MotoGP Solidarity Grand Prix: Pecco Bagnaia wins the Sprint in Barcelona to keep title dream alive

The 2024 MotoGP Championship fight will be decided on the final day of the season after Pecco Bagnaia dominated the Sprint race in Barcelona.

The reigning two-time world champion pulled clear of the field on the opening lap, leaving Jorge Martin to deal with factory Ducati teammate Enea Bastianini. The duo overtook each other multiple times with some close moves, with Bastianini eventually making a move stick for second on the final lap.

It’s Bagnaia’s seventh Sprint win of the season, further showcasing his vast improvement in the shorter races in 2024. That takes his grand victory total this year to 17, whilst he also won the Grand Prix race in Barcelona earlier this season.

Despite having to settle for third, Martin still holds a healthy advantage heading into the final Grand Prix of the season. The Spaniard is 19 points clear with only 25 available, which means Martin only needs to score seven points (ninth).

Aleix Espargaro was best of the rest in fourth onboard his Aprilia, moving ahead of Alex Marquez and Franco Morbidelli in the closing stages. Marc Marquez was seventh but saw his race hampered by a collision with Pedro Acosta on the opening lap. The latter lost the entire front fairing of his Tech3 GasGas RC16 and had to retire as a result.

Marco Bezzecchi, Brad Binder and Fabio Quartararo completed the top 10, whilst Johann Zarco was the leading Honda rider in 11^th. Maverick Vinales crossed the line in 12^th, ahead of Joan Mir, Raul Fernandez and Luca Marini.

Alex Rins and Takaaki Nakagami were 16^th and 17^th respectively, with Miguel Oliveira, Jack Miller, Augusto Fernandez, Michele Pirro and Stefan Bradl completing the timesheets.