Thailand 2024 MotoGP Qualification: Bagnaia's Record When Reaching Poles, Marquez And Martin Dramas

Francesco Bagnaia won the 2024 Thailand MotoGP pole (Instagram/@pecco63).

JAKARTA - Thailand's 2024 MotoGP qualification is full of drama at Chang International Circuit on Saturday, October 26, 2024.

Francesco Bagnaia won pole position with a time of 1 minute 28.700 seconds. The Italian racer broke the new lap record in Thailand.

"I'm very optimistic. I think we did a very good job with the bike. This morning we stepped a little ahead and I'm sure we were at the forefront."

"We recorded a very good lap time. I think we still have something to improve on Turn 4, but we're reducing the distance, so I'm happy," Bagnaia said.

Bagnaia became the fastest right in front of his team-mate at the Ducati Lenovo Team, Enea Bastianini (+0.232).

Pecco, Bagnaia's nickname, is now 20 points adrift of Jorge Martin who is at the top of the drivers' standings before starting the Sprint Race this afternoon.

The fight to become the 2024 MotoGP world champion is even more interesting considering Martin's journey in a full drama qualification.

The Prima Pramac Racing racer fell while chasing the fastest time. Martin had an accident at Turn 5 of his last round.

However, Jorge Martin managed to maintain his position at the forefront by ranking third.

According to him, these results are sufficient at least to fight in the Sprint Race and the main race in order to maintain the top position of the standings.

"I'm fine with the first row, that's the target. Today it's difficult, the weather is very hot and humid, so it's hard to get better than yesterday."

"I pushed myself too hard in the second round. I came very excited, chasing a distance of 1 minute 28 seconds."

"Finally, the first row was enough. I saw Pecco was quite strong, so let's do it," said Martin.

Apart from Martin, Marc Marquez also fell. The Gresini Racing racer fell after losing his balance at the front of his motorbike at Turn 3 which is known to be sharp.

Marquez was angry after falling. However, fortunately he was able to continue to improve his time record so that he ended up in fifth place.

Marquez will start the Sprint Race and the main race between Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing) and Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha), who are in fourth and sixth place.

Both of them became non-Ducati drivers who were able to attack the top ranks among the dominance of the Italian manufacturer.

Thailand 2024 MotoGP Qualification Results