Rennie Scaysbrook | August 4, 2024
Sunday Grand Prix
After a dream Saturday, it was a stunning performance on a special Sunday for Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team), who capped off a historic weekend at the Monster Energy British Grand Prix with a win. The #23 became the 10th different rider to take victory at Silverstone in the last ten events at the track, storming through late on to put himself third in the title fight and only 49 points off the top. Meanwhile, the top of the standings once again belongs to Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) as the #89 led the majority of the Grand Prix before proving unable to deny Bastianini.
Reigning Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) secured the final spot on the podium as he bounced back from a crash on Saturday, but the 16-point haul on Sunday puts him back behind Martin by three. It was his 43rd MotoGP™ podium, all on a Ducati, which makes him the rider with the most podiums taken with Ducati.
Enea Bastianini went old school Beast mode in Britain to take the Sunday GP win.
Once the lights went out it was a blast from the past from Bagnaia, who claimed the holeshot on the run to Turn 1 after a phenomenal launch, ahead of Bastianini and Martin. While it was a great start from the #1, it was a tougher opening lap from polesitter Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing), who dropped to fourth position after some shuffling, with Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) moving briefly past the Aprilia before being demoted to P5 once more.
Unfortunately, it was an early end to the Grand Prix for Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), who suffered an issue at the race start. Later on in the opening lap, Trackhouse Racing’s Miguel Oliveira and Raul Fernandez races also came to an end, crashing out.
Bagnaia led from Bastianini, but Martin was quick to make his way past the #23. Bastianini soon dropped back to fourth too, with Espargaro finding a way through. Marc Marquez was also close on the chase as the top five started to break away, but Bagnaia was holding station at the front.
Further back, Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) and Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) began to battle for seventh position. Di Giannantonio found his way through on the #31 and then began to duel with Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) in sixth, with the two exchanging some paintwork and the VR46 rider even doing the Moto3™ classic: tapping the rear of the seat to say “follow me”.
Bagnaia limited the damage caused by yesterday’s crash for third today.
Meanwhile at the front, tension was building as Martin homed in, looking for an opportunity to pounce on Bagnaia in the lead. He took over at the front for the first time on Lap 12, making the move stick on the entry to Turn 3. Behind the leading duo, Bastianini then found a gap in Espargaro’s armour – entering the provisional podium places.
However, Martin ran wide at Turn 13 one lap later, putting Bagnaia and Bastianini right back on his tail. The next move inside the top three came from Bastianini though, who overtook his teammate for second as Pecco suffered a front end moment. The ‘Beast’ immediately started to pull back the gap to Martin.
It was six laps to go and seven tenths up the road to Martin. Slowly but surely, that was creeping down. It was agonising progress though, with hundredths and tenths making the difference as the #23 edged further and further forward. By the penultimate lap he was there and suddenly Martin was wide once and then again at Turn 3, on second time of asking too wide to defend it. Bastianini was through and headed over the line in the lead as the final lap began.
In the end, Martin made it easy for Bastianini (behind) running wide on the penultimate lap and handing over the lead.
In only one lap, Bastianini put together a fantastic end to the British Grand Prix, stretching out a magnificent gap to cross the line and create history ahead of Martin and teammate Bagnaia, who claimed the final spot on the podium.
Marc Marquez took fourth after a late charge at Pecco but unable to arrive, and he had his own closing gap to deal with as Di Giannantonio climbed from 10th on the grid to fifth at the chequered flag. Polesitter Espargaro took sixth and was being chased by Alex Marquez, with the #73 finishing a mere 0.227s behind.
Meanwhile, Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) took eighth ahead of Acosta in ninth. The rookie had another strong point-scoring finish and was ahead of Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing), who battled through the field to take the final spot inside the top 10 after his two Long Lap penalties after the incident on Saturday.
