The San Marino Grand Prix and the ensuing tests at Misano were rich in lessons learned. Here's a summary of the highlights.
MotoGP: Marc Márquez in fighting order
Six-time world champion Marc Márquez confirms his return to the elite of the category! After his victory in Aragón, he triumphed again at Misano, taking advantage of difficult conditions and an effective strategy to the detriment of championship leader Jorge Martín. After the latter made a mistake by changing tires too early in the rain, Márquez took the lead and never relinquished it. Despite being cautious about his title chances, Márquez, now 53 points behind Martín, said,"There are a lot of races left, and the leaders still have a good lead, but I want to stay competitive and confident."
Is Márquez now a serious title contender, with his recent performances? For his compatriot, Dani Pedrosa in particular, there's no doubt about it.
Jorge Martín: a contrarian strategy
The Martinator, winner of the sprint for the 5th time this season and championship leader, saw his position weakened after a strategic error during the GP. By changing his tires too early in the rain, he lost precious places and points in the overall standings. He admitted his mistake after the race, regretting not having waited a few more laps before changing his tires. The pressure is sure to mount on the front-runner in the weeks ahead...
San Marino 2024 MotoGP sprint race results :
San Marino Moto Grand Prix 2024 race results :
Fabio Quartararo and Yamaha: it's never too late to do well
Fabio Quartararo's resurrection is far from complete, but the 2021 World Champion was back on track this weekend. After a wasted season, Fabio Quartararo showed encouraging signs at Misano. Despite his Yamaha's weaknesses, he finished 7ᵉ, his best result of the year. The changing conditions allowed him to compete with riders he was no longer used to coming across, and to take advantage of the rain, something we would never have imagined. Although realistic about the road ahead, Quartararo is satisfied with the progress:"There's still a lot of work to do, but I'm happy with the improvements."
QUARTARARO IN ACTION AT MISANO!
CANAL+ MotoGP (@CanalplusMotoGP) September 8, 2024
The Frenchman took 7th place against Miller! #SanMarinoGP #MotoGP pic.twitter.com/eY8Sph33R4
With technical tests to come, notably on chassis and electronics, the Yamaha team hopes to strengthen its competitiveness for 2025, although we have few illusions since Max Bartolini's strong words. Yamaha's sporting director"expects to see real improvements by the end of next year."
MotoGP 2024 rider standings after San Marino GP (09/10/2024)
Monday's official tests: Misano, once again!
The day after the race, official testing gave the riders a chance to adjust their bikes and test new configurations. This applies to the next stage, to be held on this same circuit, but above all to 2025. This Monday's official test at Misano was the third and last of its kind this season. A key day for almost every rider, some of whom are no longer really concerned by their contractual situation.
Fabio Quartararo continues to work on turning things around, with a focus on improving the handling and grip of his Yamaha. With a 5ᵉ position under his belt, it's fair to say that this circuit is working well for the French rider and, in essence, for the Japanese manufacturer, which could rely on the return of Andrea Dovizioso as a test rider.
Marc Márquez, meanwhile, took advantage of the test to fine-tune his Ducati GP23, concentrating on the chassis and suspension. He expressed his confidence after seeing significant improvements in terms of pace. Jorge Martín also used the test to improve the stability of his bike, while Pecco Bagnaia set the fastest time of the day by optimizing his electronic settings. Johann Zarco, for his part, focused on consistency, testing different tire configurations to improve his performance. Of all the riders, Raúl Fernández took the honors with 81 laps on the clock... Nothing less!
Radio communication tests too
Among the new features tested at Misano was a radio communication system. Currently a one-way system, it enables Race Direction to send messages to drivers concerning incidents on the track. Eventually, a two-way system could be introduced, as in Formula 1, enabling drivers to communicate with their teams.
MotoGP 2024 race calendar
Will we see more of the "Cervera Ant"'s (nickname given to Mr. Marquez) best dance moves in the weeks to come? To be continued...
1 Qatar Grand Prix (Losail circuit), March 10. Winner: Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati).
2 Portuguese Grand Prix (Circuit Internacional do Algarve), March 24. Winner: Jorge Martín (Ducati).Argentine Grand Prix (Termas de Río Hondo), April 7. 3Grand Prix of the Americas (Circuit des Amériques), April 14. Winner: Maverick Viñales (Aprilia)
4 Spanish Grand Prix (Jerez circuit), April 28. Winner: Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati)
5 French Grand Prix (Bugatti circuit in Le Mans), May 12. Winner: Jorge Martin (Ducati)
6 Catalan Grand Prix (Barcelona-Catalunya circuit), May 26. Winner: Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati)
7 Italian Grand Prix (Mugello circuit), June 2. Winner: Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati)Kazakhstan Grand Prix (Sokol International Racetrack), June 16. REPORT
8 Dutch Grand Prix (TT circuit Assen), June 30 Winner: Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati)
9 German Grand Prix (Sachsenring circuit), July 7. Winner: Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati)
10 British Grand Prix (Silverstone circuit), August 4: Winner: Enea Bastianini (Ducati)
11 Austrian Grand Prix (Spielberg circuit), August 18: Winner Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati)
12 Grand Prix of Aragón (Motorland Aragon circuit), September 1. Winner: Marc Marquez (Gresini)
13 San Marino Grand Prix (Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli), September 8 Winner: Marc Marquez (Gresini)Indian Grand Prix (Buddh International Circuit), September 22. CANCELLEDKazakhstan Grand Prix (Sokol International Racetrack), September 22 CANCELLED
14 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix (Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli), September 22
15 Indonesian Grand Prix (Mandalika International Street Circuit), September 29.
16 Japanese Grand Prix (Twin Ring Motegi circuit), October 6.
17 Australian Grand Prix (Phillip Island Circuit), October 20.
18 Thai Grand Prix (Chang International circuit), October 27.
19 Malaysian Grand Prix (Sepang International circuit), November 3.
20 Valencia Grand Prix (Ricardo Tormo circuit), November 17.
Photo credits : MotoGP
