#MART1NATOR
Jorge Martin Clinches His First Premier Class Title in a Historic #TheRematch Decider
Jorge Martin of Prima Pramac Racing is officially the 2024 MotoGP™ World Champion! With a 24-point lead heading into the decisive weekend at the Motul Solidarity GP in Barcelona, Martin showcased nerves of steel to secure his first premier class title by a margin of 10 points. This triumph makes him the first Independent Team rider to win the championship in the MotoGP™ era.
From Humble Beginnings to MotoGP™ Stardom
Martin’s journey to the pinnacle of motorcycling began in 2015 when he debuted on the world stage with Mapfre Mahindra after winning the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup. He quickly became a consistent top-15 finisher, ending his rookie season 17th overall. In 2016, Martin’s progression continued with his first podium in a rain-soaked Brno race, though injuries limited him to 16th in the standings.
The breakthrough came in 2017 with Del Conca Gresini Moto3, where Martin claimed nine pole positions and eight podiums. His maiden win at the Valencia finale earned him fourth overall in the standings, setting the stage for a title challenge in 2018.
That year, Martin won seven races and set a record 11 pole positions, securing the Moto3™ World Championship. The achievement paved his way to Moto2™ with Red Bull KTM Ajo in 2019.
Challenges in Moto2™
Martin’s Moto2™ rookie year in 2019 proved challenging as both rider and machine struggled. A return to the podium finally came at the Japanese GP, followed by another podium in Australia, offering a glimmer of promise for 2020.
The following season started strong, with Martin achieving three podiums in the first six races, including his first Moto2™ victory in Austria. However, his title hopes were dashed by a COVID-19 diagnosis that forced him to miss two crucial races.
The Prima Pramac Partnership and MotoGP™ Rise
In 2021, Martin joined Prima Pramac Racing in MotoGP™, and his debut season was unforgettable. He took pole in just his second race and claimed a podium (P3) at the Doha GP. Despite an injury in Portimao that sidelined him for four races, Martin roared back to win the Styrian GP and secure a second pole-to-podium finish in Austria.
A rollercoaster rookie year ended with a P2 in Valencia, sparking high hopes for 2022. However, inconsistency plagued his sophomore campaign, though he still managed four podiums.
A Turning Point: 2023
Determined to bounce back, Martin entered 2023 seeking consistency. After a rocky start with two DNFs in the first three races, he found his rhythm with a P4 in Jerez and a Sprint win in France. His title battle with Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) began in earnest, and Martin earned the nickname “Sprint King” by winning seven of the last nine Saturday races.
Though Martin won three Sunday races in the latter half of the season, he narrowly missed the MotoGP™ title in Valencia after a heartbreaking DNF.
The Road to the 2024 Championship
Fueled by 2023’s near-miss, Martin started the 2024 campaign strong. A Sprint win and P3 in Qatar were followed by a commanding victory in Portugal, giving him the championship lead early. His success was anchored in consistency: between Rounds 5 and 18, he missed the Sunday podium only twice – once due to a crash in Germany and once after a risky tire gamble in San Marino.
After six P2 finishes, Martin returned to winning form in Indonesia, and his steady performances made him the title favorite. P2 finishes in Japan, Australia, and Thailand bolstered his lead, which stood at 17 points over Bagnaia heading into Malaysia.
In Sepang, Martin delivered a masterclass. He claimed 12 points in the Sprint as Bagnaia crashed out, extending his lead to 29 points. A P2 finish on Sunday left him 24 points clear heading into the Barcelona decider.
The Barcelona Finale
Qualifying fourth for the Barcelona weekend, Martin secured P3 in the Sprint, setting himself up with a clear objective for Sunday: finish P9 or better to secure the title. Despite Bagnaia delivering a flawless weekend, Martin’s calculated P3 finish in front of his home fans sealed the championship.
A year after the heartbreak of 2023, Jorge Martin stood tall as the 2024 MotoGP™ World Champion. His resilience, skill, and consistency throughout the season earned him his place in MotoGP™ history.
Looking Ahead
As Martin prepares to transition to Aprilia for the 2025 season, his incredible 2024 campaign leaves an indelible mark. The #89’s journey from Moto3™ champion to MotoGP™ World Champion is a testament to his relentless determination and unparalleled talent.
Congratulations to Jorge Martin and the entire Prima Pramac Racing team for an unforgettable season!
#MART1NATOR: the Championship in stats
Jorge Martin: Breaking Records and Making History
Jorge Martin’s victory as the 2024 MotoGP™ World Champion cements his place in the annals of premier class racing. His journey to the crown has set several remarkable records and milestones, adding even more significance to his achievement.
A Legacy Among Champions
- 30th Premier Class World Champion: Martin becomes the 30th rider to achieve this historic feat, joining an elite group of legends.
- Fifth Spanish Premier Class Champion: He follows in the footsteps of Spanish icons Alex Criville (1 title), Joan Mir (1), Jorge Lorenzo (3), and Marc Marquez (6).