2024 British MotoGP Results—Sunday Grand Prix
1 |
Enea Bastianini |
(Ducati Lenovo Team) |
|
2 |
Jorge Martin |
(Prima Pramac Racing) |
+1.931 |
3 |
Francesco Bagnaia |
(Ducati Lenovo Team) |
+5.866 |
4 |
Marc Marquez |
(Gresini Racing MotoGP™) |
+6.906 |
5 |
Fabio Di Giannantonio |
(Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) |
+7.736 |
6 |
Aleix Espargaro |
(Aprilia Racing) |
+9.514 |
7 |
Alex Marquez |
(Gresini Racing MotoGP™) |
+9.741 |
8 |
Marco Bezzecchi |
(Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) |
+14.016 |
9 |
Pedro Acosta |
(Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) |
+16.386 |
10 |
Franco Morbidelli |
(Prima Pramac Racing) |
+23.609 |
Moto2 Race
Jake Dixon (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team) has become just the fourth British rider to win on home turf since 1977 after a last-lap pass on Aron Canet (Fantic Racing) sealed victory for the Silverstone crowd hero, as only 0.177s splits the duo at the chequered flag. Celestino Vietti (Red Bull KTM Ajo) took P3 to pocket his first rostrum of the year, as drama unfolds in the Moto2™ title race.
Ai Ogura (MT Helmets – MSI) got a perfect getaway from pole position with Vietti (Red Bull KTM Ajo) getting ahead of Canet for P2 off the line. Dixon was getting his elbows out in the opening exchanges as the British rider climbed from P5 off the line to P3, with Canet quickly getting to the front of the field after losing a place at the start.
Jake Dixon created a little slice of British Grand Prix history with the Moto2 win.
On Lap 3, Canet led by just over half a second from Dixon, with Ogura battling away with the fast-starting Joe Roberts (OnlyFans American Racing Team) and Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team). Meanwhile, after dropping to P24 on Lap 1, Sergio Garcia (MT Helmets – MSI) recovered to P14 on Lap 4.
With 12 to go, Dixon had reeled in Canet, with Roberts passing Ogura for P3. Moreira’s strong showing ended at Turn 6 on Lap 5, and then, Roberts crashed out a lap later at Turn 2. This left Canet and Dixon with a 3.8s buffer to Albert Arenas (QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2™), with Ogura now P4 and Garcia up to P9.
As the battle for the final podium raged, 7.6s up the road was a fight for British GP victory between Canet and Dixon. Heading onto the last lap, Dixon pounced at Turn 1 – and it was a move that stuck. A small error from Canet cost him time and despite his best efforts, Dixon held onto the lead and crossed the line to become the first British rider to win on home soil since 2015. Canet settled for a close P2, with Vietti unleashing some great late-race pace to secure P3.
Dixon pulled an audacious move on the last lap at turn one to take the lead and eventual win.
Garcia’s climb back through the field ended in the World Championship leader claiming a fantastic P4 to extend his Championship lead, with Manuel Gonzalez (QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2™) and Darryn Binder (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) completing the top six. Jeremy Alcoba (Yamaha VR46 Master Camp Team), Arenas, Alonso Lopez (GT Trevisan SpeedUp) and Senna Agius (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) were also inside the top 10 as two title contenders – Fermin Aldeguer (GT Trevisan SpeedUp) and Ogura – come home in a disappointing P12 and P14 respectively.
2024 British Moto2 Results—Sunday Grand Prix
1 |
Jake Dixon |
(CFMoto Inde Aspar Team) |
|
2 |
Aron Canet |
(Fantic Racing) |
+0.177 |
3 |
Celestino Vietti |
(Red Bull KTM Ajo) |
+7.054 |
4 |
Sergio Garcia |
(MT Helmets – MSI) |
+8.476 |
5 |
Manuel Gonzalez |
(QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2™) |
+8.718 |
6 |
Darryn Binder |
(Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) |
+8.901 |
7 |
Jeremy Alcoba |
(Yamaha VR46 Master Camp Team) |
+10.505 |
8 |
Albert Arenas |
(QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2™) |
+11.689 |
9 |
Alonso Lopez |
(GT Trevisan SpeedUp) |
+12.390 |
10 |
Senna Agius |
(Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) |
+13.935 |
Moto3 Race
Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets – MSI) claimed a phenomenal Monster Energy British Grand Prix victory as a fierce lightweight class battle plays out at Silverstone. David Alonso (CFMOTO Valresa Aspar Team) grabbed P2 as the fight for the win went down to the wire, with Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) rounding out a podium trio that was split by 0.103s at the chequered flag.
