Will the MotoGP Catalan GP continue the ‘Three Kingdoms’ saga?

Jorge Martin’s thrilling victory over defending champion Joan Mir at Le Mans also saw him beat eight-time champion Marc Márquez to take the race win. With a 38-point lead, he is set to maintain his championship lead after this weekend’s Spanish GP, but the explosive Martin has no intention of settling, with his sights firmly set on securing this year’s world title.

After his victory at Le Mans, Jorge Martin not only defeated the reigning champion Joan Mir but also crossed the line ahead of eight-time champion Marc Márquez, securing the race win. With a 38-point advantage, he is well-placed to continue leading the standings after this week’s Spanish round, but the highly competitive Martin is far from satisfied, as his main goal is undoubtedly to add this year’s world championship trophy to his collection.

Mark Márquez’s third-place position in the riders’ standings after France is his first such feat since 2019. The 40-point gap, given his return to peak form, now seems less daunting for “Little Marc,” and we can expect him to contend for the title once again in another Spanish venue.

For Bagnaia, who staged a 91-point comeback in 2022, where a single race could yield a maximum of 25 points, his decision not to force an overtake in the last lap of the French GP might be explained by the long battle ahead. However, he will be looking to bounce back starting from this weekend’s Catalan GP, despite never having won at the Catalan circuit in the top class.

The French GP results may have overlooked Enea Bastianini’s impressive performance; had he not received a long-lap penalty for cutting a corner, he too would have been in the fight for victory. Similarly, Bezecchi, who crashed out in both races last week, could also be part of this conversation.

Last year, Aprilia dominated the Catalan GP podium with a 1-2 finish. Aleix Espargaró, who has consistently performed well at the Catalan track, and Vinales, who is in excellent form this season, will be aiming to replicate their success on a favorable circuit. For Espargaró, it will be his last home MotoGP race in his career.

After a nightmare weekend in France, the KTM camp hopes to quickly put those memories behind them: Binder was absent in qualifying and the sprint race, Acosta suffered his first MotoGP-class crash, and Miller often lost pace in the latter stages of races. A week’s break should allow KTM to identify the issues and regain lost speed.

While Japanese manufacturers still struggle to challenge the leaders, there are glimmers of hope: Quartararo qualified directly for Q2 and reached sixth place before crashing in the race. Given Yamaha’s recent positive signs, Rins will also be looking to make significant progress alongside his teammate this week. In the Honda camp, Zarco is currently the team’s standout performer, with the other three riders, especially Marini, needing to find ways to close the gap.

Catalan GP Preview Stats:

10 – Valentino Rossi holds the record for the most MotoGP-class wins at the Catalan circuit with 10 (6 in the premier class, 1 in the 500cc class, 2 in the 250cc class, and 1 in the 125cc class). Behind him are Jorge Lorenzo with 6 wins and Max Biaggi with 4. Among current riders, the Marc Márquez brothers, Quartararo, and Pedrosa have all stood on the top step three times.

945 – If Marc Márquez wins this weekend, it will be his first victory in 945 days since the 2021 Emilia Romagna GP.

66 – If a Ducati rider qualifies in the top three this week, it will mark their 66th consecutive race with a front-row start. The last time no Ducati rider secured a top-three qualifying position was at the 2020 Valencia GP.

52 – Ducati has had a rider on the podium in 51 consecutive races. If they maintain this streak, it will extend to 52 races.

20 – On Sunday, Acosta will turn 20 years and 1 day old. If he wins, he would still be the youngest ever premier class winner, breaking Marc Márquez’s record of 20 years and 63 days.

– Six full-time riders could claim their maiden premier class victory this weekend: Alex Marquez, Raul Fernandez, Marini, Takaaki Nakagami, Augusto Fernandez, and Acosta.

– If Morbidelli, Quartararo, Espargaró, or Bagnaia don’t take pole position, it will be the fifth different pole-sitter in the premier class at the Catalan GP for five consecutive years.

– If Bagnaia reaches the podium this weekend, it will be his first top-three finish in any MotoGP-class event at the Catalan circuit. He has yet to stand on the podium at the Termas de Rio Hondo circuit in Argentina and the Buddh International Circuit in India.

(Edited by Asan)