A Groundbreaking Independent Team Rider
- First Independent Team Champion in the MotoGP™ Era: Martin is the first rider from an Independent Team to claim the premier class title since Valentino Rossi in 2001.
- Pioneer for Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Alumni: Martin becomes the first rider to graduate from the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup and win the premier class title.
Ducati’s New Star
- Third Ducati Champion: Martin joins Francesco Bagnaia (2022, 2023) and Casey Stoner (2007) as Ducati riders to clinch the MotoGP™ crown.
- Ducati Wins and Podiums:
- With eight premier class victories, all with Ducati, Martin ranks fourth on the all-time wins list for Ducati riders.
- His 32 podiums place him fourth among Ducati riders in the premier class, behind Andrea Dovizioso (40), Casey Stoner (42), and Bagnaia (51).
- In 2024, Martin tied Bagnaia’s record of 16 GP podiums in a single season, setting a new benchmark for Ducati riders.
A Champion of Consistency
- Champion Without the Most Wins: Martin’s triumph marks only the fifth time in the MotoGP™ era that the World Champion did not claim the most victories in a season. This exclusive group includes Nicky Hayden (2006), Jorge Lorenzo (2012), Marc Marquez (2013 and 2017), and Joan Mir (2020).
- First to Cross 500 Points in a Single Season: With an unprecedented 508 points, Martin shattered records to become the first rider to achieve this milestone in premier class history.
Historical Age Marker
- Oldest Maiden MotoGP™ Champion in the Modern Era: At 26 years and 293 days, Martin becomes the oldest rider to win his first MotoGP™ title since the class’s inception in 2002. He edges out Bagnaia, who was 25 years and 296 days old when he won his first title in 2022.
A MotoGP™ and Moto3™ Champion
- Dual Class Champion: Martin joins Joan Mir as only the second rider to win both the Moto3™ and MotoGP™ World Championships.
Jorge Martin’s incredible season has redefined what it means to be a MotoGP™ champion, blending consistency, skill, and determination. His success not only underscores his talent but also marks a significant milestone for both Independent Teams and Ducati in the modern MotoGP™ era.
#MART1NATOR: quotes from the Champion
“Thanks to everybody, it is a nice feeling but I am in shock I don’t know what to say, the emotions are high and I cried a lot, so maybe now I am more relaxed. I spoke a lot with the media, it has been an emotional hour after the big moment, I just want to celebrate, I just want to be with my team, my family and my friends. It has been emotional; it has been a long journey as my career has not been easy. For sure, I have had good opportunities in front of me, but I think I have built off them. I worked hard, and I have made a lot of sacrifices at home every day to try and become a better man. Last season, I had the opportunity, but I think I was not prepared to win but this year I felt it. I felt it was my year, so thanks to Pramac, to Ducati for giving me the opportunity to have an amazing bike these four years and to give me the opportunity to fight until the end with Pecco, who was amazing.”
How were you feeling ahead of the Grand Prix with a 19-point advantage and during the first few laps?
“It was difficult, the conditions were difficult, so the tyre choice was not easy. There were some hard tyres, some soft tyres and some medium tyres, so I was looking at my opponents, and I was like, ‘Wow, they are all good’. I mean, I thought it was really easy for me to finish 10th if they had a good race. I was scared, but I thought the medium was the most conservative tyre choice. It wasn’t easy, and I don’t think it was the correct one, maybe the soft was a little bit more competitive. I had trust in myself, and I had a lot of confidence in myself that even with the worst tyre, I could be inside the top nine, so I was super focused on the race.”
Talk us through the explosion of emotion when you knew you were the World Champion?
“Seven laps to go was the difficult point, I was so focused today, and I think even if it was a normal race in May, I would have finished third because Marc and Pecco were stronger. I did my best. For sure, the last seven laps were difficult, I started to remember a lot of moments throughout my career, I remember my dad helping me after work and all of the weekend, my mum cooking when I was in pocket bikes and my grandfather, who is not here and was watching me from the sky. I was remembering a lot of moments, but then I had to refocus and remain in the moment but then once I crossed the finish line, I started to cry. Already on the last lap, I felt that I was starting to cry; it was so emotional, and then I became happy and started to cry again once I remembered my family. I am so happy that almost all my family is here and all my close friends are here, so tonight will be good.”
How special will it be to put your name at the top of the Tower of Champions?
“Last season, I remember with Pecco when I was doing the filming, I was looking at the trophy, and I wasn’t prepared. I was scared, but this year, I didn’t even look at the trophy while we were filming, but I thought I would put my name in its place. Today, I enjoyed the race. I was touching my elbow and shoulder on the ground, like a training session. I am so happy that I could enjoy the moment as I remember in 2018 when I won the Moto3™ World Championship I was already thinking that I wanted another one in Moto2™, so I didn’t enjoy it. Now I can enjoy the moment, and whatever comes in the future will be a gift, I will try and be my best version and try and win with Aprilia, but right now, I will enjoy this moment.”
