Martin Banks Third At Mugello To Retain 2024 MotoGP World Championship Lead

 

[June 03, 2024]  Spaniard earns podium place to keep lead at 18 points with Marc Márquez fourth and Pedro Acosta fifth at Italian GP.

Jorge Martin dug in to bank third place at Sunday's Italian Grand Prix and keep his 2024 MotoGP World Championship title lead as six-time MotoGP champion Marc Márquez came fourth and new young star Pedro Acosta earned fifth at Mugello. Here is all you need to know:

- Reigning two-time MotoGP champion Francesco Bagnaia won the Sprint Race and he rocketed from fifth to first place in the first two corners of the Sunday race after Spaniard Martin started on pole.

- Bagnaia started to pull away from title rival Martin at the front as Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 rider Augusto Fernández was forced to retire from the race early in a frustrating season so far for the Spaniard.

- Midway through the race, Martin began to make time up and was only half a second off Bagnaia as Marc Márquez managed to get past Italian Enea Bastianini to move within sight of a podium finish.

- Bastianini, though, found extra grip in the closing stages and got past Marc Márquez's Ducati for third then powered past Martin heading into the final corner to claim second behind winner Bagnaia.

- Martin, 26, said: "Frustrated about the last lap. I was keeping Pecco at this amazing pace and, at the end, I thought I could make that move for the victory but saw I was too much on the limit. A podium after such a difficult weekend is crucial and we will back stronger in Assen."

- Martin now holds an 18-point lead over Bagnaia after seven races with Marc Márquez third and Acosta fifth following his fifth on the day and news of his 2025 deal to race for the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team.

- Spaniard Álex Márquez finished ninth with South African Brad Binder 10th for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, Portuguese Miguel Oliveira 14th, Australian Jack Miller 16th and Frenchman Johann Zarco 19th as there is now a long break of four weeks before the Dutch GP at Assen on June 30.

At the Italian GP, Jorge Martin secured third place on Sunday, maintaining his lead in the 2024 MotoGP World Championship by 18 points over Francesco Bagnaia, who won the race. Despite starting on pole, Martin faced a challenge from Bagnaia, who ultimately claimed victory. Meanwhile, Marc Márquez finished fourth and emerging talent Pedro Acosta took fifth. // Jorge Martin, MotoGP race, Italian MotoGP, June 2,2024 // Gold and Goose / Red Bull Content Pool

Italian GP result

1. Francesco Bagnaia ITA Ducati Lenovo 40m 51.385s

2. Enea Bastianini ITA Ducati Lenovo +0.799s

3. Jorge Martin SPA Pramac Ducati +0.924s

4. Marc Márquez SPA Gresini Ducati +2.064s

5. Pedro Acosta SPA Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 +7.501s

2024 MotoGP rider standings

1. Jorge Martin SPA Pramac Ducati 171 points

2. Francesco Bagnaia ITA Ducati Lenovo 153

3. Marc Márquez SPA Gresini Ducati 136

4. Enea Bastianini ITA Ducati Lenovo 114

5. Pedro Acosta SPA Red Bull GASGAS Tech3

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