Joel Kelso (BOE Motorsports) pinched the holeshot from the front row as a Moto3™ freight train formed at the front. Unfortunately for the home crowd, Scott Ogden’s (Fibre Tec Honda – MLav Racing) British GP ended prematurely as the #19 couldn’t avoid Angel Piqueras’ stricken Leopard Racing Honda at Turn 18 on Lap 2.
Ortola (48) held on for the win on his birthday.
Back at the front, Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) was one rider who had a turn at leading the race before heading into the final six laps, Ortola threatened to break clear. 0.4s was the #48’s gap, but after two laps, the chasers reeled the Spaniard back in.
What followed was a frantic scrap for positions in the closing two laps. It was elbows out and Moto3™ racing at its finest. On the last lap, Veijer held the P1 baton, with former race leader Alonso shoved to P4. The Colombian bagged a two-for-one deal at Brooklands on the final lap to pounce up to P2 though, before Ortola bit back at Copse.
From leading the race at the start of the lap, Veijer was P3 heading into the final sector as the race down the Hangar Straight saw Ortola just about hold onto P1, as he shut the door on title rival Alonso down at Stowe. The latter then expertly lunged up the inside of Veijer at Vale to pinch P2 off the Dutchman, with Ortola holding onto the race win despite running wide at Turn 16.
Holgado settled for P4, 0.107s away from the win, as Stefano Nepa (LEVELUP – MTA) closed out the top five to secure his best finish of 2024. Ryusei Yamanaka (MT Helmets – MSI) in sixth and Kelso in seventh were also less than a second away from the win, as Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing), Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Tatsuki Suzuki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) were the riders to claim top 10s at Silverstone.
2024 British Moto3 Results—Sunday Grand Prix
1 |
Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets – MSI) |
|
2 |
David Alonso (CFMOTO Valresa Aspar Team) |
+0.123 |
3 |
Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) |
+0.226 |
4 |
Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) |
+0.333 |
5 |
Stefano Nepa (LEVELUP – MTA) |
+0.397 |
6 |
Ryusei Yamanaka (MT Helmets – MSI) |
+0.463 |
7 |
Joel Kelso (BOE Motorsports) |
+0.548 |
8 |
Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) |
+1.321 |
9 |
Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) |
+1.431 |
10 |
Tatsuki Suzuki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) |
+1.537 |
2024 British MotoGP News—Saturday
Bagnaia slams qualifying antics
Pecco Bagnaia spoke out against what he believed were “ridiculous” antics in qualifying, were a high number of riders were dawdling on track, awaiting a tow in the closing minutes. It was, he felt, unprofessional of riders of their standing and set a poor example for the junior classes.
Bagnaia wasn’t pleased about the qualifying antics of some riders.
“The Stewards need to be more focused about the important things, and less focused about the things that don’t matter,” he said later in the day. “We are at the top of our sport. We are the fastest riders in the world. Our speed is great alone. I don’t understand why some riders need a tow. These kinds of things remove your focus on the performance. Moto3 riders with 4 minutes to go, six riders did the lap time, because a tow is more important than I don’t know, and right now, they can do it because they have us as an example.”
Rins’ new deal
Alex Rins pulled out of the British Grand Prix on Friday despite returning from a hand and foot injury, sustained in a huge Turn 1 crash at the Dutch TT. Rins confirmed he broke four bones in his right foot as well as the radius and ulna bones in his right arm. It wasn’t all doom and gloom for the Spaniard, however. On Thursday he signed a deal to stay with the Monster Energy Yamaha team for two further seasons in 2025 and 2026.
Rins will be in blue for another two years.
“Well before the accident, we were already talking,” he said. “I’m blessed. I’m so happy to do it, to continue working with Yamaha. They are doing a big effort, the same as me to improve the bike, to be again on the top, to be where we deserve. 2 more years working with them, improving the bike. Already from the beginning, with did a step forward, comparing the first race or first test of the season. So we are on the way.”
Bagnaia’s Suzuka desires
Pecco Bagnaia has revealed he is open to competing in the Suzuka 8 Hour race in future years, but stated Ducati must go with a package capable of winning before he’d agree.
Bagnaia is up for the 8 Hours, but only once the bike is good enough.
