto2 Race

Ai came, Ai saw, Ai conquered. Having claimed a P2 finish in a red-flagged Moto2™ PT Grand Prix of Thailand race, Ai Ogura (MT Helmets – MSI) is the 2024 Moto2™ World Champion! The Japanese star is the first from his country to win the World Championship since Hiroshi Aoyama in 2009, and Ogura becomes the first former IDEMITSU Asia Talent Cup rider to win a Grand Prix title. Race winner Aron Canet (Fantic Racing) did all he could to try to put the celebrations on ice in Thailand, as the Spaniard strengthens his grip on the silver medal with win number three of 2024. Meanwhile, Marcos Ramirez (OnlyFans American Racing Team) finished P3 to bag his first rostrum of the season.

Ogura got away well from pole position to slot into the lead ahead of Canet at Turn 1 before Canet pounced at Turn 3. Ogura was back in the lead at Turn 4 though as Turn 5 saw two key contenders go down. Fermin Aldeguer (Beta Tools SpeedUp) crashed and took out the luckless Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team), as the fast-starting Alonso Lopez (Beta Tools SpeedUp) sent it up the inside of Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team) and Ogura as the Championship leader was shuffled down to P7.

On Lap 3, Canet led from Ramirez and Jake Dixon (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team), with Lopez back down to P12 having run wide at Turn 5 a lap earlier. Ogura was now P6 behind Darryn Binder (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) and Moreira.

After a hectic start, the race settled down. The top six – Canet to Ogura – were covered by 1.7s with 16 laps to go, as Ogura then began to make moves. His first one was to set the fastest lap of the race, and his second was to aggressively pass Binder down at Turn 3. Contact was made, Binder was forced to run wide, as Ogura then set his sights on Dixon and Moreira.

With 16 laps to go, Dixon was picked off for P4 as Ogura stood in a Championship clinching position. Moreira was then demoted to P4 on Lap 9 of 22 as Ogura climbed to P3 and set another fastest lap of the race. The gap to Ramirez and Canet? 1.6s.

After a couple of laps, Ogura was right on the coattails of Ramirez. And with nine laps to go, at Turn 3, the #79 used the cutback to great effect to overtake Ramirez. That was now P2 for Ogura, who had 0.9s to make up if he wanted to attack race leader Canet.

That was soon 1.6s though as light rain began to fall in Buriram! Understandably, Ogura was cautious but with six laps to go, the rain wasn’t heavy enough for any kind of stoppage to come into play. Canet, meanwhile, slammed in his personal best lap of the race to edge his advantage up to two seconds.

With two to go, Canet was 3.6s clear of Ogura who in turn was a second ahead of Ramirez and then, the red flags were shown. Due to weather conditions and with 20 of 22 laps completed (over 2/3rds), Ai Ogura was crowned 2024 Moto2™ World Champion.

The red flags came out at the right time for Ramirez as home hero Somkiat Chantra (IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia) was on course to get himself into the podium picture, but the returning Thai rider had to settle for P4. Nonetheless, that was some effort from Chantra. Moreira rounded out the top five in a brilliant battle that included sixth place Izan Guevara (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team), seventh place Dixon, eighth place Albert Arenas (Gresini Moto2™) and ninth place Manuel Gonzalez (Gresini Moto2™).

Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) completed the top 10 in Thailand, with Lopez settling for P11 after being in the podium fight before a mistake. Sergio Garcia’s (MT Helmets – MSI) title hopes are now ended as the Spaniard ends the Thai GP in P12, with Ayumu Sasaki (Yamaha VR46 Master Camp Team), Filip Salač (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) and replacement rider Jorge Navarro (OnlyFans American Racing Team) the final points scorers.

2024 Thailand Moto2 Results

1	Aron Canet	(Fantic Racing)
2	Ai Ogura	(MT Helmets – MSI)	+3.684
3	Marcos Ramirez	(OnlyFans American Racing Team)	+4.683
4	Somkiat Chantra	(IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia)	+5.799
5	Diogo Moreira	(Italtrans Racing Team)	+6.172
6	Izan Guevara	(CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team)	+6.405
7	Jake Dixon	(CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team)	+6.909
8	Albert Arenas	(Gresini Moto2™)	+7.404
9	Manuel Gonzalez	(Gresini Moto2™)	+8.978
10	Deniz Öncü	(Red Bull KTM Ajo)	+12.160

Moto3 Race

David Alonso (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) continued to etch his name into the record books at the PT Grand Prix of Thailand, securing a 12th victory of the season and creating history as the rider to win the most races in a single season in the lightweight class… now beating, not equalling, Valentino Rossi’s 1997 record. The Colombian took the win by a few tenths ahead of rookie Luca Lunetta (SIC58 Squadra Corse), with Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) grabbing the final spot on the podium after a dramatic run to the line and contact with Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia).

