At the Jerez circuit, Pramac rider Jorge Martin initially took control of the race by overtaking both Marc Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia in the early laps. He managed to maintain a steady lead, nearly a second ahead of his closest competitors, until disaster struck on the 11th lap.
Martin unexpectedly lost control of his Ducati GP24 while braking for Turn 6, resulting in his first retirement of the 2024 season. This setback narrowed his championship lead to just 17 points as Bagnaia seized the opportunity to claim victory, his first since the season opener in Qatar, and advance to second place in the championship standings.
Martin expressed confusion over the sudden crash, stating that he was maintaining a consistent pace and adhering to his usual braking points. Despite his efforts to manage the race and preserve his tire, the crash occurred unexpectedly. He emphasized the need to analyze the details of the incident to prevent similar occurrences in the future. Martin acknowledged that while he may have taken risks in other corners, turn 6 was not one of them, further emphasizing the puzzling nature of the crash.
Speculation arose regarding the potential influence of tire pressure following penalties imposed on several riders for running lower pressures in the previous day’s sprint race, which Martin had won. However, Martin and the Pramac team doubted that tire pressure played a role in the grand prix crash. They continued to seek explanations for what Martin described as a “strange” incident, ruling out tire pressure as a significant factor.
With Martin’s departure from the race, Bagnaia assumed the lead and successfully fended off pressure from Marquez in the closing laps to secure a thrilling victory at Jerez. This marked Bagnaia’s third consecutive MotoGP win at the Spanish circuit, showcasing his mastery of the track. Martin admitted that even if he had avoided the crash, matching Bagnaia’s pace would have been challenging, acknowledging the exceptional performance of his rival during the race.
Jorge Martin’s early lead at the Jerez circuit was abruptly cut short by a surprising crash, allowing Francesco Bagnaia to capitalize and claim victory. Despite Martin’s efforts to maintain consistency and manage the race, the cause of the crash remained unclear, prompting further investigation by the Pramac team. Bagnaia’s impressive performance secured his third consecutive win at Jerez, solidifying his position as a formidable contender in the championship battle.
