Jorge Martin secured his first MotoGP world championship title after finishing third in the season-ending Barcelona Grand Prix on Sunday. Despite Francesco Bagnaia’s victory, his 11th win of the season, it wasn’t enough to overcome Martin’s consistent performance throughout the year. Bagnaia, who started the race 19 points behind Martin, had been in a strong form toward the end of the season, but the Spaniard’s podium finish ensured he clinched the championship.
Martin, who will be joining Aprilia next season after leaving his Ducati satellite team, Pramac, had shown remarkable consistency over the course of the season. Though he had only won three Grand Prix races, his third-place finish in Barcelona marked his 32nd podium across the 40 sprints and races this year. After securing third place in Saturday's sprint, Martin knew he only needed a top-nine finish to take the title.
Bagnaia, who had been chasing Martin in the standings, produced an impressive final run, winning four of the last five races, including the one in Barcelona. Starting from pole, he held off pressure from Marc Marquez and Martin, who opted to maintain his position while watching the battle unfold ahead. Martin’s decision to let his competitors fight allowed him to focus on securing the necessary points for the title.
The race, originally scheduled for Valencia, was moved to Barcelona after severe floods in Valencia caused devastation in the region. The event, now called the Solidarity GP, was held to show support for those affected by the floods, with all proceeds going to relief efforts. The victory in Barcelona was a fitting conclusion to a season that saw Martin’s steady consistency triumph over Bagnaia’s late surge.
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