After a stunning Saturday for Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), the Italian stormed to victory in the Tissot Sprint ahead of title rival Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing), who had an eventful day. The #89 took the lap record and pole position in qualifying before he was served a Long Lap penalty due to a shortcut at Turn 2 during the Sprint. Martin settled for second at the line as Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) took third and Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP) crashed out. Ahead of the Austrian GP Martin and Bagnaia are now tied on points, but once they cross the line on Sunday who will have the advantage?
1. Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) has qualified on pole for the fifth time this season, setting a new all-time lap record here. This is Martin’s third pole here in the class and on the previous occasions, he went on to finish on the podium including his maiden win in Styria 2021.
2. There Can Be Only One: Bagnaia and Martin are now equal on points, but there is a Championship leader – Bagnaia – thanks to his higher number of Grand Prix wins this season. When riders are equal on points, the leader is decided by Grand Prix wins, then second places if they have the same number of wins, and then third places and so on.
3. Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) took his third Sprint win of 2024 and will be aiming to take his seventh Grand Prix victory so far this year to equal his record in a single MotoGP™ season set in 2022 and 2023. He is now leading the Championship, although tied on points with Martin.
4. Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) crashed out in the Sprint and will now be aiming to win for the first time since Emilia-Romagna 2021 (1029 days ago). It would be his first Grand Prix win with Ducati and Gresini, and his first MotoGP™ win at this track.
5. 17?: Ducati can equal Honda as the manufacturers with the most MotoGP podium lockouts (1-2-3 finishes) – 17.
6. 10?: If a Ducati rider wins, it will be the 10th win so far in 2024 for the Bologna factory. In addition, it will be their ninth win at the Red Bull Ring, which will become their most successful track ahead of Lusail (8 wins).
7. After passing through Q1, Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) has qualified fifth equalling his best qualifying so far this year from Portugal when he finished both the Sprint and race in fifth. He finished P5 in the Sprint here, equalling his best Sprint result this year, and will now be aiming to take a podium for the first time since he was P3 in Spain last year.
8. Aprilia aiming high: If Aprilia riders finish higher than P6, it will be the Noale factory’s best result at the Red Bull Ring. Previously, Aleix Espargaro finished P6 in 2022 and Viñales did the same in 2023.
9. Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing) has qualified eighth, equalling his second-best qualifying so far this season from Jerez and Assen. He finished P6 in the Sprint, and he will be aiming to take his first podium since he finished third in Jerez in 2021.
10. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) has qualified 12th and finished P7 in the Sprint but will now be aiming to stand on the podium for the second time so far this year along with Qatar (P2), or to win for the first time since Austria in 2021.
Make sure you tune in on Sunday at 14:00 local time (UTC +2), to find out who will take the Championship lead!