Jorge Martin did exactly what he needed to in order to win the MotoGP title in Barcelona, with an assured ride to third.
It was representative of exactly how good he has been all season – strikingly consistent and too strong for anyone to beat.
Francesco Bagnaia did all he could do to win the race, his 11th such achievement of the season, but remained 10 points behind his title rival at the close of play.
The race was rearranged in the finale after devastating flooding moved it from Valencia, but it wasn’t enough to disrupt Martin’s momentum.
Jorge Lorenzo ‘super happy’ for Jorge Martin
Jorge Lorenzo is one of the now five Spanish MotoGP champions – having won three titles on either side of Marc Marquez’s dominance.
It had been four years since a Spaniard claimed the crown, when Joan Mir won for Suzuki in 2020 – the team’s seventh-ever triumph.
“I am super happy for Jorge,” Lorenzo told TNT Sports. “He is a friend, I’ve known him since he was 16. He trained with me and my father, we have a good relationship. We share a manager, as well.
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“He has struggled so much but he deserves this. He is a fighter. Bagnaia decided not to slow down the race which was good for [Martin],” he continued.
“Finally he can say that he’s a MotoGP champion. They have been like robots, always very precise. Not so many mistakes.
“They are similar in terms of riding styles. There have been great battles between them. It is good that we have another champion, and not always the same one.”
Can Martin win again in 2025?
Winning the championship with a satellite team is an achievement in itself, but that won’t be possible again in 2025.
Martin is switching teams and will no longer ride a Ducati bike – changing to Aprilia as he replaces the retiring Aleix Esparago.
The Ducati has been so dominant this season and was enough for Martin to claim the title despite having eight fewer wins than Pecco.
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However, the Aprilia will take time for the reigning champion to adjust to next year, as he moves away from what has comfortably been the best bike.
It could be another open goal for Bagnaia, who will be aiming for his third title in four seasons – something rarely achieved in MotoGP.