Catalunya-Barcelona Hosts Solidarity GP as MotoGP Concludes Historic 2024 Season

The 2024 MotoGP season wrapped up with the Solidarity GP at the Catalunya-Barcelona circuit, replacing Valencia as the traditional season finale. With the event dedicated to unity and solidarity for Valencia, the race weekend saw no last-minute surprises, but it delivered a new world champion and a string of historic firsts in MotoGP’s 75-year history.

Moto3: David Alonso Breaks All-Time Record

David Alonso secured his seventh and final pole of the season with a dominant performance, outpacing rivals Collin Veijer and Ivan Ortola by over 0.3 seconds. Alonso executed his usual strategy, dropping back mid-race to preserve his position while his competitors scrambled to challenge him.

Despite briefly falling to eighth place, Alonso surged forward at the crucial moment to clinch his 14th win of the season—a record never before achieved in the history of MotoGP. Alonso finished the season with a remarkable 425 points, a staggering 165-point lead over runner-up Daniel Holgado. Angel Piqueras claimed third in the race, while Veijer secured third overall in the championship.

Moto2: A Triumphant Finish for the Top Contenders

In Moto2, Aron Canet claimed his sixth pole of the season, edging Manuel Gonzalez in Q2. Both Spaniards emerged as strong contenders for the final race victory. Canet, however, had a rough start, dropping to ninth before regaining momentum by lap 4.

Canet extended his lead to over a second at one point, but Gonzalez mounted late pressure in the closing laps. Despite this, Canet’s experience shone through as he claimed his fourth win of the year and secured second place in the championship.

Gonzalez finished second, solidifying third place overall, narrowly beating Sergio Garcia by just four points. The final podium spot went to rookie Diogo Moreira, who outperformed reigning champion Ai Ogura to claim his maiden Moto2 podium.

MotoGP: A Smooth Ride to Glory for Jorge Martin

The chilly conditions at Catalunya posed challenges, but Jorge Martin kept his composure as championship leader. Meanwhile, Francesco Bagnaia appeared relaxed and in control, claiming pole position with a time of 1:38.641. Marc Marquez and Martin lined up third and fourth, respectively, with Enea Bastianini in eighth.

Bagnaia dominated the Sprint race, easily taking victory while Martin and Bastianini battled fiercely. A decisive last-lap move by Bastianini pushed Martin to third, allowing Bagnaia to close the championship gap to 19 points.

The main race saw Bagnaia once again lead unchallenged, with Marquez finishing second. Martin took a safe third place, securing his first MotoGP world championship. Marquez’s runner-up finish solidified his third-place standing for the season, while Bastianini finished seventh, falling short of the top three.

Jorge Martin’s victory also marked a historic milestone for Pramac Racing, making them the first independent team to produce a MotoGP world champion. With this triumph, Martin bids farewell to Ducati, embarking on a new chapter with Aprilia in 2025.