Sunday, November 17, 2024, 1:46 p.m.
Jorge Martín was proclaimed MotoGP world champion this Sunday after a dream season. The Spanish driver, who started from fourth position in the decisive race held at the Montmeló circuit, won the title against Pecco Bagnaia, who started from pole but could not prevent Jorge Martín from winning the crown. The man from Madrid knew that by only adding seven more points than Bagnaia he would be champion, no matter what the Italian did.
Martín entered the last race of the year 19 points ahead of Bagnaia, which meant that the Italian’s only options for the title were to finish first or second. Any other result left the championship in the hands of Martín, who did not miss the opportunity to seal his victory in the World Cup. Like on Saturday, Jorge made a great start and placed second, just behind Bagnaia, but on the next lap he was overtaken by Marc Márquez. From there, the Madrid native remained third, without suffering excessively, to secure his first title in the premier category.
This title crowns an exceptional season for Martín, who has shown absolute dominance, especially in sprint races. With seven victories, six second places and three third places, such as the one achieved in Saturday’s sprint of the Barcelona Solidarity GP, his consistency and talent have consolidated him as the great protagonist of MotoGP 2024. Although Bagnaia has achieved more victories in the long races On Sundays, Martín has been more consistent on the podium, with three victories, ten second places and three third places. In the races in which he has finished, the Madrid native has only been off the podium twice, a fourth place in the United States and a fifteenth in San Marino.
With his world crown Jorge Martín joins the select list of Spanish champions, becoming the fifth rider to win the MotoGP world title. The rider from San Sebastián de los Reyes joins motorcycling legends such as Álex Crivillé, who won the championship in 1999, Jorge Lorenzo, who won the title three times (2010, 2012 and 2015), Marc Márquez, with six championships in the premier category (2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019), and Joan Mir, who won the title in 2020.
A rivalry resolved with glory
However, Jorge Martín goes further: his championship breaks a barrier that had not been overcome for 23 years, marking a milestone in the history of motorcycling. Since Valentino Rossi won his first world title in 2001 with the Nastro Azzurro Honda team, no driver from an unofficial team had been crowned champion. Martín, with the Ducati Desmosedici GP23 of the Pramac team, has returned this honor to the satellite teams, something that has not happened since the beginning of MotoGP as an independent category in 2002. Furthermore, he has achieved it in his second season in the top category, following the footsteps of Rossi himself and consolidating his name alongside the great legends of motorcycling.
This title also represents a personal redemption for Martín, who last year was on the verge of the championship, falling to Bagnaia. In 2024 he has proven to be not only the most consistent driver, but also the strongest mentally, handling the pressure in key moments and establishing himself as the best in the world.
