Were any confirmation of Ducati’s dominance in 2024 needed, then how about filling the top six places in the Main race at Philip Island (not forgetting the top five places in the Sprint race)? The last time a single manufacturer achieved a top-six lockout was at the 1997 French Grand Prix when races were run to 500cc rules, Mick Doohan taking top honours, followed by Checa, Okada, Crivillé, Aoki and Barros, all riding Hondas.
Such dominance by a rider or manufacturer might suggest boring racing, and that might be true at any track other than Philip Island, which invariably delivers excitement in spades. If the 2024 race wasn’t an instant classic, then it was far from boring, with winner Marc Marquez and runner-up Jorge Martin making sure of that.
The teams arrived at Philip Island facing the relatively unknown factor of track surface condition. The circuit has been resurfaced since last year, and no one, not least Michelin, knew what to expect in terms of tyre life. As a result, Michelin brought three rear tyre options instead of the usual two, with the medium and hard featuring a heat-resistant reinforced construction.
So, the riders had to navigate the intricacies of assessing each tyre to find the most suitable – and durable – and brave high winds and rain-spoiling practice sessions. Oh, and there was also wildlife to consider, Jack Miller hitting a rabbit in qualifying and a seagull in the Sprint race. All this on one of the fastest, most challenging race tracks on the calendar! Still think these guys don’t earn their money?
In reality, both Sprint and Main races were all about Martin and Marquez, with Bagnaia and Bastiannini playing supporting roles. Martin led every lap of the Sprint race, while Marquez dropped to eighth before charging back up to second. Bagnaia dropped to fourth after running second and Bastiannini took third.
But the real drama was happening further back. Viñales used the slipstream to slingshot past Bezzecchi, only for the latter to get caught out by Viñales’ slipstream under braking, slamming into the Aprilia and taking them both out at very high speed, happily without serious injury to either. It was reminiscent of the Zarco/Marquez incident at the same corner a few years ago and no less scary.
At the start of the Main race, Marquez caused a fright when his rear tyre lit up at the start, thanks to a visor tear-off lodging under his rear tyre on the grid, robbing him of any acceleration and causing him to snake around helplessly before he got going, exiting the first corner in 13th, but passing seven riders in the short run to turn two! Again, Martin looked imperious at the front and we could have been forgiven for assuming that this was going to be a repeat of the Sprint. It looked as if someone had forgotten to tell Marc Marquez, however, who crept inexorably towards the front over the next few laps, after letting his rear tyre’s temperature settle down.
Binder was going well in fourth but fell victim to Marquez, whereafter he would be relegated to playing best-of-the-rest and finally finishing seventh, first non-Ducati home.
But it was up front that all the interest lay. Despite riding a year-old Ducati GP23, Marc Marquez was setting the timing sheets alight and closing on Bagnaia who, in turn, was closing on Martin and actually got past, prompting fears that Martin was suffering tyre degradation problems as he did so disastrously last year at the same track.
But Bagnaia’s move was quickly rebuffed and would be the last in a forward direction he would make for the rest of the afternoon, quickly losing the lead to Martin and second place to Marquez in short order. He’d keep third to the flag but still lose points for the second race in a row to Martin.
For now, all eyes were on Martin and Marquez. Marquez was close but it felt as if Martin had the measure of him; after all, he was on a current Ducati GP24 so what business did Marquez have beating him? Also consider that taking Martin out in a do-or-die attempt to overtake would not make Marquez the most popular rider in anyone’s eyes, apart maybe from Bagnaia – his teammate next year, don’t forget.
Finally, with a couple of laps to go, Marquez made a move stick and started to pull away – or was Martin playing the percentage game and settling for second, knowing that Bagnaia was behind him and no threat? It doesn’t matter, but it was a sensational win for Marquez, on a track that rewards performance, in which the GP23 is lacking over the GP24.
Incredibly, this year’s total race time was nearly 52 seconds faster than last year’s; that’s 1.9 seconds per lap faster! All that is down to the rear tyre which is giving so much grip, it’s punishing the front tyre. Martin found this out to his cost as he used up his front tyre very quickly, which is why Bagnaia and Marquez were able to catch him around half distance.
Bagnaia has an incredible feel for the front end of his Ducati but the windy conditions were playing havoc with the aero of his bike and he too was using up his front tyre at an alarming rate as he tried to get the GP24 turned into the oh-so-fast corners that make up this track. When he tried to compensate by using the rear tyre to turn the bike, he destroyed that as well, which is why he was never really in contention for the victory and would finish ten seconds behind Marquez at the flag.
Marquez’ victory was largely due to his mastery of changing conditions – which includes a wearing front tyre – as much to outright pace. Even though his front tyre was likely as shot as Martin’s, he just relishes a lack of grip and is seemingly fearless when riding on the ragged edge. His third victory this season, on a bike that no one else seems to be able to do anything with, must have Bagnaia wondering what he’s going to be up against when Marquez is his teammate in 2025.
We know that Bagnaia isn’t afraid to get his elbows out when the occasion calls for it, but will he be prepared to do it every single race of the year? Marquez is no respecter of reputation when there is the chance of a victory, and, on equal machinery, his teammate is going to feel the heat the most.
Mathematically, Marquez could win the championship in 2024, being 79 points behind Martin, with six races remaining (three sprints and three main races) and 111 points up for grabs but let’s be honest, the title fight is between Martin and Bagnaia and, given both their finishing/winning/crashing records this year, there’s no way I’m sticking my neck out and calling it. And neither should you; three race weekends to go so let’s just enjoy them for what they are and let the championship take care of itself.