It was declared a wet race start, meaning a reduced distance of 12 laps and an opportunity for the Moto3™ field to complete multiple sighting laps given every session throughout the weekend was dry. By the time it was lights out though, everyone in the field opted for slicks barring Eddie O’Shea (Fleetsafe Honda – MLav Racing).

From pole, Joel Kelso (BOE Motorsports) claimed the holeshot and stormed into the lead at Turn 1, but it was a dramatic start, with Veijer not waiting long to pounce – stealing the lead from the Australian. The #66 responded though, bunching up the lead group as Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets – MSI) created opportunities after carving his way inside the top five. The #48 attacked Kelso early after the polesitter was demoted to P5 after a tough Lap 3.

Meanwhile, it was soon Alonso’s time to shine as spots of rain fell onto the circuit. The Colombian snatched the lead on Lap 4, setting sights on a 12th win of the season and the opportunity to create history in Thailand. Alonso had steep competition on his hands as Furusato took over in front, who began to put the hammer down.

Lunetta then began to make inroads, catching the back of the lead group after stunning pace. The Italian soon began to duel with Veijer as he set sights on the podium. There was then drama at the front for the Leopard Racing squad that interrupted the group too, with Angel Piqueras and Adrian Fernandez colliding on Lap 11.

It was a grandstand finish, with Ortola and Alonso going head-to-head on the 12th and final lap. Alonso made the move stick, storming to glory in Thailand as Lunetta and Veijer were able to pinch the podium from Ortola, who ran wide at the final corner. There as high drama in that fight as Furusato and Veijer made contact, the Japanese rider crashing just before the line. Rider ok and classified, but not a podium finish as he takes P5 behind Ortola.

David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports) battled his way from P17 on the grid to P6, and he pipped teammate Kelso to the line as Scott Ogden (FleetSafe Honda – MLav Racing) took the flag in a strong eighth.

Further back, Stefano Nepa (LEVELUP – MTA) and Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP’s Tatsuki Suzuki rounded out a competitive top 10. The #24 was ahead of compatriot Ryusei Yamanaka in 11th, with Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3), Riccardo Rossi (CIP Green Power), Filippo Farioli (SIC58 Squadra Corse) and Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 rookie Jacob Roulstone completing the points after a penalty for Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Jose Antonio Rueda.

2024 Thailand Moto3 Results

1	David Alonso	(CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team)
2	Luca Lunetta	(SIC58 Squadra Corse)	+0.353
3	Collin Veijer	(Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP)	+0.522
4	Ivan Ortola	(MT Helmets – MSI)	+0.963
5	Taiyo Furusato	(Honda Team Asia)	+1.683
6	David Muñoz	(BOE Motorsports)	+2.492
7	Joel Kelso	(BOE Motorsports)	+2.806
8	Scott Ogden	(FleetSafe Honda – MLav Racing)	+5.022
9	Stefano Nepa	(LEVELUP – MTA)	+7.641
10	Tatsuki Suzuki	(Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP)	+8.308

2024 Thailand MotoGP News—Saturday

‘Pecco needs to take risks’

The mood was somber in Pecco Bagnaia’s camp on Saturday afternoon after he fell short in a crucial fight with title rival Jorge Martin, which extended the Spaniard’s advantage to 22 points. It meant Martin can now afford to finish each of the remaining Sprint and feature races in second and still take the crown.

Marc Marquez believes such a situation means the reigning World Champion must start taking risks. “Tomorrow we will see a nice fight against Bagnaia-Martin, because they are both riding super-fast. And Bagnaia needs to take risks, because if he wants to have some chance in Valencia, tomorrow he needs to finish in front of Martin.”

Total Ducati Domination

History was made on Saturday. A manufacturer filled the top eight positions of a premier class race for the first time since Barcelona, 1996, as Ducati laid waste to its rivals.

