Jorge Martín of Prima Pramac Racing clinched the 2024 MotoGP World Championship with a third-place finish in the final race at Barcelona on November 14. Despite Francesco Bagnaia winning the race and Marc Márquez finishing second, Martín secured the title as the first Independent Team rider to win the MotoGP championship in the modern era, officials said.
Francesco Bagnaia of the Ducati Lenovo Team won the final race of the 2024 MotoGP season at Barcelona on November 14, securing his 11th Grand Prix victory of the year, officials said. Marc Márquez of Gresini Racing MotoGP finished second, 1.474 seconds behind Bagnaia, marking his 150th Grand Prix podium, according to race records.
Jorge Martín’s third-place finish, 3.810 seconds behind the winner, was enough to clinch the championship, making him the first Independent Team rider to win the MotoGP title in the modern era, officials confirmed.
The race at Barcelona saw Bagnaia take the holeshot with Martín initially slotting into second place before settling into third, sources said. Márquez closely shadowed Bagnaia throughout the race but was unable to overtake, securing second place. Alex Márquez finished fourth, 5.322 seconds behind the winner, according to official timing data. The final standings underscored Martín’s consistent performance over the season, which included 20 Sprints and 19 Grands Prix, as noted by MotoGP officials.
Earlier in the season, Martín demonstrated his championship potential by winning the COTA Sprint, where he overtook Bagnaia on the final lap, finishing 0.755 seconds ahead. Márquez collided with Fabio Di Giannantonio on the first lap of that event and finished 17th, sources confirmed. Marco Bezzecchi, who was chasing Bagnaia in second place, crashed out, according to race reports. The top five in that Sprint included Pedro Acosta in third, Enea Bastianini fourth, and Alex Márquez fifth.
The Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez featured a close battle between Bagnaia and Márquez, with Bagnaia winning by 0.372 seconds. Martín, who had a 47-point championship advantage at the time, crashed at Turn 6 on lap 11 while leading, altering the championship dynamics, according to race officials. Bagnaia set a new Jerez race lap record of 1 minute 37.449 seconds on lap 23, sources confirmed. This race marked Márquez’s first Grand Prix podium as a Ducati rider and his first podium since the 2023 Japanese Grand Prix. Marco Bezzecchi finished third, 3.5 seconds behind Márquez, with Alex Márquez and Enea Bastianini rounding out the top five.
The 2023 MotoGP season saw Bagnaia secure his second world title after both Martín and Márquez crashed out at Lusail. Martín clipped the rear of Márquez on lap three, ending his title hopes from sixth on the grid, according to official race reports. Bagnaia started from pole position following a penalty to Maverick Viñales and led early, securing the championship regardless of his finishing position. The incident resulted in Márquez being launched from his Repsol Honda, while Di Giannantonio challenged Bagnaia late in the race, finishing second on the final lap.
Bagnaia’s performances in recent seasons have been marked by resilience and strong finishes. In a 2026 Sprint race, he recovered from 15th on the grid to finish second, despite a collision between Márquez and Di Giannantonio similar to a prior event at COTA, according to MotoGP footage and race analysis. Bagnaia described the result as satisfactory but expressed dissatisfaction with his overall performance, sources said.
The 2024 season concluded with an official MotoGP announcement on November 17 confirming Jorge Martín as the World Champion. His achievement as the first non-factory Ducati rider to win the title in the modern era was highlighted by officials. Bagnaia’s 11 victories underscored his dominance throughout the season, despite falling short of the championship. Márquez’s milestone 150th podium added to his distinguished career as he prepares for a move away from Ducati, according to team statements.
The 2024 MotoGP season featured intense competition among top riders, with multiple race wins and podium finishes shaping the championship battle. The final races demonstrated the high level of performance and strategic racing that characterized the year, officials said. The next MotoGP season is expected to build on this competitive momentum, with teams and riders preparing for upcoming events.
