MotoGP
MotoGP 2024 Season begins
A Weekend Review after enthralling Race and Sprint for the MotoGP fans at Qatar
We saw the 5 lights go off and riders go full throttle to start the 2024 season of Motogp under the night sky in Qatar at the Lusail International Circuit.
Qualifying, Sprint, or the Race – It was all packed with action and the MotoGP circus delivered.
Jorge Martin Sprints
Motogp’s very own Mr. Saturday, Jorge Martin seems to love Saturdays the most.
Martin started the year where he left it, securing Pole position on a Saturday and then converting that Pole into a Sprint Race win. Martin got a good launch in the Sprint race and never looked back. Aliex and Aprilla also got their first podium in Qatar for the sprint race.
The Sprint race of the Qatar GP ended poorly for Fabio Di Giannantonio. The Pertamina Enduro VR46 rider suffered a dramatic crash that forced him to retire early in the Sprint.
A Champion’s Ride for the Race
Continuing the ongoing trend in Motogp, Saturday is where Martin shines the brightest but when it comes to the main race or the race that gives the maximum points the 2 time MotoGP world champion Francesco Bagnaia is always there to take those points.
We saw Pecco get a lightning start and was Super aggressive in early laps to take the lead. Once Pecco got in the lead he never looked back winning the race after starting P5 position and building up his title defense in Pecco style.
Top 7 – A Tale of 6 Ducatis and 1 KTM – Brad Binder
Brad Binder was right in the mix. Throughout the weekend we saw him challenging the Ducatis for podium places. That KTM in the hands of Brad Binder was no joke in Qatar and he made sure to extract everything out of that bike to be the only challenger in the Top 7 where 6 Bikes were Ducati.
We even saw KTM matching Ducatis on the straight with the help of a slipstream, it was in the right place to attack, however, Braking was where the KTM struggled against the Ducati but Brad made sure to try his might to take that 2nd position from Jorge Martin in a fight that went on for 11 Laps.
“I think the same as last year. We’re super close, but we haven’t shown that we can do it yet. For me, I feel like I’m a little bit pushing at 100% all the time. I feel like they have a couple of percent in their pocket when they want to use it. I’m waiting for this last little bit of help, and then we try again.”
With that, Brad is now the only non-Ducati rider in the top 5 of the Championship standings.
Ducati Chapter begins for Marc Marquez
Yes, Marc Marquez started a GP not for Repsol Honda but for Gresini Ducati. On his debut for Ducati, Marc got a P5 in the sprint race and a P4 in the main race.
Qatar which has not been a strong front of Marc in the past was a successful race this time, Even though Marquez did not achieve podium places he performed within his expectation of being in the Top 5 and built confidence for his new challenge with the Gresini Ducati. Marquez is still getting to grips with the Ducati GP23 while trying to get rid of that Honda habit and the associated riding style.
After the sprint race, Marc said
“Of course, I could be happier if I finished more in front. But I’m happy”
Nobody is safe from the shark attack! Not Even Marc Marquez
P8 in the sprint race and p9 in the main race is a very good way to start your Motogp career. Pedro Acosta had everyone talking about him. He has the speed to go toe to toe with the veterans of the Motogp. The only concern was the tire management which cost him the the top six places in the main race which he will learn as he gets more and more time on the GP bike.
After the race, Pedro commented :
“It’s like when you lose your virginity everything starts to be good and it’s a disaster”
A Case of Aborted Race Start
After a promising Saturday for Raul Fernandez and the Trackhouse Racing squad, Sunday was a day to forget for Raul after he had an electrical issue on the grid just before the first race of the year was set to burst into life.
This resulted in an aborted Race start, after which the race was shortened to 21 race from 22, as the Riders had to take another formation lap after the hindered race start.
Raul had to start from Pitlane after the issues, where he changed his bike to begin the race.
“We had to jump on the other bike, but it had a super used tire and that was the race done then. I tried to finish the race but it was really difficult in the last five laps to manage the tyre, I couldn’t ride so I said we’re here doing nothing, so I had to stop.”
