[Porschefire]

Spanish GP - Race





- Pecco reigns supreme in Jerez as he made a solid start from 7th to go up to second, behind Jorge Martin before he crashed out of the lead. He now becomes the hatrick hero of Jerez.

- After the heartbreak in the sprint, Marc Marquez takes a well deserved second step on the podium. He did challenge Pecco for the win but he had amazing late pace, setting the fastest race lap time in Jerez.

- Marco Bezzecchi brings home the VR46 in third after his last podium success was way back in the Indian GP last year. He completes an all Ducati podium.

- Alex Marquez, Enea Bastianini and Fabio Di Giannantonio complete a top 8 finish for Ducati in fourth, fifth and seventh respectively.

- A not so great Sunday for Prima Pramac Racing as both riders crashed out in the race.

- Aprilias of Miguel Oliveira and Maverick Vinales in eighth and ninth while Pedro Acosta finishes tenth.

- The biggest losers: Jorge Martin - crashed out of the lead, Jack Miller - had an incident with Franco Morbidelli, Daniel Pedrosa - crashed when he lost the front and Aleix Espargaro.

The World Championship standings after round four -

[ads11]

I'd only seen the sprint race highlights but what on earth was that damp patch that kept taking out riders towards the end? I've not seen anything like it before. They were only youtube highlights but I couldn't make out any visual difference as to where that patch was. Terrifying to think about hitting that on 2 wheels.

Pleasantly surprised to see Pecco managed the top step. He's needed a big result this season, not quite had any statement results far as I can tell and got a bad draw with the crash in the sprint race.

Amazing to see how on pace Marc is already on the Ducati. One can't help but wonder how he'd fare on the factory bike (though maybe that's for the best). Pedro Acosta on the Gas-Gas is the other one to watch out for. He's got the brashness of a wunderkind about him. I can't help but feel he'll be a character in some pivotal clashes/controversies this season..

[Fx14]

Originally Posted by ads11

Pleasantly surprised to see Pecco managed the top step. He's needed a big result this season, not quite had any statement results far as I can tell and got a bad draw with the crash in the sprint race.

Pecco had won the first GP race of this season at Qatar.

Amazing race today between him and Marc in the closing stages. They almost repeated the Portimao coming together crash out, though this time around both of them managed to keep their bikes upright.

[Thalla]

That was a great win for pecco.

[ads11]

What I like about Pecco is that he doesn't seem to have that nasty streak that Marc or Valentino had, or even Lorenzo.

Pecco made a stunning dive down the inside on the opening lap and then some brilliant duelling with Marc. My worry with Marc is that he's always been the type where you can't help but feel he's happy to take both of you out if he can't have his way. Glad it didn't come to that today.

[aravind.anand]

Marc is like that Tata Ace driver on our roads. He will jut in where there is no space, and expect you to change your course and make space for him. He will barge his way in, and is ok if he crashes or takes you out too.

So kudos to Pecco for holding firm and fighting it out with Marc and winning. This must have been one of the most satisfying wins of his career. Even Marc was doing crazy moves at the podium celebrations - never seen him celebrate a second place quite like this !

[rajeevsulu]

Pecco dealt with Marc perfect. Marc is like that petulant infant who will not take a no for an answer. Like how a spank would work for the kid, "elbows out" is the way to deal with Marc.
The highest finishing Japanese manufacturer was 12 th, Joan Mir. All Ducatis, KTM s, Aprilia bikes in the top 10.

Cheers

[Porschefire]

Originally Posted by ads11

Pecco made a stunning dive down the inside on the opening lap and then some brilliant duelling with Marc. My worry with Marc is that he's always been the type where you can't help but feel he's happy to take both of you out if he can't have his way. Glad it didn't come to that today.

Originally Posted by aravind.anand

Marc is like that Tata Ace driver on our roads. He will jut in where there is no space, and expect you to change your course and make space for him. He will barge his way in, and is ok if he crashes or takes you out too.

Originally Posted by rajeevsulu

Pecco dealt with Marc perfect. Marc is like that petulant infant who will not take a no for an answer. Like how a spank would work for the kid, "elbows out" is the way to deal with Marc.

"Elbows out" seems to be the norm of riding these days.
If we just take this weekend as an example, there were a lot of incidents due to the riders going for the same piece of tarmac and having near misses or a crash: Bezzecchi - Binder - Bagnaia in the Sprint, Miller - Morbidelli in the Race, Zarco - Espargaro in the Race, Marquez - Mir in the Sprint, Marquez - Bagnaia in the Race, to mention a few.
Marc did mention in the post race press conference that he did close the throttle and straighten the bike to avoid a crash. No doubt, Marc has been perpetrator of many a crashes back in the day, but this overtake on Pecco was clean. It was Pecco who saw the opportunity to dive inside when Marc went wide and stayed there until Marc had to back out. If not, this would be a repeat of Potimao.

Senna's famous words comes to mind - "If you no longer go for a gap that exists, you're no longer a racing driver". The 'existential gap' is the thin line that is the grey between the black and white.

[ds.raikkonen]

What. A. Race. Speechless.

Huge respect to both Marc and Pecco for giving their 100% and toughing it out, giving us a battle to remember! Shame for Martin crashing out, he looked on course to extend his WC lead but could not, shades of 2023 peeking again when everyone thought he had moved on, but still its only his first bad weekend in 2024.

Surely among the Jerez classics which people will remember. Thankfully no drama at Lorenzo corner in the end, though 'rubbing' did happen well before that one

[motor_breathing]

The boss VR46 also was in attendance and post race,ignored MM93 as if he didst exist . Any time that Yamaha aerox ad comes up some one will bin it and i was eager to find who and lo, JM89 is on the scooter returning to pits. So much irritating these ads are. Why Jio why .. troubling us so much

[ds.raikkonen]

Originally Posted by motor_breathing

The boss VR46 also was in attendance and post race,ignored MM93 as if he didst exist

As if Marc gives a s@#% to Rossi's acknowledgement
Rossi is probably still sore about 'rookie' Marc beating his ranch lap record back in 2014, then being a road block for him during the 2015 title fight. He is also wary of the fact that Marc can very well match his record now that he has adapted to the Ducati.

[Fx14]

Originally Posted by motor_breathing

Any time that Yamaha aerox ad comes up some one will bin it and i was eager to find who and lo, JM89 is on the scooter returning to pits. So much irritating these ads are. Why Jio why .. troubling us so much

The most irritating part of the telecast no doubt. The same ad repeated thrice with IPL match of the day, that too in between the short telecast of a sprint as well. They seem to have no clue about the sport whatsoever. Spoilsports.

Martin though seems to be cracking under pressure when leading the overall championship. Last year too he had the championship in his grasp when he crashed out while leading the Indonesian GP.

Pecco on the other hand seems to thrive under pressure and is making a comeback in the main races when his qualifying and / or sprint is not good.