The 2024 MotoGP championship is going right down to the wire, with two riders going head-to-toe to secure the crown.
Francesco Bagnaia is aiming for a third triumph, while Jorge Martin is bidding to win his first – a year on from missing out on achieving the same feat.
He has been on top form this year and despite winning seven fewer races than Pecco, Martin finds himself with a sizeable advantage.
A manageable 24-point lead means that heading into the season finale, Bagnaia needs to take the win and rely on Martin to hit some misfortune in order to turn the tide around.
Jorge Martin calls MotoGP championship battle a ‘privilege’
The new venue for the 22nd and final round of the MotoGP calendar is the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Spain.
It replaces the Valencia leg, which has been cancelled as a result of devastating floods in the region which have caused mayhem.
It throws a curveball into Martin’s championship outlook, but he has enjoyed sharing the tarmac with Pecco this season.
READ MORE: Jorge Martin praises MotoGP ‘battle for history’ as championship boils down to decider in Barcelona
“For me, the confidence doesn’t change a lot coming to this race or coming to the next race. For sure I’m confident about my work, about how I arrived here,” he told the MotoGP website.
“I just think it’s a privilege to be at this point. Battling with a champion like Pecco is crazy. For sure, I’m confident. I’m happy that we took seven more points from this race.
“I feel a bit closer to the final target, but nothing is over until it’s over so we need to be super focused. For sure, I believe until the end.”
Francesco Bagnaia’s mistake proves anything can happen
Talking to the media, Bagnaia reminded everyone of how punishing the Barcelona circuit can be with his 2023 crash.
He claimed that he wasn’t even pushing when it happened and that it’s a place that can catch anyone off-guard.
Martin has the opportunity to coast to a top-10 finish and secure the title, having only finished lower than that once this season.
It’s unlikely that Martin opts to rest on his laurels though, with an opportunity to achieve a memorable podium and championship all in one.
Bagnaia has to force a mistake, and some expect to see him looking to place his Spanish rival under pressure and hopefully provoke an exciting end to the year.