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Sprint Race
Follow the Grand Prix Qatar live. This MotoGP race starts at 16:00 on 9 March 2024. Find race results, calendar, standings, scores and all of this season’s MotoGP races.
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Highlights
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BYE FOR NOW!
That's it for today - thanks for your company during the Qatar Sprint.
We'll be back tomorrow for the Grand Prix - live text coverage starts at 4.30pm GMT and it's lights out at 5pm. See you then!
MARTIN POST-RACE
"I was fast, but the rear tyre chatter is still there, so we need to work on that. I think I was really close to crashing in a lot of corners, so I was struggling a lot. Today we have achieved, but tomorrow, if we continue like this, it will be impossible. Let's work on it!
"I feel confident, I feel fast, the only thing is the bike. We need to work on it tonight and let's see if we can enjoy the big one tomorrow."
BINDER POST-RACE
"Today was great. It's always awesome to finish on the podium especially in the first race back.
"The pace was really fast, especially in the first few laps. I'm super impressed with the gains we made on corner entry and under braking, the bike's on another level there, but we obviously have some work to do."
ESPARGARO POST-RACE
"I tried my best, but I lost a lot of time with overtakes. Unfortunately, we need to improve a bit on the straights because it's easy for them to overtake me, but the speed we can have throughout the circuit is amazing.
"I'm really happy, the level of the bike is extremely high and I think also that in the long race, we will have a better chance because we saved a lot of rear tyre."
MARTIN WINS QATAR SPRINT
Martin takes the chequered flag with about half a second of an advantage. Binder holds off Espargaro for second.
Behind, things got close between Bagnaia and Marc Marquez, but the factory rider just manages to hang on to fourth.
MARTIN HAS IT COVERED
Martin looks comfortable out front. Binder holds second for now, but Espargaro is closing in on the KTM.
ESPARGARO INTO THIRD
The Aprilia rider tries again for third and this time, he manages to make his way past Bagnaia.
ESARGARO ATTACKS, CAN'T MAKE IT STICK
There's an attack on Bagnaia from Espargaro but he can't make it stick on this occasion.
BAGNAIA EYES SECOND BUT ESPARGARO THREATENS
The gap between Bagnaia and Binder is shrinking, but Espargaro is sitting right behind the Ducati and looks to have the better speed right now.
Meanwhile, Marc Marquez has lost touch to the chasing group, falling into the clutches of Bastianini.
MARQUEZ WIDE
That could be it for Marc Marquez' podium hopes as he goes slightly wide and drops behind Espargaro.
HALF A SECOND HOLDS
The gap at the front sits constant-ish at half a second in favour of Martin for the moment.
A group of four is chasing the Spaniard: Binder, Bagnaia, Marc Marquez, and Espargaro.
MARQUEZ ON THE MOVE
Marc Marquez is looking in great form now up into fourth. The only rider faster than him at the moment is Martin out front.
MARTIN STEPS UP
Too close for comfort for Martin who drops the hammer and now pulls away from Binder for real, more than half a second separating them now.
MARTIN RESPONDS, SO DOES BINDER
The top two clearly smelled trouble and the gap to Bagnaia in third is increasing again. However, the one between Martin and Binder continues to shrink.
Marc Marquez meanwhile is past Bastianini up into fifth.
Notably, the fastest rider on track at the moment is rookie Acosta.
BAGNAIA ON THE MOVE
The defending champion has made his way up into third and is ever closing down the gap to Binder who, in turn, is reeling Martin back in.
FASTEST LAP MARQUEZ
Marc Marquez now sets the fastest lap of the race.
DI GIANNANTONIO OUT
Unusual crash for Di Giannantonio at Turn 10. He is fortunate to not be hit by another rider, but looks in a fair bit of discomfort.
FASTEST LAP MARTIN
Martin has clearly found his rhythm at the head of the race and sets the fastest lap. A slight gap of around three tenths has opened to Binder.
MARQUEZ ON THE MOVE
Marc Marquez claims Miller for sixth. Things get worse for the Aussie who also has to surrender to Di Giannantonio and Alex Marquez, falling into the clutches of Acosta.
GOOD START FOR MILLER
Miller had an excellent opening lap and is now running sixth, right behind the factory Ducati duo and just ahead of Marc Marquez.
TOP TWO BREAK
Out in front, Martin and Binder are already pulling a gap over Espargaro who is now heading the chasing group.
MARTIN TAKE SHOLESHOT, BINDER UP TO SECOND
It's a dream start from pole for Martin who takes the holeshot into Turn 1. Binder too had an excellent getaway and is up into second followed by Bastianini.
WARM UP LAP
The riders head out onto the track for their warm up lap.
In terms of tyre selections, medium/medium looks to be the popular choice.
FIVE MINUTES TO LIGHTS OUT
The riders are out on the grid and we're almost ready to go.
No news on tyre selections yet - we'll keep you posted!
WEATHER REPORT
We've had some rare wet sessions in practice, but there are no threats of rain for the race. At 22 degrees Celsius air and 27 degrees Celsius track temperature, we have some ideal conditions to race.
WHAT HAPPENED IN QUALIFYING
There's many novelties on the grid, but qualifying had shades of 2023 as Jorge Martin took pole position with a new lap record of 01:50.789 lap. He'll be joined on the front row by Aleix Espargaro and Enea Bastianini.
WHAT'S NEW IN 2024 - ROOKIES
Only the one rookie this season, but it's a big one. Reigning Moto2 champion Pedro Acosta has made the step up to the premier class with Red Bull GasGas Tech3. The 19-year-old has impressed in practice and qualified directly for Q2 on his debut.
WHAT'S NEW IN 2024 - TEAM CHANGES
A number of riders are with new teams - many indeed with new manufacturers this season. Headlining is six-time MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez who joined Gresini Racing and Ducati after 11 seasons with Honda. He replaces Fabio Di Giannantonio who moved on to the VR46 Racing Team, sticking with Ducati, in place of Luca Marini who, in turn, takes Marquez' place at Repsol Honda.
Elsewhere, Johann Zarco is back with Honda and the LCR Team in place of Alex Rins who is making a manufacturer swap to Monster Energy Yamaha. He's replacing Franco Morbidelli who is set to ride this season with Prima Pramac, taking over the Ducati from Zarco.
Finally, RNF Racing is not entering this season after breaching paticipation agreements. They're being replaced by Trackhouse Racing as Aprilia's new independent team, Miguel Oliveira and Raul Fernandez staying on as riders.
HELLO AND WELCOME
Good afternoon and welcome to our live text coverage of the first Sprint of the 2024 MotoGP season.
This is it, after the winter break and some pre-season tests, things are getting serious now. There's plenty to look out for with renewed title ambitions and riders getting to grips with their new bikes. Who will have the perfect start to the new season in the Qatar desert? We're about to find out!
Qatar Sprint Live - Jorge Martin starts from pole as 2024 season gets underway