– Raul Fernandez
The Japanese Struggle
The pre-season test showed that both Honda and Yamaha were moving in the right direction, whether with the engines or the chassis. But come race day the story remains the same. Both Yamaha and Honda were in the lower part of the group. The highest-placed Japanese bike was of 2021 world champion Fabio Quartararo followed by his countryman Johann Zarco and 2020 world champion Joan Mir. Takaaki Nakagami and New boy Luca Marini were placed 19th and 20th respectively.
“We are further last year. We have improved a little bit, but they are even faster. They are even better and faster than last year. So the gap between all the European manufacturers and us is bigger. Even to Honda, I felt that today we were missing something. They are also struggling a lot, but I felt like we were even worse today.”
– Fabio Quartararo
Both Honda and Yamaha have a lot of work to do if they want to catch their European rivals The first round of Motogp is done and dusted and we can see Pecco vs Martin part 2 for this year as well. Will other riders be fighting and will be in the title campaign like Brad Binder and Marc Marquez? Still, a long way to go in this season.
MotoGP next heads to Portimao, on 22-24th March 2024 for “Grande Prémio Tissot de Portugal”.
MotoGP
Indian GP Dropped for 2026 – A Brewing Dispute Between Dorna and Organizers?
Desi Racing Co understands from its sources that a dispute has been ongoing between Dorna and the Indian organizers, a likely factor in the Indian GP being dropped from the 2026 calendar.
The Indian GP has been dropped from the MotoGP calendar for the third consecutive time, following its first and only appearance in 2023. Visa issues in 2023, extreme weather and operational challenges in 2024, and operational constraints in 2025 — What could have caused cancellation in 2026?
2023 – Visa Issues
As teams and riders traveled to India for the first Indian GP, held from September 22 to 24, 2023, at the Buddh International Circuit, many were unable to fly due to pending visa approvals, including riders such as Marc Marquez and Joan Mir. Over 500 visa applications were granted initially, but hundreds remained pending as the race weekend approached, prompting urgent logistical interventions.
Here’s a tweet from our page back in 2023, when Marc Márquez, Brad Binder, and Joan Mir had to delay their arrival in India due to visa issues.
Organizers at Fairstreet Sports, working with the Uttar Pradesh government, attributed the delays to a technical glitch caused by an agency handling visa applications, which initially delayed as many as 600 applications out of approximately 1,800 required for riders, staff, and officials. By Wednesday evening (Sept 20), most outstanding visas had been cleared, allowing riders and team personnel to begin arriving at the circuit in time for the first on-track sessions. Despite the initial chaos, the Indian GP went ahead as planned.
2024 – Unfavourable Weather and Operational Challenges
The Indian GP was initially scheduled for September 2024 at the Buddh International Circuit. However, high temperatures and humidity at the 2023 inaugural event (with ambient readings around 40 °C) caused severe discomfort for riders and staff, prompting calls to shorten race distances.
Indian GP Organisers judged that the September weather conditions were not safe or sustainable, and a mutual decision, involving Dorna, Fairstreet Sports, and the Uttar Pradesh government, led to the rescheduling of the race to March 2025. While reports were hinting at delayed payments by the promoter Fairstreet Sports, Fairstreet denied this was a factor, attributing the postponement solely to scheduling and weather-related concerns
2025 – Operational circumstances
Although the event had been tentatively shifted to March 2025, it was eventually dropped from the 2025 MotoGP calendar entirely due to broader operational constraints. Dorna confirmed in September 2024 that the race would serve only as a reserve event for 2025, with no available calendar slots later in the season, and targeting a full return in early 2026.
“Operational circumstances have obliged the event to be delayed from its initial slot near the start of the 2025 calendar. With no available dates towards the end of the season, MotoGP™ will therefore return to India in the early stages of 2026.” – MotoGP statement
The decision followed the signing of a new three-year contract directly with the Government of Uttar Pradesh, bypassing Fairstreet Sports. However, no new promoter was secured in time, and scheduling windows were tight, pushing the return further into 2026.
What happened to the 2026 race?
