The recent flooding in Valencia has led MotoGP to relocate its 2024 season finale to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, a track that presents a competitive challenge for both title contenders.
Francesco Bagnaia claimed victory at the Catalan Grand Prix earlier this year, and he could have achieved a Sprint-Grand Prix double had he not crashed while leading the half-distance race on the final lap.
In contrast, Jorge Martin has yet to secure a win at the premier class in Barcelona, but he has consistently reached the podium in the last three Grands Prix there.
“Barcelona is a good track for both of us,” championship leader Martin remarked in the post-race press conference at the Malaysian Grand Prix.
“Pecco [Francesco Bagnaia] won last Sunday there; I was second, quite close, for sure I missed a bit but we will understand why.”
Bagnaia, who won at Sepang, added, “Mathematically it’s still possible. We know that it’s quite difficult, but in Barcelona, everything can happen. I crashed in the Sprint race when I was leading by one second and trying to avoid any mistakes, and I crashed the same. So, it will be tricky”.
“The conditions will be tougher compared to June because it will be cold. Two corners in Barcelona are quite tricky: turn two and turn five; so it will be important to try to be competitive but remain calm.”
Both riders emphasized that the change in venue for the final round will not affect their preparations. “We adapt to everything every time,” Bagnaia said.
“So for me, no, it won’t change how I prepare. In terms of performance, I normally perform better in Barcelona compared to Valencia. But it’s also a trickier track where mistakes can happen quickly, so precision is key. I don’t have a preference.”
Martin echoed this sentiment, noting his strong record in Barcelona despite lacking a premier class win.
“For me, it’s the same,” he said. “I think I perform similarly in Barcelona and Valencia. In Montmelo, I’ve been on the podium in 2022 and 2023, so I think I’m competitive.
As Pecco says, there are tricky corners, and with November conditions, we could see a lot of variability: maybe rain, wind, or even snow. I hope Michelin finds a nice solution, like Australia, but we’ll see what happens.”
Bagnaia faces the daunting task of overcoming a 24-point deficit to Martin, with only 37 points available in total, while third-placed Enea Bastianini finished a significant 10 seconds behind in Malaysia.
“It’s something that we need to improve for the next one in Barcelona,” Bagnaia joked. “I will try to give the slipstream to everybody during the weekend to make sure someone is in the middle. I have to win both races, so let’s see.”
Meanwhile, Martin is reassured by the fact that the championship destiny is firmly in his hands. “For me, the confidence doesn’t change a lot coming into this race or the next,” he stated. “I am confident in my work and how I arrive here. It’s a privilege to battle with a champion like Pecco, so I’m happy we took seven more points from this race. I feel a bit closer to the final target, but nothing is over until it’s over, so we need to be super-focused and believe until the end.”