2024 – MotoGP™ – Rd 1 – Race – Qatar – Lusail – 10th March
Race Summary:
- Pecco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) claimed a dominant victory, after a disappointing result in the Sprint
- Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) finished second; KTM’s best result at the track. He battled hard, especially with Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing), who settled for third after a strong start and Sprint win
- Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP) and rookie Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) also battled for the podium, with Marquez finishing fourth and Acosta ninth
- Drama at the start: Raul Fernandez had a technical issue on the grid, forcing a delay. He eventually started at the back of the grid after running back to the pit for his second bike
- Jorge Martin took the holeshot, but Bagnaia was quick to push through, passing Binder and Martin to take the lead
- Marc Marquez on his Ducati debut was in the mix early on, and Acosta impressed by setting the fastest lap and breaking the lap record
- Acosta, the rookie, ran as high as fourth but faded slightly in the latter stages to finish ninth
- Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) finished fifth after a battle with Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing)
- Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) crashed out early, but was unharmed and restarted
Comments:
- Francesco Bagnaia becomes the first rider since Jorge Lorenzo (2015-2016) to follow up a season finale win with a season opener victory the next year
- Marc Marquez P4 on his Ducati debut – his best dry result since he finished P2 in Australia in 2022
- Rookie Pedro Acosta finished P9 – the best result for a rookie on his MotoGP™ debut since Joan Mir finished P9 in Qatar in 2019
- Tenth successive MotoGP race victory for Ducati – the longest winning streak for Ducati