According to our sources, a dispute has been ongoing between Dorna and the Indian organizers over funding-related issues, which may have contributed to the race being dropped from the calendar. Additionally, we understand that charges have been filed against Pushkar Nath Srivastava, the Chief Operating Officer at FairStreet Sports. Among the key issues was a failure to raise sufficient funds, which appears to have been a primary trigger for the fallout. Currently, we don’t have the exact details of the matter.
Hosting a MotoGP race is a substantial financial commitment, involving substantial fees paid to Dorna, as well as costs for circuit upgrades, logistics, security, and hospitality. Here is the estimated cost of running MotoGP’s Indian Grand Prix, according to Invest UP’s tender in 2024:
What’s next for the Indian GP?
Despite a contract running until the end of 2027, the chances of the Indian GP returning to the MotoGP calendar are now minimal. The race has been dropped for 2024, 2025, and now 2026 as well. No local promoter has been confirmed, and ongoing logistical and financial issues remain unresolved. As it stands, a comeback before 2027 looks highly unlikely.
Desi Racing Co. is dedicated to bringing the latest updates and insights from the world of motorsport. Whether it’s Formula 1, Formula 2, WEC, MotoGP, Indian motorsports, or other racing series, we’ve got you covered! Stay connected with us for in-depth motorsport coverage. Follow us on Twitter/X, Instagram, and LinkedIn to keep up with the latest motorsport news and updates.
MotoGP
MotoGP: Unstoppable Marquez Makes it 93 Wins for #93 in Mugello
Dominant Marc, Vintage Bagnaia and edge of the seat action, MotoGP delivered it all in Mugello.
MotoGP went from Marquez’s backyard in Aragon to Bagnaia’s backyard in Mugello, but the end result was the same: a complete domination by Marc Marquez. This weekend it was made more special as Marquez got his 93rd win in all classes of two-wheeler racing.
Read More: MotoGP Aragon: Marc Marquez Dominant at His Backyard
93 Wins for #93
Marc Marquez had another dominant weekend in MotoGP, taking yet another Pole, Sprint win, and Grand Prix win at Mugello. After a short winless streak of 4 races, Marc bounced back strong to have 2 dominant weekends in Aragon and in Mugello. In Mugello, however, it was not an easy ride.
During the Sprint race, Marquez had an issue with his bike just as the lights were about to go out, which resulted in Marc dropping places going into Turn 1. But Marc soon made up places, going up to P3 at the start of Lap 3. What commenced was a battle for victory between Marc, Bagnaia and Alex. On lap 4, Marc made the move for the lead, and it was smooth sailing for him afterwards as he converted his 100th GP pole to the sprint win.
The GP race on Sunday was a treat to the eyes. The opening laps in Mugello were some of the best we have seen this year in terms of racing. Marc was constantly challenged and overtaken for the lead by his teammate and brother, a proper edge-of-the-seat drama. Ultimately, Marc took the win with his brother following him in P2.
Vintage Bagnaia on Display in Mugello but in Vain
For the first time this year, we saw the Bagnaia we had been expecting to see from the start. When Marquez signed for Ducati, everyone was looking forward to Marquez vs Bagnaia, but that did not happen this year, until Mugello. Pecco was in his vintage mode, taking on Marquez toe to toe and more often than not coming out ahead of his teammate, although eventually it was Marquez who got the better of him. Pecco still had a decent weekend, a P3 in the sprint and narrowly missing out on the podium on Sunday after leading the race early on.
Another Solid Weekend from Alex Marquez
Alex Marquez got his 6th podium of the season and a fourth Marquez 1-2 of the year. Alex did briefly challenge for the win in both races in Mugello, but eventually lost out to Marc, just like everyone else. Currently sitting second in the standings, Alex is 40 points behind his older brother, and there is still a long season to go. Although there have been allegations made after Mugello that Alex does not race his older brother like he races others, if Alex does take on Marc, it will be a championship battle to watch out for.
Di Giannantonio Matches His Best Season in MotoGP in Terms of Podiums
Fabio Di Giannantonio got his second podium of the year, finishing P3 in Mugello, matching his best finish of P3 in Austin earlier this year. The Italian rider had a stellar show on Sunday, charging up to claim the podium, narrowly missing out on P2 as he ran out of laps to chase down Alex. Overall, it is a weekend Diggia will be happy with and will look to build on it for the rest of the season. He currently sits 5th in the standings, only 8 points behind his teammate in fourth.
