In a thrilling showdown at Phillip Island Marc Marquez managed to hold off championship leader Jorge Martin to claim 2024 Australian MotoGP win in a dramatic finish.
In a thrilling display of skill and determination, Marc Marquez triumphed at the 2024 Australian MotoGP held at the picturesque Phillip Island circuit after overcoming early challenges to claim victory in a gripping race that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
The race not only showcased the Gresini star’s relentless spirit but also had significant implications for the championship standings, particularly for Jorge Martin, who remains a strong contender for the title.
As the race day dawned, the atmosphere was electric, with fans eagerly anticipating the clash between championship rivals.
However, conditions were tricky; the track had recently been resurfaced and was affected by strong winds and cool temperatures, which added an extra layer of complexity to tire management and racing strategy.
Martin, who had secured pole position after dominating qualifying was in prime form off his Saturday’s sprint race win. When the lights went out, the Pramac launched off the line with remarkable speed, taking an early lead into Turn 1.
Marquez, however, faced a disastrous start after his bike experienced massive wheelspin as he released the clutch, causing him to drop from second to seventh place almost immediately.
Francesco Bagnaia capitalized on this misstep, moving up from fourth to secure second position behind Martin as they exited Turn 1.
The opening laps saw Martin build a small but crucial lead over Bagnaia. By Lap 3, he had established a 0.7-second gap as Marquez began his recovery mission after his early setback and began clocking impressive lap times that included the first-ever sub-1:28 lap under race conditions at Phillip Island.
The eight-time world champion’s determination was palpable as he fought his way back through the pack. By Lap 12, he had successfully maneuvered past Bagnaia to take second place and signal he was ready to challenge Martin for the lead.
The tension escalated as Marquez closed the gap to Martin, who was still maintaining a narrow lead of just 0.225 seconds with ten laps remaining and as they approached the final laps of the race, Marquez’s relentless pursuit paid off.
On Lap 24, Martin made a slight error at Turn 4, running wide which prompted Marquez to seize the opportunity and take the lead for the first time in the race. However, Martin wasn’t done yet; he retaliated almost immediately on Lap 25, reclaiming his position with a daring maneuver.
The battle intensified as both riders exchanged positions multiple times in these closing moments. Marquez’s experience shone through as he executed a perfectly timed move to regain control of the race on Lap 26.
With just one lap remaining, he maintained his lead against Martin’s desperate attempts to retake it. As they crossed the finish line, Marquez claimed victory by a narrow margin, marking his third win of the season and his fourth at Phillip Island.
Meanwhile Francesco Bagnaia finished third after struggling to keep pace with both Spaniards towards the end of the race.
Despite starting strong and initially appearing competitive, Bagnaia’s tire performance deteriorated as he fought hard but ultimately could not match Marquez and Martin’s speed in those critical closing laps.
The rest of the field also saw notable performances worth mentioning. Fabio di Giannantonio from Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team secured fourth place despite battling shoulder issues throughout the weekend.
Factory Ducati’s Enea Bastianini finished fifth after showing promise but lacked consistency while Franco Morbidelli rounded out an all-Ducati top six with a respectable sixth-place finish.
Brad Binder from Red Bull KTM Factory Racing managed to finish seventh, showcasing solid pace throughout but unable to contend with the leaders.
Maverick Viñales from Aprilia Racing came in eighth place after maintaining steady performance throughout the race while Fabio Quartararo finally broke into the top ten with a ninth-place finish after several challenging races earlier in the season.
Raul Fernandez completed the top ten for Trackhouse Racing Aprilia ahead of home hero Jack Miller in 11th. LCR Honda’s Johann Zarco came trailing behind in 12th as Alex Rins took 13th for Yamaha ahead of Repsol Honda’s Luca Marini in 14th.
Alex Marquez rounded out the points in 15th after recovering from running wide on the start while Aleix Espargaro finished in 16th, ahead of Augusto Fernandez. Takaaki Nakagami was 18th for LCR Honda, while Bezzecchi rejoined the race after his crash and closed out the finishers in 19th.
Joan Mir also crashed on the penultimate lap, while Lorenzo Savadori did not complete the race due to pain after being struck by debris in the Sprint.
2024 Australian MotoGP Race Results
READ MORE: 2024 MotoGP World Championship standings after Australian GP
