MotoGP: Francesco Bagnaia and Michelin star at Jerez
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MotoGP: Francesco Bagnaia and Michelin star at Jerez

28/04/2024

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The Gran Premio Estrella Galicia 0,0 de España - fourth round of the 2024 MotoGPTM World Championship - was won by Francesco Bagnaia (Lenovo Ducati Team). Aided by the grip and consistency of his Michelin tires, the two-time world champion bettered all the previous records for Jerez (fastest lap, race lap, shortest race-duration) on his way to beating Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP) and Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team). Read on to find out more about how the Spanish weekend unfolded...

 

  • Bagnaia got away to a splendid start from seventh on the grid to take the lead during the first of the afternoon's 25 laps, tailed by pole-sitter Marquez and Saturday's sprint-winner Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing). Lap 2 saw Martin emerge in front, chased by Bagnaia.
  • Under pressure from the reigning champ, Martin made a mistake eleventh time around, promoting Bagnaia and Marquez to second and third. The latter subsequently made maximum use of his tires' grip and consistency to post a sequence of quick laps that enabled him to challenge for the win. Bagnaia defended well, however, and posted a new race-lap record for Jerez (1m37.449s) three laps from home to beat Marquez over the line by three-tenths of a second.
  • Marquez (2nd) and Bezzecchi (3rd) claimed their first podium finishes of the season.
  • All the riders opted for the medium Michelin front and rear for the race, with the exception of Honda test rider Stefan Bradl who chose the soft rear. The Spanish track is notoriously hard on tires, but Michelin's range performed strongly to deliver grip and consistency from lights-out to the checkered flag.
  • Bagnaia and Michelin established three new records for Jerez, including a new outright MotoGPTM benchmark for the Andalusian venue during free practice on Friday. A new fastest race-lap followed on Sunday with three laps of the grand prix remaining, then a new shortest race-duration thanks to the remarkable consistency of the Italian's Michelin tires.
  • The riders also got to sample the MICHELIN Power Rain during Free Practice 3 and Qualifying. It provided them with a much-needed confidence boost in the delicate conditions.
  • Martin continues to top the provisional championship order on 92 points, ahead of Bagnaia (75) and Lenovo Ducati Team's Enea Bastianini (70).
  • Next round: MICHELIN Grand Prix de France, Le Mans (May 10-12).