Jack Miller, who attempted to follow Marco Bezzecchi and Fabio Di Giannantonio unsuccessfully felt the Chang International Circuit’s layout was responsible. “Three massive straights. Able to point and shoot. The bikes are rocket ships but the way they accelerate is pretty impressive.”

Di Giannantonio believes the Desmosedici’s adaptability is another factor behind such domination. “The bike is really consistent in every condition. Also, we make the tire work in a really proper way, even when they change the construction. And in the MotoGP of today we have like not the best, best bike in an area, but we have a 9 out of 10 in every area.”

Acosta: A top six is OK

Pedro Acosta crashed out of the podium fight once again on Saturday, which extended his non-score record in the 2024 season to seven DNFs in the last eleven. Afterward, the rookie superstar acknowledged he may need to change his approach in the remaining races.

“The confidence was there,” he responded when asked if his self-belief had taken a recent pummeling. “If not you’re not able to push with the front boys, it’s true we need to start to finish races. From the last 11 I finished 4. We need to take a step back and be a bit calmer and even understand that sometimes a top 5 is not bad at all. We need to understand this.”

On where he is lacking compared to Ducati, he added, “They are having more margin than us. For us to go with them we have to go in this 100% and when you cross the line, some days you can save it and some days not. Maybe they are riding in this 95% and they have this 5% margin.”

Saturday MotoGP Sprint Race

Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) charged to victory in the Tissot Sprint at the PT Grand Prix of Thailand, taking glory by 1.357s after a sublime performance escaping at the front to lay down the gauntlet. Behind, the top two in the title fight went toe-to-toe, with Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) just able to hold off Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) on the final two laps to increase his Championship lead to 22 points.

Once the lights went out, Bagnaia made a phenomenal launch from pole, taking a slight advantage on the run to Turn 1. However, Martin was on the attack, launching a move down the inside and sending both himself as his main title rival wide enough to allow Bastianini and Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) through. The #89 was now left with work to do, dropping even further to fifth as Pedro Acosta (Re Bull GASGAS Tech3) also picked his way past and defended when Martin tried to move straight back through.

On Lap 2 Martin was back in fourth though, past the rookie before Acosta had overcooked it and slid out. The next target for the Championship leader was Marc Marquez. Martin made a textbook move at the final corner to overtake the #93, and it got close on the exit but the #89 kept it, digging in to now chase down the next target: Bagnaia in second.

Martin began to edge closer to the reigning World Champion as Bagnaia, Martin and Marc Marquez were all glued close together on track. Once Martin was right on the tailpipes of the #1 though, he pounced at Turn 7. And there came some controversy as he ran slightly wide on the exit, that proving the next strike to award the Spaniard to a track limits warning. But he kept the position…

It was building to be a tense finale, with Bastianini checked out at the front but the title rivals separated by a mere 0.350s on the chase. Bagnaia continued to pile on the pressure at every corner in an enthralling end to Saturday’s action, looking like he was going to be able to set up a move.

By the final lap though, Martin had reeled in Bastianini more than Bagnaia had managed to make ground on the #89, and in a tense final few kms the three sliced round Buriram. Ultimately, the ‘Beast’ kept it tidy to take a second Sprint win of the year in style, Martin held on under intense pressure to take second, and Bagnaia was forced to cede two more points in that Championship battle as he came home third.

Marc Marquez crossed the line in fourth, grabbing some strong points after the #93 was unable to match the pace of the top three in the latter stages. The eight-time World Champion finished ahead of teammate Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), who rounded out the top five positions after a sensational ride. The Spaniard had to work hard in the closing laps, with Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing) finishing a further 0.947s behind in sixth.

Further back, Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team’s Marco Bezzecchi and Fabio Di Giannantonio had a battle of their own. The Italians fought it out throughout the Sprint as Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) began to drop down the order after climbing to P6 in the opening stages. Bezzecchi took P7 in the end, a tenth ahead of his teammate as Binder was forced to watch on and settle for the final point in ninth.

Another ding dong just behind saw Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) able to escape Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), with the Australian then forced to fend off Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) by the flag as the Frenchman also stayed ahead of Joan Mir (Repsol Honda Team).