“I’m pushing Ducati a lot to give me the possibility to go to Suzuka and do the 8 Hours,” said the reigning World Champion. “I know perfectly how stressful it would be because it’s in the moment we stop. But I love this kind of race. I always think it’s a task to add to your career. But before I ride they have to be prepared to have a chance to win because if I go there I want to try and win.”
Ducati’s Paolo Ciabatti recently told Motomatters.com the plan is to pair Bagnaia with Fabio Di Giannantonio for the famous race. The Italian VR46 rider also said he’d be open to take on the challenge. “I’m pushing a lot with my staff at home to try to organise. It is one of my races in the bucket list,” he said.
Saturday Sprint Race
Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) stormed to an incredible Tissot Sprint victory at the Monster Energy British Grand Prix, taking his first Saturday podium in some style: on the top step. Beast mode was very much engaged as the #23 denied Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing), although the #89 claws back some crucial Championship points after drama for points leader Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) saw the reigning Champion slide out.
Completing the rostrum on Saturday was polesitter Aleix Espargaro as the Aprilia Racing rider ran the top two close, escaping the attentions of Bagnaia and having pulled ahead of Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) on the chase. The eight-time World Champion then also slid out late on to cede third overall in the Championship to Bastianini in a dramatic afternoon at Silverstone.
Bastianini broke through for a first Sprint Race win.
As the lights went out it was a fantastic launch from Bagnaia, who pushed Espargaro wide on the entry to Turn 1. It was an immediate melee at the front, however, and Martin was able to sneak through and snatch the Sprint lead on the opening lap at Silverstone.
There was drama behind too as Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing) and Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) crashed on the opening lap after the former overshot Turn 1 and sent both sliding out. Both passed fit, but Morbidelli given a double Long Lap penalty to serve on Sunday.
There was soon more drama in the fight just behind the podium battle too as Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) and Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) clashed, with no harm done to either but a confetti shower of winglets sent into the air. The clash was also just enough for Marc Marquez to pry the door open and slice past both, needing no second invitation and at least briefly getting past the duo.
At the front, Martin continued to lead from the chasing Bastianini, with the Italian hanging on to the tail of the #89 as Espargaro and Bagnaia shadowed the duo.
The first title fight drama then unfolded, with Bagnaia losing the front on Lap 5 at Turn 4. Rider ok, but that was all she wrote and the Italian was forced to watch from the sidelines as teammate Bastianini started to harry Martin. Polesitter Espargaro was released from the pressure of having the reigning Champion sat on his tail too, and with Martin still at the front the #1 looked to have lost the Championship lead.
Bagnaia ditched it again while chasing the leaders.
However, after one failed attempt that saw Martin hit back immediately, the Beast then sliced through to the lead on Lap 6 and attempted to stretch away almost instantly. The #23 put together a series of impressive times inside the 1:58 bracket with a handful of laps remaining, gaining a little breathing space but Martin still very much in touch. A Bastianini win was a 1-point lead for Bagnaia in the title fight, a Martin win was the #89 back on top.
Then, further drama for the top echelons in the standings: Marc Marquez lost the front at Turn 16. That brought an end to the Spaniard’s chance to earn some vital Championship points as he retired to the pitlane, leaving it as a KTM-GASGAS battle for fourth and likely about to drop out the top three in the standings given Bastianini was now holding station at the head of the field.
With one lap remaining, all that was coming in was perfection from Bastianini. The #23 extended his lead from a handful of tenths to one second and that was that – a first ever Sprint victory secured at Silverstone. Martin consolidated second nevertheless, clawing back crucial Championship points to now sit just one behind Bagnaia. And behind him is now Bastianini in third.
So did Marc Marquez.
Binder and Acosta’s battle didn’t stop as they continued their fight until the line, with the South African pipping the rookie for fourth after the 10-lap dash. Alex Marquez took sixth, having homed in but not able to get the better of the two.
It was a competitive battle for seventh place and the final point-scoring positions as Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) crossed the line just 0.185s ahead of Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) and Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team), with the latter taking that final point on Saturday.
