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Category: Moto GP

  1. UNDERWHELMING FRIDAY AT LE MANS FOR TEAM GRESINI MOTOGP

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    The outcome of this morning’s FP1 at Le Mans had created a very different degree of expectations for Marc and Alex Marquez, who in the end could not finish Practice higher than 13th and 19th, respectively. An afternoon characterised by high temperatures that saw a crash (for the #93) and a bit too many yellow flag situations did not help in what was extremely competitive session, with the top-12 lapping under the 1’31s barrier. 
     
    For the first time in the season, both standard bearers of Team Gresini Racing MotoGP will be forced to tackle Q1 tomorrow from 10:50 local time (GMT +2). 

    13th - MARC MARQUEZ #93 (1’31.097s)
    “I never felt comfortable in the afternoon set-up wise, and we need to react quickly. I’m not really fond of Q1 and it’s going to be a key but also complicated session. Unfortunately I got a yellow flag during my quick lap attempt and then made a mistake at the last second. We went in the wrong direction with the set-up so there’s a lot of work to do to be competitive tomorrow.”
     
    19th - ALEX MARQUEZ #73 (1’31.530s)
    “I managed to only do one time attack. We tried some adjustments that we working well this morning, but not as much in the afternoon. We need to make a step back, I had an idea set-up wise that I thought could have helped, but it turned out not to be. There’s margin to do well, but we need a bike that is not as nervous. Q1 is a complicated session and it’ll be even more challenging tomorrow with so many fast riders.”

     

  2. MotoGP Grand Prix De France 2024 Early Look and Odds Preview

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    The anticipation is building as we approach the fifth round of the 2024 MotoGP season, set to ignite the Le Mans Bugatti Grand Prix racing track in France this weekend. This thrilling event is a key highlight of the 21-race calendar, promising high-speed action and intense competition.  MotoGP Grand Prix De France 2024 Early Look and Odds Preview

    The MotoGP French Grand Prix, a pivotal event in the championship, is set to take place at the Bugatti track in Le Mans. Last year, Marco Bezzecchi emerged as the victor, marking the 1000th weekend of the world championship with his win.

    Last year, the Italian achieved his second Grand Prix triumph after his first success in the Argentine Grand Prix, temporarily propelling him to the championship standings.

    The previous year's MotoGP French Grand Prix was a record-breaking event, with 278,805 spectators flocking to Le Mans over the weekend. This high attendance is a testament to the event's popularity and significance in the MotoGP calendar.

    The MotoGP French Grand Prix has seen intense competition over the years. Jorge Lorenzo, a dominant force in the sport, holds the record for the most wins in this event, with six victories between 2009 and 2016.

    When is the 2024 French Grand Prix?

    The MotoGP French Grand Prix is scheduled for 10-12 May 2024. The race on Sunday will commence at 1 pm BST, equivalent to 2 pm local time.

    Moto GP In France: A Historic Venue

    Certain events on the MotoGP calendar are notably iconic due to the historical significance of the tracks where they take place and the high level of competition they foster. The Grand Prix of France is unquestionably at the forefront in this regard.

    The Bugatti GP Circuit near Le Mans is not just a track, it's a testament to the rich history of World Championship GP Motorcycle Racing. As an integral section of the extensive Circuit de la Sarthe, it has witnessed countless iconic moments and fierce battles. Its 4,200 meters of French asphalt have been graced by the best in the sport, making it a revered venue for MotoGP enthusiasts.

    Francesco Bagnaia & Jorge Martin Battle at the Top of the Standings

    Despite Francesco Bagnaia's best efforts, Jorge Martin still leads the championship by 17 points going into this weekend's French GP. However, there is still plenty of opportunity for riders to gain distance in the title race since there are 17 rounds left in the season.

    Martin has been impressive on his path to a 92-point performance in early 2024. His consistent top-two finishes in weighted predator and prey throughout the season reflect the aggressive riding style that the Spaniard employs. When comparing 2024 to previous seasons, Martin also performs better in terms of consistency and quickness. On the other hand, his 50% average accident rate at Le Mans and 25% in-season crash rate are causes for concern.

    On his Ducati Lenovo Team bike, defending champion Bagnaia is closing the gap quickly on Martin. Although Bagnaia has had success thus far, his rankings in consistency are concerning, as he sits at number sixteen, and in degradation, he is ranked eleventh. This shows that, in comparison to his competitors, Bagnaia has had trouble getting into a rhythm and managing his tires during the race. But he can make clean overtakes stick, as seen by his high-efficiency position. Bagnaia might seize control of the title if he can find a way to be more consistent over the remainder of the season.

    MotoGP Grand Prix of France Betting Odds

    The MotoGP championship odds at top-rated bookies for Irish punters present interesting future prices as they cannot split Martin and Bagnaia from the leading position.

    As previously mentioned, Martin and Bagnaia are currently battling in the championship standings, which is reflected in the sportsbook betting odds.

