Jorge Martin is now within striking distance of the MotoGP championship, boosting his lead over rival Francesco Bagnaia to 24 points after a decisive weekend at the Malaysian Grand Prix.
Martin seized a critical advantage when Bagnaia crashed in the Sprint race in Malaysia, allowing Martin to capture the win and extend his lead. Bagnaia fought back with a victory in the main Grand Prix on Sunday, with Martin finishing just behind him in second. Now, with one round remaining and a maximum of 37 points available, Bagnaia finds himself trailing by 24 points.
This season’s final showdown has been impacted by severe flooding in Valencia, leading officials to relocate the race from Circuit Ricardo Tormo to Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Though the event’s official title remains pending, Martin now has a chance to secure the title in Barcelona’s Sprint race. If he finishes with a 26-point margin over Bagnaia at the end of the Sprint, he’ll clinch the championship without needing to compete in the main Grand Prix.
Victory in the Sprint would not only mark Martin’s first MotoGP title but also make him the first rider to clinch a championship in a Sprint since the format’s introduction in 2023. Additionally, he would be the first Spanish rider to win the MotoGP title since Joan Mir’s 2020 triumph with Suzuki.
If Bagnaia manages to keep the competition alive into the final Grand Prix, it will set a new precedent in the modern four-stroke era—marking the first time in three consecutive seasons that the title has been decided in the last race. Should Martin fail to score in the Sprint and Bagnaia take first place, Bagnaia could close the gap to 12 points. In that scenario, Martin would need a third-place finish to win the title if Bagnaia were to win again; a fourth-place finish would result in Bagnaia taking the title due to his higher Grand Prix victory count in 2024.
How Martin Can Secure the Title in the Barcelona Sprint:
- If Bagnaia finishes second, Martin must win.
- If Bagnaia takes third or fourth, Martin can finish no lower than second.
- If Bagnaia is fifth, Martin needs at least a third-place finish.
- If Bagnaia is sixth, Martin must finish fourth or better.
- If Bagnaia places seventh, Martin must be no lower than fifth.
- If Bagnaia is eighth, Martin must secure at least sixth.
- If Bagnaia comes in ninth, Martin must finish seventh or higher.
- If Bagnaia lands in 10th, Martin needs to finish at least eighth.