MotoGP fans are in store for a treat as the series heads to Barcelona in mid-November for a championship finale.
A tricky enough track in its own right combined with some cold weather conditions should make it a fascinating race.
Riders are prone to making mistakes at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and that shouldn’t be any different this time around.
Even championship protagonist Francesco Bagnaia crashed out of the race there last year, miraculously avoiding any significant injuries.
Jorge Martin enjoys ‘amazing battle’ with Francesco Bagnaia
At the previous race in Malaysia, both Bagnaia and Jorge Martin battled it out in the early stages as the lead changed multiple times.
In the end it was Pecco who came out on top, helping to keep his title hopes alive heading into the final event of the season.
Speaking to Motorsport.com, Martin revealed how he has enjoyed the battle with Bagnaia, despite the intensity of what is up for grabs.
“We [have] known each other since 2015. We were really close friends in the past,” Martin said. “Now we no longer have that relationship but we are good to each other.
“As he said, it’s no sense to [be enemies]. We can fight, you saw on Sunday, it’s an amazing battle for history. Maybe not the last laps, but it was amazing [overall] and then we can speak about it. I think we both enjoyed it.
“And as he said, if it’s like this in the future, for me it will be perfect, and I hope it will be like this always.”
Why is the championship decider in Barcelona?
The MotoGP championship finale had to be changed from its original venue in Valencia as a result of devastating floods.
Most, if not all riders were completely uncomfortable with racing in the region, and the series listened – altering the calendar at short notice.
The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya offers an exciting replacement, serving as a track with a good track record and logistically not too far for teams to relocate anything that needs to be shipped away.
READ MORE: Why Francesco Bagnaia is expecting ‘tougher’ MotoGP season finale in Barcelona at ‘tricky’ circuit
In fact, there’s a less than four-hour drive between the two, and over a week for anyone to make the necessary adjustments.
It’s building up to be a thrilling conclusion to the championship, and with a 24-point gap, Bagnaia knows it’s win or nothing now for his hopes.