2024 Thailand MotoGP News and Results—MotoGP Sprint Race

1	Enea Bastianini	(Ducati Lenovo Team)
2	Jorge Martin	(Prima Pramac Racing)	+1.357
3	Francesco Bagnaia	(Ducati Lenovo Team)	+2.372
4	Marc Marquez	(Gresini Racing MotoGP™)	+5.402
5	Alex Marquez	(Gresini Racing MotoGP™)	+10.140
6	Franco Morbidelli	(Prima Pramac Racing)	+11.087
7	Marco Bezzecchi	(Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team)	+11.538
8	Fabio Di Giannantonio	(Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team)	+11.680
9	Brad Binder	(Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)	+13.692
10	Fabio Quartararo	(Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™)	+14.483

MotoGP Qualifying

Last weekend it was Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) who stole the qualifying show. Seven days later, it was the turn of title rival Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) to do some Q2 record-breaking as the #1 fired in a belting 1:28.700 to bag a crucial pole position in a drama-filled Buriram battle. It also makes him a little history as the Ducati rider with most poles (22), surpassing MotoGP™ Legend Casey Stoner’s count with the Bologna factory.

Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) launches from P2, ‘The Beast’ a couple of tenths shy of teammate Pecco, as Martin is forced to settle for P3 after the Championship leader crashed at Turn 5 in the closing stages of Q2.

Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) was another big name to crash in Q2. The Australian GP winner’s qualifying stint ended at Turn 3 while the #93 was shadowing Martin. The Practice pacesetter eyes a victory challenge from fifth on the grid at the PT Grand Prix of Thailand.

After the opening flying laps landed, Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was the pacesetter by 0.260s with Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) an early P2. Binder improved on his next lap but Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) climbed to P1 before Di Giannantonio beat the Frenchman’s lap by 0.008s. This meant 0.020s split Di Giannantonio, Quartararo and Binder after the first runs, with Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) only 0.122s away from P1 in fourth.

With three minutes to go, Binder returned to the Q1 summit to relegate Quartararo out of the top two. But after producing a classy save at Turn 5 on his first effort, El Diablo responded with a lap good enough for P2 on his next push. However, Di Giannantonio then went P1 again by just over a tenth to demote Quartararo back to third. That didn’t last long though. The #20 pinched P1 by 0.023s to leave Binder in P3 and with the South African not on a flying lap, the #33 KTM was out. That meant Quartararo and Di Giannantonio entered the Q2 chat, with Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) and Miller P4 and P5 in Q1.

After a brief pause, the Q2 boom began in Buriram. The most important 15 minutes of the event so far started with Marc Marquez losing the rear at Turn 3 and Martin running slightly wide at Turn 4. Meanwhile, Bagnaia found a 1:29.331 on his first effort to sit eight tenths faster than Quartararo. The Italian then set a 1:29.076, a new all-time lap record, as Martin went 0.054s slower to slot into P2. Marc Marquez’s first competitive time placed the #93 in P3, 0.310s adrift, with Bastianini an early P4.

Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) then slotted his GP23 into P3 to shove Marquez off the provisional front row, as the Q2 runners returned to the box for fresh rubber. Were we about to witness the first-ever 1:28 lap around the Chang International Circuit?

The answer was yes. But before that, drama unfolded at Turn 3. Marquez was down and out of Q2, rider ok but no chance to rejoin, so it was P4 at best for the eight-time World Champion. In the meantime, Pecco slammed in a phenomenal 1:27.700 as Turn 5 then bit Martin. The Championship frontrunner was on the deck and also out of Q2, as Bastianini made it a factory Ducati 1-2 to relegate the #89 to P3.

Franco Morbidelli then made it two Prima Pramac Racing machines to end qualifying in the gravel, the Italian crashed unhurt at Turn 9. So now the question was could anyone do further damage to Martin’s grid slot? Bezzecchi was close but the Italian couldn’t improve on his penultimate lap.

Quartararo’s stunning charge then clicked into gear as he climbed to P6, slotting in just ahead of rookie Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3).

And that was all she wrote. Bagnaia couldn’t improve but it didn’t matter. A decisive pole position was pocketed for the #1, as teammate Bastianini kept P2 and Martin held onto a front row despite the fall.

Bezzecchi spearheads the second row ahead of a frustrated Marc Marquez and impressive Quartararo, with Acosta fronting Row 3 in P7. Di Giannantonio and Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) join the rookie in P8 and P9.

Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) set a late lap to grab P10, and Morbidelli’s crash cost the Italian a chance of starting higher than P11. The same can be said for Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) as the Frenchman suffered a late tumble to see the HRC star launch from P12.