2024 British MotoGP Results—Sprint Race
1 |
Enea Bastianini |
(Ducati Lenovo Team) |
1:57.309 |
2 |
Jorge Martin |
(Prima Pramac Racing) |
+1.094 |
3 |
Aleix Espargaro |
(Aprilia Racing) |
+2.023 |
4 |
Brad Binder |
(Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) |
+8.644 |
5 |
Pedro Acosta |
(Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) |
+8.777 |
6 |
Alex Marquez |
(Gresini Racing MotoGP™) |
+9.043 |
7 |
Jack Miller |
(Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) |
+11.504 |
8 |
Maverick Viñales |
(Aprilia Racing) |
+11.689 |
9 |
Fabio Di Giannantonio |
(Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) |
+11.828 |
10 |
Miguel Oliveira |
(Trackhouse Racing) |
+13.328 |
Saturday Moto2
For the first time since the 2022 Malaysian GP, Ai Ogura (MT Helmets – MSI) will launch a Moto2™ race from pole position after the Japanese rider beat pre-session favourite Aron Canet (Fantic Racing) by 0.052s. Ogura’s 2:02.940 was a new Silverstone Moto2™ lap record, and it was a time that third place Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team) was just 0.183s away from as the rookie earns a first intermediate class front row start.
Ai Ogura took pole in Moto2.
World Championship leader Sergio Garcia (MT Helmets – MSI) will start Sunday’s race from P16 after a tougher-than-anticipated Q2 session.
British crowd favorite Jake Dixon (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team) goes from the middle of the front row in P5 as he aims to repeat his 2022 Silverstone podium success.
2024 British Moto2 Results—Qualifying
1 |
Ai Ogura |
(MT Helmets – MSI) |
2:02.940 |
2 |
Aron Canet |
(Fantic Racing) |
+0.052 |
3 |
Diogo Moreira |
(Italtrans Racing Team) |
+0.183 |
4 |
Celestino Vietti |
(Red Bull KTM Ajo) |
+0.209 |
5 |
Jake Dixon |
(CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team) |
+0.229 |
6 |
Albert Arenas |
(QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2™) |
+0.265 |
7 |
Manuel Gonzalez |
(QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2™) |
+0.266 |
8 |
Bo Bendsneyder |
(Preicanos Racing Team) |
+0.336 |
9 |
Joe Roberts |
(OnlyFans American Racing Team) |
+0.349 |
10 |
Alonso Lopez |
(GT Trevisan SpeedUp) |
+0.438 |
Saturday Moto3
A new lap record in Moto3™ Q2 saw Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets – MSI) edge out Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) by a slender 0.041s for pole position at Silverstone, with the Spaniard slamming home a 2:09.270 to pocket a second Saturday P1 of the season ahead of his 50th GP start. Joel Kelso (BOE Motorsports) lapped alone and claimed an impressive P3 to land a first front-row start since Portimao, the Australian 0.4s away from Ortola’s time.
Ortola just managed to pull it out of the bag to take the Moto3 pole.
World Championship leader David Alonso (CFMOTO Valresa Aspar Team) will launch from P4 on the grid as he hunts to extend his title race advantage at the circuit he won his first race in 2023.
Having looked strong throughout Practice, home hero Scott Ogden (Fibre Tec Honda – MLav Racing) didn’t set a competitive time in Q2 and will start from P17.
2024 British Moto3 Results—Qualifying
1 |
Ivan Ortola |
(MT Helmets – MSI) |
2:09.270 |
2 |
Collin Veijer |
(Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) |
+0.041 |
3 |
Joel Kelso |
(BOE Motorsports) |
+0.483 |
4 |
David Alonso |
(CFMOTO Valresa Aspar Team) |
+0.628 |
5 |
Ryusei Yamanaka |
(MT Helmets – MSI) |
+0.661 |
6 |
Jacob Roulstone |
(Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) |
+0.770 |
7 |
Stefano Nepa |
(LEVELUP – MTA) |
+0.849 |
8 |
Daniel Holgado |
(Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) |
+0.858 |
9 |
Tatsuki Suzuki |
(Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) |
+1.184 |
10 |
Jose Antonio Rueda |
(Red Bull KTM Ajo) |
+1.516 |
2024 British MotoGP News—Friday
Reaction to Crafar appointment
Riders reacted positively to the appointment of Simon Crafar as the Chairman of the FIM Stewards Panel from 2025. The Kiwi will replace the outgoing Freddie Spencer, after riders – and teams – repeatedly bashed his judgment and complained of his inconsistencies.