    Moto GP World Championship Winner Odds 2024

    Francesco Bagnaia [7/4]

    Jorge Martin [7/4]

    Marc Marquez [5/2]

    Pedro Acosta [8/1]

    A Brief History of the Bugatti Circuit

    The first race took place in 1951 and has been contested in Le Mans without interruption since 2000, despite hosting several events starting from 1969.

    Giacomo Agostini became victorious in the 500cc category during the first-ever race on the track by surpassing all other riders in terms of laps completed. The Italian racer won in three further races held in France in 1970, 1972, and 1975. Furthermore, he won a total of eight championships in both the 500cc and 350cc classes.

    Honda has the record for the most wins among manufacturers in the premier class at Le Mans, with a total of 20 triumphs. Their most recent win was in 2019.

    A Closer Look at The Bugatti Circuit The MotoGP

    French Grand Prix takes place at the Bugatti Circuit, situated inside the Circuit de la Sarthe, renowned for hosting the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans automobile race. The Bugatti Circuit spans 2.6 miles (4.185km) and is named in honor of Ettore Bugatti, the renowned Italian-French automotive designer and manufacturer. The track was inaugurated in 1965, 18 years after Bugatti's passing in Paris.

    Certain sections of the Bugatti circuit coincide with the primary 24-hour track, including the pit straight, La Chapelle, Raccordement, and the Dunlop Chicane. After La Chappelle, the track diverges, with the right path leading to the Bugatti circuit and the left path leading to the 24-hour vehicle layout.

    The Bugatti track is also the venue for the 24 Hours of Le Mans motorcycle race, in which Gregg Black, Etienne Masson, and Dan Linfoot triumphed for Yoshimura Sert Motul in April.

    French GP 2024 Qualifying and Race Schedule

    ● Saturday 11th of May – Qualifier 1 – [9:50 am – 10:05 am]

    ● Saturday 11th of May – Qualifier 2 – [10:15 am – 10:30 am]

    ● Saturday 11th May – 13-lap Sprint Race – [2 pm]

    ● Sunday 12th May – Warm Up – [8:40 am – 8:50 am]

    ● Sunday 12th May – French GP Race – [1 pm]

     

     

     

     

     

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  3. ASTRA OTOPARTS GRESINI MOTOGP SIGN A NEW, TWO-YEAR AGREEMENT

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    A new, two-year partnership extension see Astra Otoparts and Gresini Racing continue their journey together. The Indonesian giant bets once again on the Gresini MotoGP project and in 2024 will be alongside Alex and Marc Marquez in a season that has already shown great potential for the two light-blue dressed brothers. 
     
    Astra Otoparts top brand Aspira will be on display in all the main elements of Team Gresini MotoGP: from the bike to the riders’ leathers, team uniforms, pit-box panels, team trucks and MotoGP hospitality.
     
    A leading institution in the production and distribution of automotive spare parts, Astra Otoparts continue to contribute to the strengthening of the relations between Gresini and Indonesia, which is in all ways a second home for the Faenza-based team. 

    TUJUH MARTOGI SIAHAAN – DIRECTOR ASTRA OTOPARTS - "It’s an honour for us to be able to announce the extension of the partnership with Gresini Racing MotoGP for this season and the next one. We only wish for a further strengthening of the partnership between one of Astra’s top brands in the automotive industry, Aspira, and Gresini. I believe this new stellar line up made by the Marquez brothers makes this season a very interesting one and we expect to see a great story to be told in MotoGP. Indonesian people love Marquez for his incredible performance and this positivity will reflect also in our collaboration.”

    CARLO MERLINI – GRESINI RACING COMMERCIAL & MARKETING DIRECTOR - “13 years together. What is a historical partnership will continue for at least another two years, until the end of 2025, and I’m extremely happy about it. We share a lot with Astra Motoparts and will continue to do so by raising the bar of our share goals a bit further up. We started the season among the protagonists, and we intend to do so until the final round in Valencia. We continue to grow together and a thank you goes to the whole Astra Family, which is in all ways an integral part of the #GresiniFamily.”

  4. PANDEMONIUM IN JEREZ AS MARC NARROWLY MISSES OUT ON RACE WIN AND ALEX IS FOURTH

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    Some Sundays are difficult to forget. At the same place where four years prior his nightmare began, Marc Marquez is back on the podium at Jerez de la Frontera after narrowly missing out on the race win in the last laps. The 20 points scored today catapult the #93 up to sixth place, 32 points in arrears of leader Martin.

    It was a very solid performance also for Alex Marquez, fourth at the line at the end of a good battle with Binder. It was a weekend among the protagonists for the #73, who was close to podium positions also yesterday.

    2nd - MARC MARQUEZ #93
    “I rode even too conservatively in the first five laps. Yesterday’s crash played a part and I wanted to make sure I made it to the finish line. Then I saw the chance to win and I gave it a try. Pecco defended the position strongly and it was good this way. Now winning is not a dream anymore, so let’s enjoy this return to speed and to podium ways.”

    4th – ALEX MARQUEZ #73
    “It was a positive weekend, and we did very well today despite a small problem with the front brake. We have an important test tomorrow so we must stay focused!”