The Circuit of the America s was inaugurated on the MotoGP calendar in 2013. Of the 10 editions of the race held so far, Marc Márquez has won seven of them.
Few had any real doubt late last year that Márquez could be a genuine force in 2024. Gresini, after all, has won races and collected podiums over the last two years. In 2022 Enea Bastianini remained in title contention until late in the season, and in 2023 Marco Bezzecchi did likewise on a year-old VR46 Ducati.
And then the year started, and the battle at the front has looked as wide open as had been hoped — and Márquez has looked rapid. He sees himself as a genuine title chance. He wouldn’t have fought the reigning champion and Ducati’s leader so hard for 11 points had he not believed they were important to his campaign.His formidable record at this circuit spans not just his practically unbeatable years with Honda but also his dark and injured days. There’s never been a time that Márquez hasn’t been rapid around COTA.
He was slow off the line again in Portugal, qualifying fourth and finishing the sprint in the same position before his crash with Márquez on Sunday.In years gone by the biggest question mark on Bagnaia’s title challenges have been his tendency to fall off the bike at deeply inopportune moments. The sprint format weakened him by putting points on the table before he could bring himself to his best. Martin used the sprints to inset himself into the title race late last year. It was Bagnaia’s superior Sunday polish that got him over the line.
“I expect many fast riders this year, and it definitely will be challenging, but we have a good base from which to start. Martin is obviously one of them. The Pramac rider has his problems with his new 2024 bike but otherwise looks closer to the complete package, having filled in some of his 2023 weaknesses. His sweep of the Portuguese Grand Prix weekend demonstrated as much.
A blockbuster duel with Bagnaia was billed last year, but injuries meant he never really came to terms with the new bike. Victory at COTA not only would do that but would also be a massive boost to his confidence and status in the battle to keep his seat.The wildcard in the mix is surely Pedro Acosta, the rookie who has exceeded the already hefty expectations placed upon him in his debut season.
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