Crafar steps into the hot seat next year.
It is hoped that Crafar, who has been working with Dorna as its pitlane reporter and commentator since 2018, will be able to offer better explanations to controversial decisions among other things.
“It’s one of the hardest jobs in the paddock,” said Pecco Bagnaia. “But one of the good things with Simon is we can have good dialogue with him. We speak a lot every weekend and he can always take the same line. It could do a really good job.” Jorge Martin added, “He’s still riding so he’ll understand better how the bike moves.”
Miller low on options
Jack Miller gave a dire review of his hopes to remain in MotoGP on Thursday. The Australian, who recently stated he had several options on the table, failed to hide his despair at the fact his phone failed to ring during the three-week summer break.
Is it game over for Jack Miller in MotoGP?
“Never say never,” he said glumly. “I definitely felt like I had more to give here. I’m holding out hope until all doors are closed. But honestly speaking it ain’t looking good. We’ll try our best to do something in the second half of the season. It’s been a good summer break but also rough.”
Miller had hoped a spot a Gresini was available, only to find Fermin Aldeguer will occupy the seat next to Alex Marquez. Miguel Oliveira looks likely to sign with Pramac Yamaha, while Ai Ogura surprisingly signed with Trackhouse Aprilia. At this point, the Pramac berth remains his only hope.
VR46 Ducati partnership
As Pramac prepares a departure to Yamaha, Ducati has moved to put VR46 as its number two team from 2025, where Fabio Di Giannantonio will compete aboard a GP25, with Franco Morbidelli on a year-old GP24.
With Pramac now off to Yamaha, VR46 steps up as the fully supported Ducati satellite team.
From left: VR46’s Pablo Nieto and Alessio Salucci, and Ducati’s Gigi Dall’Igna and Mauro Grassilli.
“From day one, the VR46 Racing Team has shown its ability to work in perfect harmony with Ducati, and in recent years, we achieved important results together,” said Ducati Corse General Manager Gigi Dall’Igna.
To reigning World Champion Pecco Bagnaia’s dismay, Ducati will run only three full factory bikes next year, as opposed to the four on the current grid. “This makes our job harder during preseason, with more to test,” he said.
Friday MotoGP
A late flyer from Jorge Martin saw the Prima Pramac Racing star set the early weekend pace at the Monster Energy British Grand Prix, as the #89 edged out 2023 Silverstone victor Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) by 0.045s after clocking a 1:57.911. World Championship leader Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) bagged P3, with the #1 lurking just 0.119s away from his main title challenger as it stands.
It wasn’t an ideal start to Friday afternoon for a pair of Ducatis as both Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) and Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) were forced to stop due to some form of issue with their respective machines.
Jorge Martin is determined to right the wrongs of the past few rounds and ended P1 at Silverstone on Friday.
Meanwhile, Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) was the early pacesetter, but as we’ve come to expect, the closing 15 minutes was where the thick of the action took place in Practice 1. There were movements aplenty as the other factory Aprilia, Espargaro, climbed to the summit with the clock ticking down, but it was time attack specialist Martin who managed to clinch Friday’s honors with that late time.
Aleix Espargaro was a close second on Friday.
Bagnaia also improved towards the end of the session, with teammate Bastianini leaving it until his last lap to set a personal best – the ‘Beast’ ending the day in P4 despite those early bike gremlins. Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) ended Free Practice 1 in P4 and backed that up with a P5 in the afternoon to remind everyone what he’s capable of, with Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) fronting the GP23 charge in P6.
Miller’s teammate Brad Binder ensured both factory KTM’s are automatically in the Q2 scrap on Saturday morning, with Viñales slipping down the order but holding onto a P8 – job done for Top Gun, but the former Silverstone winner will be hunting for more.
Number one Pecco Bagnaia was third on Friday.
Bezzecchi and Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) were the final two riders to slot inside the top 10, with the eight-time World Champion – who suffered a crash in FP1 – just 0.057s away from finding himself in Q1.
