The 2024 MotoGP season opener in Qatar saw two-time world champion Francesco Bagnaia continue his reign on the Ducati GP24. The feature race’s start was disrupted due to a technical issue faced by Raul Fernandez from Aprilia Trackhouse racing.
- Binder finishes second in sprint and main race
- Marc Marquez finishes fourth, first time on Ducati Machinery
- MotoGP rookie Pedro Acosta finishes in the top 10
The podium battle
While Jorge Martin got a great start from pole position, 2023 champion Francesco Bagnaia managed to seize the lead within the first three corners and it stayed that way for the remainder of the race.
Behind Bagnaia, Brad Binder and Jorge Martin were engaged in their own battle, overtaking each other multiple times, but ultimately, Binder’s RC16 took second place followed by Sprint Race winner Martin in third.
Marquez brothers finish in the top 10
Marc Marquez, in his first feature-length race on a Ducati, managed to finish within the top five in both the Sprint as well as the main race. Binder and Marc Marquez were involved in a close battle throughout the race, which pushed Enea Bastianini down to fifth place and into an immediate skirmish with Alex Marquez. At the end, Alex finished the race in sixth position.
Rookie Acosta in top 10 on MotoGP debut
The only rookie on the 2024 MotoGP grid, Pedro Acosta, initially had a very promising race and at one point was in fourth place, ahead of even Marc Marquez.
However, all that overtaking took its toll on the rookie’s rear tyre and forced him to reduce his pace, at which point both the Marquez brothers, Enea Bastianini, Fabio Di Giannantonio and Aleix Espargaro came past him. Acosta had to settle for ninth place in the end.
2024 MotoGP championship standings
After claiming his 2023 MotoGP championship, Bagnaia has won the opening race of the 2024 MotoGP season. This winning race sets the reigning champion at the top of the standings, followed by Brad Binder and Jorge Martin. The next round will be held at the Algarve circuit in Portugal on March 22–24.
2024 Qatar MotoGP results
| 2024 Qatar GP Results | ||
|---|---|---|
| Position | Rider | Team |
| 1 | Francesco Bagnaia | Ducati |
| 2 | Brad Binder | KTM |
| 3 | Jorge Martin | Pramac Racing |
| 4 | Marc Marquez | Gresini Racing |
| 5 | Enea Bastianini | Ducati |
| 6 | Alex Marquez | Gresini Racing |
| 7 | Fabio Di Giannantonio | VR46 Racing |
| 8 | Aleix Espargaro | Aprilia |
| 9 | Pedro Acosta | GASGAS Tech3 |
| 10 | Maverick Vinales | Aprilia |
| 11 | Fabio Quartararo | Yamaha |
| 12 | Johann Zarco | LCR Honda |
| 13 | Joan Mir | Honda |
| 14 | Marco Bezzecchi | VR46 Racing |
| 15 | Miguel Oliveira | Trackhouse Racing |
| 16 | Alex Rins | Yamaha |
| 17 | Augusto Fernandez | GASGAS Tech3 |
| 18 | Franco Morbidelli | Pramac Racing |
| 19 | Takaaki Nakagami | LCR Honda |
| 20 | Luca Marini | Honda |
| 21 | Jack Miller | KTM |
| NC | Raul Fernandez | Trackhouse Racing |