Up Next: Assen
No time to rest as the paddock moves to TT Circuit Assen for the MotoGP Dutch Grand Prix from 27th to 29th June for the second leg of the double header. Who triumphs in the land of the Dutch? Only one way to find out. Watch all the MotoGP action live in India online on Fancode or on your TVs at Eurosport.
Desi Racing Co. is dedicated to bringing the latest updates and insights from the world of motorsport. Whether it’s Formula 1, Formula 2, WEC, MotoGP, Indian motorsports, or other racing series, we’ve got you covered! Stay connected with us for in-depth motorsport coverage. Follow us on Twitter/X/, Instagram, and LinkedIn to keep up with the latest motorsport news and updates.
MotoGP made its way to Aragon, a place that is known as Marc Marquez’s backyard. Marquez demonstrated why exactly. A complete dominance from the Spaniard that saw him take the Pole and sprint win on Saturday, and then a win and the fastest lap of the GP on Sunday. Alex Marquez continued to be at the tail of his brother, finishing second, and Francesco Bagnaia scored a P3 on Sunday, a podium that will do a world of good to the confidence of the Italian before we head to his home turf in Mugello.
Read More: MotoGP Heads to Marquez’s Backyard in Aragon
Marquez Takes his 4th Win of MotoGP 2025
It’s not often you get to see a masterclass live, in Aragon, that is what everyone watching the Aragon GP witnessed. Marc Marquez had a perfect weekend, leading every session and every lap of the race. This win felt a long time coming, as this was Marquez’s first win since Qatar, which was all the way back in April. But before Qatar was Austin, where Marquez made a big mistake that resulted in him retiring from the race, Marc explained how those mistakes start to creep in and build doubts in the head.
“If we want to fight for the Championship, we cannot have a weekend where we repeat mistakes like we did in Austin. The other ones, okay, but Austin was a big mistake and then today I was very focused. With six or seven laps remaining, I started to think about that mistake. I asked myself, ‘how should I manage the situation?’ But then I was looking the lap time and I was riding on low: 47s without full concentration. Then I decided to increase the speed to be focused again.”
Confidence Boost for Bagnaia Before Mugello
Bagnaia has been struggling with his GP25 from the start of the season, but the last two races have been very miserable. The Italian rider had a retirement and a 16th place in the previous two GPs, even in the sprint, he only had a lonely P6 in the previous one. However, a P3 in Aragon has done a world of good for Bagnaia. In his own words, he has a confidence boost heading to Mugello, a track where he has always been competitive.
Positives for Joan Mir and Honda
It was the first time for Joan Mir to get back-to-back points finishes riding a Honda. A P7 in Aragon was a very positive result for the factory Honda team, their best this season. It was also Joan’s best finish since his P5 finish at the Indian Grand Prix in 2023. After a few hard years, Honda now seems to be getting back to fighting for points more consistently. They would hope to continue this fight and soon move up the ladder.
Can't keep a good Mir down. Bouncing back with a race full of fights!
— Honda HRC Castrol – MotoGP (@HRC_MotoGP) June 8, 2025
🅿️7️⃣ "I gave everything, used all the tools I had to battle with these guys" @JoanMirOfficial
📄 https://t.co/TCGhLRPGMo #AragonGP 🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/1bASO4NqT5
Championship Standings
As things stand, Marc currently sits 32 points clear of his brother Alex Marquez at the top of the standings.
📈 @marcmarquez93 extends his lead in the standings after the #AragonGP #MotoGP pic.twitter.com/AleE8DM0gz
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) June 8, 2025
Up Next
MotoGP heads to Mugello next from 20-22nd of June for the Round 9 of the world championship.
Desi Racing Co. is dedicated to bringing the latest updates and insights from the world of motorsport. Whether it’s Formula 1, Formula 2, WEC, MotoGP, Indian motorsports, or other racing series, we’ve got you covered! Stay connected with us for in-depth motorsport coverage. Follow us on Twitter/X/, Instagram, and LinkedIn to keep up with the latest motorsport news and updates.
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