2024 Thailand MotoGP News and Results—MotoGP Qualifying

1	Francesco Bagnaia	(Ducati Lenovo Team)	1:28.700
2	Enea Bastianini	(Ducati Lenovo Team)	+0.232
3	Jorge Martin	(Prima Pramac Racing)	+0.430
4	Marco Bezzecchi	(Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team)	+0.624
5	Marc Marquez	(Gresini Racing MotoGP™)	+0.686
6	Fabio Quartararo	(Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™)	+0.708
7	Pedro Acosta	(Red Bull GASGAS Tech3)	+0.719
8	Fabio Di Giannantonio	(Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team)	+0.735
9	Alex Marquez	(Gresini Racing MotoGP™)	+0.827
10	Maverick Viñales	(Aprilia Racing)	+0.928

Moto2 Qualifying

Pressure? There was no sign of it on Saturday as title race leader Ai Ogura (MT Helmets – MSI) collected a crucial pole position at the PT Grand Prix of Thailand to hand himself the best possible starting slot for match point Sunday. The Japanese star set a 1:34.728 to beat Aron Canet (Fantic Racing) by 0.051s as rookie star Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team) completed a front row that was split by just 0.074s.

Battling through the pain, Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) slotted home a late PB lap to earn P4 in Q2, but that will turn into P7 after the Italian was handed a three-place grid penalty for his involvement in Friday’s incident with Zonta van den Goorbergh (RW-Idrofoglia Racing GP).
That promoted Marcos Ramirez (OnlyFans American Racing Team) to the front of Row 2 in P4, with the Spaniard joined on the second row by Filip Salač (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) and Albert Arenas (Gresini Moto2™).
Australian GP winner Fermin Aldeguer (Beta Tools SpeedUp) will launch from P8 in his bid to try and stop Ogura from claiming the 2024 crown in Thailand.

2024 Thailand MotoGP News and Results—Moto2 Qualifying

1	Ai Ogura	(MT Helmets – MSI)	1:34.728
2	Aron Canet	(Fantic Racing)	+0.051
3	Diogo Moreira	(Italtrans Racing Team)	+0.074
4	Tony Arbolino	(Elf Marc VDS Racing Team)	+0.138
5	Marcos Ramirez	(OnlyFans American Racing Team)	+0.143
6	Filip Salac	(Elf Marc VDS Racing Team)	+0.143
7	Albert Arenas	(Gresini Moto2™)	+0.190
8	Fermin Aldeguer	(Beta Tools SpeedUp)	+0.208
9	Sergio Garcia	(MT Helmets – MSI)	+0.284
10	Manuel Gonzalez	(Gresini Moto2™)	+0.305

Moto3 Qualifying

It’s been a long time coming but finally, following a fantastic final lap in Q2, Joel Kelso (BOE Motorsports) is a Grand Prix polesitter for the first time as the Australian’s 1:40.603 saw him beat Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) by 0.073s in Buriram. After being in the group that didn’t get out of pitlane in time to complete a final flying lap, Angel Piqueras (Leopard Racing) settled for an outside-of-the-front-row start in P3.

World Champion David Alonso (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) starts from the middle of the second row in P5 as he aims to claim a record-breaking 12th win of the season.

The Colombian is sandwiched between fourth place Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) and sixth place Scott Ogden (FleetSafe Honda – MLav Racing). The Japanese star will be aiming to stand on the podium for a second year in a row in Thailand, with the British rider hoping to challenge for a maiden rostrum.

Hoping to keep himself in the driving seat for the silver medal in 2024, Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) will start tomorrow’s race from P7. Meanwhile, Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets – MSI) will go in search of keeping himself in the mix for that P2 overall spot from 9th on the grid.

2024 Thailand MotoGP News and Results—Moto3 Qualifying

1	Joel Kelso	(BOE Motorsports)	1:40.603
2	Collin Veijer	(Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP)	+0.073
3	Angel Piqueras	(Leopard Racing)	+0.124
4	Taiyo Furusato	(Honda Team Asia)	+0.262
5	David Alonso	(CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team)	+0.356
6	Scott Ogden	(FleetSafe Honda – MLav Racing)	+0.416
7	Daniel Holgado	(Red Bull GASGAS Tech3)	+0.514
8	David Almansa	(Kopron Rivacold Snipers Team)	+0.571
9	Ivan Ortola	(MT Helmets – MSI)	+0.583
10	Luca Lunetta	(SIC58 Squadra Corse)	+0.620

2024 Thailand MotoGP News—Friday

Bezzecchi – Viñales incident revisited

The controversial crash between Maverick Viñales and Marco Bezzecchi at Phillip Island continued to hang over the MotoGP paddock in Thailand, with riders asked for their views, and whether the FIM Stewards’ admission aerodynamics was a cause was meaningful.