2024 British MotoGP Results—Friday MotoGP
1 |
Jorge Martin |
(Prima Pramac Racing) |
1:57.911 |
2 |
Aleix Espargaro |
(Aprilia Racing) |
+0.045 |
3 |
Francesco Bagnaia |
(Ducati Lenovo Team) |
+0.119 |
4 |
Enea Bastianini |
(Ducati Lenovo Team) |
+0.279 |
5 |
Jack Miller |
(Red Bull Factory Racing) |
+0.349 |
6 |
Fabio Di Giannantonio |
(Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) |
+0.407 |
7 |
Brad Binder |
(Red Bull Factory Racing) |
+0.475 |
8 |
Maverick Viñales |
(Aprilia Racing) |
+0.478 |
9 |
Marco Bezzecchi |
(Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) |
+0.595 |
Friday Moto2
A new Moto2™ Silverstone lap record handed Aron Canet (Fantic Racing) top honors on Friday at the Monster Energy British Grand Prix, with the Spaniard’s 2:03.602 time just under three tenths quicker than Celestino Vietti (Red Bull KTM Ajo) in second place. The leading pair were the only riders to venture into the 2:03s on Day 1, with Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) rounding out the top three, 0.457s away from Canet.
Canet broke the lap record on his way to P1 on Friday in Moto2.
Jake Dixon (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team) goes into Saturday’s action in P7 as the home crowd favorite aims to build on a solid Friday outing.
The top two in the title chase and MT Helmets – MSI teammates, Ai Ogura and Sergio Garcia, are P4 and P8 respectively at the end of play on Friday, with the latter suffering a crash in the afternoon that hampered his Practice 1.
2024 British Moto2 Results—Friday Moto2
1 |
Aron Canet |
(Fantic Racing) |
2:03.602 |
2 |
Celestino Vietti |
(Red Bull KTM Ajo) |
+0.294 |
3 |
Tony Arbolino |
(Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) |
+0.457 |
4 |
Ai Ogura |
(MT Helmets – MSI) |
+0.460 |
5 |
Diogo Moreira |
(Italtrans Racing Team) |
+0.484 |
6 |
Alonso Lopez |
(GT Trevisan SpeedUp) |
+0.485 |
7 |
Jake Dixon |
(CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team) |
+0.506 |
8 |
Sergio Garcia |
(MT Helmets – MSI) |
+0.515 |
9 |
Marcos Ramirez |
(OnlyFans American Racing Team) |
+0.617 |
10 |
Joe Roberts |
(OnlyFans American Racing Team) |
+0.717 |
Friday Moto3
Despite a crash in the afternoon, Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) topped the Moto3™ times on Friday at Silverstone as the Dutchman set a 2:09.565 to end the day a healthy 0.387s clear of second place Ivan Ortola (MT Helmet – MSI). Rookie Jacob Roulstone (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) claimed an impressive P3 in Practice 1 to act as one of three riders to get within half a second of Veijer’s effort.
Veijer was well clear in Moto3.
The other rider to do so was home hero Scott Ogden (Fibre Tec Honda – MLav Racing). The British star enjoyed a fruitful day at the office and heads into qualifying day P4 on the timesheets.
World Championship leader David Alonso (CFMOTO Valresa Aspar Team) was another title chaser to crash on Friday afternoon, with the Colombian ending Day 1 in P6, 0.597s adrift of the summit.
2024 British Moto3 Results—Friday Moto3
1 |
Collin Veijer |
(Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) |
2:09.565 |
2 |
Ivan Ortola |
(MT Helmets – MSI) |
+0.387 |
3 |
Jacob Roulstone |
(Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) |
+0.473 |
4 |
Scott Ogden |
(Fibre Tec Honda – MLav Racing) |
+0.475 |
5 |
Stefano Nepa |
(LEVELUP – MTA) |
+0.535 |
6 |
David Alonso |
(CFMOTO Valresa Aspar Team) |
+0.597 |
7 |
Tatsuki Suzuki |
(Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) |
+0.619 |
8 |
Ryusei Yamanaka |
(MT Helmets – MSI) |
+0.768 |
9 |
Jose Antonio Rueda |
(Red Bull KTM Ajo) |
+0.814 |
10 |
Riccardo Rossi |
(CIP Green Power) |
+0.897 |
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