MOTOGP: MARTIN SKIPS CELEBRATIONS AS SIGN OF RESPECT FOR VALENCIA FLOOD VICTIMS

SEPANG, Nov 2 (Bernama) -- Prima Pramac Racing rider Jorge Martin refused to celebrate his significant sprint race victory the 2024 Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit here today in a sign of respect for the victims of floods in Valencia, Spain, which has claimed over 200 lives so far.

“Today my prayers are for everyone at home in Valencia, there is nothing to celebrate today,” he said after the race.

The 26-year-old, who finished with a time of 19 minutes 49.230 seconds (s), extended his lead in the 2024 MotoGP World Championships standings to 465 points to leave reigning champion, Francesco Bagnaia of Ducati Lenovo Team behind in second place with 436 points.

Bagnaia had a bad day when he crashed out of the race after skidding in Turn 9 during the second lap, leaving Martin in need of finishing with at least a nine-point difference in the main race tomorrow to be crowned as the new world champion as the 2024 season heads into the penultimate round after Sepang.

The last race of the season, which was supposed to take place in Valencia, Spain, on Nov 15 to 17, has been cancelled due to heavy flooding and the organiser is set to announce the new location of the final race soon.

Looking ahead to tomorrow’s main race, Martin, who will start from the second grid, acknowledged the need to improve on his performance from the sprint race to secure a win in Sepang.

Despite today’s setback, Bagnaia remained optimistic, and is determined to adopt a more aggressive approach in the main race.

"I feel that I can be aggressive. If you look at my first laps in the long races, I'm always gaining positions, I always attack," he said.

-- BERNAMA