Marc Marquez took the opportunity to express an altered view. “I did a mistake, because I spoke without checking well the image (in Australia),” he said. “It was not a racing incident, it was a mistake of Bezzecchi. Because already in the middle of the straight Viñales was in front, so then you need to anticipate. You can say aerodynamics, but I believe that that action without aerodynamics would finish in the same way.”

Marquez: no regrets at leaving Honda

After his recent success with Gresini Ducati, Marc Marquez was asked if he had any regrets over not leaving Honda sooner. “No,” came the reply. “Because with Honda we achieved a lot and I feel part of Honda. Still, right now I’m riding a Ducati and next year I will be a Ducati rider. But Honda has been and will be a very important part of my career, or maybe the most important part – you never know.”

The move has given him a feeling of relief, he explained. “Now in the future when I will retire I will be quiet because I tried everything. Of course, when you do that kind of move you put a lot of pressure on yourself and there can be a lot of negative comments if you don’t achieve what you want. But I already achieved what I wanted. The target was to try to be longer in my career and try to be competitive again. Then, if I win another title this will be something in another hand. But my main goal is already done.”

Acosta back and ‘without pain’

Pedro Acosta was back on a bike in Thailand after dislocating his left shoulder in the Sprint race at Phillip Island, and was able to diagnose what happened. “It was a partial break of the ligament,” he said. “The shoulder went in and out in quite a violent way and makes everything worse. It is what it is but it improved a lot in the last couple of days so we have to be happy.

“The pain and for the limit the doctor says. We’ll see what’s going on. I can have a good range or movement without pain, it is more when I touch it. I have pain. We’ll see.”

Friday MotoGP

For a second Friday on the spin, Australian MotoGP winner Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) heads into Saturday at the summit of the timesheets as the eight-time World Champion set a brilliant new Buriram all-time lap record in Practice. Marquez’s 1:29.165 was enough to see him beat Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) by 0.110s, with the World Championship leader a further 0.052s clear of third place Enea Bastianini. His Ducati Lenovo teammate, title-hunting Francesco Bagnaia, ended Friday at the PT Grand Prix of Thailand in P4 with the top four in the title fight just 0.195s apart heading into a vital Saturday.

Marc Marquez was the early session leader after the first set of laps landed, and it stayed that way heading into the final 20 minutes. But it was a very intriguing session in the meantime. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) and Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) were operating inside the top five, and Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) was in a close second as he returns to action following his crash on Saturday in Australia.

Bagnaia was P4 with 18 minutes to go, however, the reigning Champion looked far from happy. Martin, meanwhile, was seventh before the fresh soft rubber was unwrapped.

Marquez’s stint at the summit ended when Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) rose to P1 on a fresh medium compound rear tyre. The South African then got down to a 1:29.949 on his next flying lap to move the goalposts further, as Quartararo climbed back to P2 and only 0.138s away from the #33.

Then, another Pierer Mobility Group machine went fastest. This time it was Acosta, but Quartararo then beat the rookie by 0.018s, much to the delight of the Frenchman. 0.035s then split the top three as Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse Racing MotoGP™) improved to a 1:29.857.

That soon changed though. Martin’s 1:29.543 saw the Championship leader go P1 before Bagnaia responded with a P2 time – 0.103s away from his title rival. Another name then pounced as Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) beat Martin, but the 2023 Thai GP winner returned the favor as the #89 pinched a 0.231s advantage with eight minutes to go. And his 1:29.275 was a new all-time lap record.

Bagnaia got within a tenth of Martin a few minutes later before Marc Marquez bagged provisional top spot with under two minutes to go, the #93’s advantage up to 0.110s. Elsewhere, having gone fastest not too long ago, Acosta found himself outside the top 10 with just one lap remaining – but the #31 delivered a lap good enough for P7 when it mattered most.

So at the end of Friday’s play, Marquez’ new record leads a trio of GP24s into Saturday as Viñales fronts the non-Ducati charge in P5, 0.3s away from the eight-time World Champion. Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing) picked up P6 ahead of the late improving Acosta, with Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) another rider that set a PB lap time late on to earn P8. Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) and the impressive Zarco are the other automatic Q2 qualifiers, as Binder misses out by the truly barest of margins: 0.001s.

2024 Thailand MotoGP News and Results—Friday MotoGP

1	Marc Marquez	(Gresini Racing MotoGP™)	1:29.165
2	Jorge Martin	(Prima Pramac Racing)	+0.110
3	Enea Bastianini	(Ducati Lenovo Team)	+0162
4	Francesco Bagnaia	(Ducati Lenovo Team)	+0.195
5	Maverick Viñales	(Aprilia Racing)	+0.341
6	Franco Morbidelli	(Prima Pramac Racing)	+0.384
7	Pedro Acosta	(Red Bull GASGAS Tech3)	+0.437
8	Alex Marquez	(Gresini Racing MotoGP™)	+0.448
9	Marco Bezzecchi	(Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team)	+0.455
10	Johann Zarco	(CASTROL Honda LCR)	+0.517

Friday Moto2

A two-tenth advantage heading into Saturday will do just nicely for Aron Canet (Fantic Racing) as the Spaniard enjoyed a fruitful day at the office in Thailand. Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) – despite a nasty incident in Free Practice involving Zonta van den Goorbergh (RW-Idrofoglia Racing GP) that saw both handed penalties for Sunday’s race – acted as Canet’s closest challenger at the end of play, while third place went the way of Marcos Ramirez (OnlyFans American Racing).

Jake Dixon (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team) and Alonso Lopez (Beta Tools SpeedUp) rounded out the top five on Day 1 in Buriram, 0.4s adrift of Canet’s pace.

Ai Ogura (MT Helmets – MSI) ended Friday in P6, but it wasn’t a straight forward day for the World Championship leader after he suffered a bike issue at the end of Practice 1.

Fermin Aldeguer (Beta Tools SpeedUp) finished one place behind Ogura in P8, while Sergio Garcia (MT Helmets – MSI) has work to do in Practice 2 after the #3 was P15.

2024 Thailand MotoGP News and Results—Friday Moto2

1	Aron Canet	(Fantic Racing)	1:35.192
2	Tony Arbolino	(Elf Marc VDS Racing Team)	+0.218
3	Marcos Ramirez	(OnlyFans American Racing Team)	+0.250
4	Jake Dixon	(CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team)	+0.416
5	Alonso Lopez	(Beta Tools SpeedUp)	+0.440
6	Ai Ogura	(MT Helmets – MSI)	+0.452
7	Fermin Aldeguer	(Beta Tools SpeedUp)	+0.533
8	Manuel Gonzalez	(Gresini Moto2™)	+0.548
9	Albert Arenas	(Gresini Moto2™)	+0.664
10	Jorge Navarro	(OnlyFans American Racing Team)	+0.692

Friday Moto3

David Alonso (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) is the Moto3™ rider to beat so far in Buriram after the 2024 World Champion was the only rider to dip into the 1:40s in Practice 1, despite a crash coming at Turn 12 in the afternoon. A 1:40.703 saw the Colombian beat second place Joel Kelso (BOE Motorsports) by 0.385s, with the Australian less than a tenth ahead of third place Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing).

Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) and Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) – two of the three riders chasing the overall runners-up spot – claimed P4 and P5, with both over half a second down on Alonso.

The other rider chasing the 2024 silver medal, Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets – MSI), was seventh quickest behind sixth place Luca Lunetta (SIC58 Squadra Corse).

2024 Thailand MotoGP News and Results—Friday Moto3

1	David Alonso	(CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team)	1:40.703
2	Joel Kelso	(BOE Motorsports)	+0.385
3	Adrian Fernandez	(Leopard Racing)	+0.453
4	Daniel Holgado	(Red Bull GASGAS Tech3)	+0.584
5	Collin Veijer	(Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP)	+0.587
6	Luca Lunetta	(SIC58 Squadra Corse)	+0.653
7	Ivan Ortola	(MT Helmets – MSI)	+0.723
8	David Almansa	(Kopron Rivacold Snipers Team)	+0.736
9	Jose Antonio Rueda	(Red Bull KTM Ajo)	+0.757
10	Angel Piqueras	(Leopard Racing)	+0.788

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