Entering the 2024 MotoGP World Championship season, drama will be high regarding who will take home the championship following a fantastic 2023 season. Per reports, Francesco Bagnaia successfully defended his Riders’ Championship at the final race in Valencia, marking the first repeat Riders’ Champion for Ducati since they entered the series. Moreover, last year was notable in the sense that there were eight different Grand Prix winners and no back-to-back Grand Prix winners since 1949. For this season-opening race in Lusail, the 2023 edition saw an Italian sweep with Fabio Di Giannantonio taking home the title and Luca Marini registering pole position. Finally, in last year’s season-opening race, Marc Marquez took home the crown, so this will be a wide-open race to kick off the 2024 MotoGP season.
In this article, SBS will be going over what to look for from each of these racers, a predicted winner in Qatar, and also some additional notes about MotoGP wagering.
| MotoGP 2024 Qatar Airways Grand Prix of Qatar |  |  |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Francesco Bagnaia | +151 | +151 | +151 | +151 | +151 |
| Marc Marquez | +186 | +186 | +186 | +186 | +186 |
| Jorge Martin | +340 | +340 | +340 | +340 | +340 |
| Ena Bastianini | +710 | +710 | +710 | +710 | +710 |
As noted above, the Italian athlete won the championship last season and had another sensational year. With seven wins last season, Bagnaia was able to win at a consistent clip and knock off the competition on a regular basis. Of course, he still had some races where he came up short (three retirements last year), but he was consistently in the top five of each race he entered. In Qatar last year, he finished in second place to Di Giannantonio but then followed up that performance with a winning performance the following week. Moreover, the Italian driver won the season-opening race in Portugal last year so there certainly is some precedent to him coming out and winning to kick off the season.
Despite finishing in 14th place last season, Marquez is being touted by some betting markets as the second-best racer in this contest. The Spanish driver had a rough start to the year, only registering his first completed race in Austria mid-way in the season. While he did not win any races last year, he did come on strong down the stretch – registering one top-three finish. Of course, things could definitely turn around this year with a healthy bill of health and obviously start the year on a high note. Last year in Qatar, he registered an 11th-place finish, which he certainly wants to improve on this season.
The second-place finisher from last season, Martin had a spectacular year. He won four different races and also a slew of top-five outings. Moreover, along with Bagnaia, he was the only other racer who notched more than 400 points during the course of the championship season. In addition to his multiple victories, he accrued nine top-five finishes, which was among the top in the MotoGP standings. Of course, we should also highlight that he did have a somewhat disappointing outing in Qatar last year, notching a 10th-place outing at the International Circuit. This will be a great opportunity for the rider to start the year strong and begin his quest for the 2023 Championship.
Another racer on this list who had a disappointing showing in 2023, Bastianini had an uneven campaign last year. Like Marquez, he did not start racing consistently until the midway point of the season. While he only accrued eight race finishes last year, he still has the potential to win some races in 2024. This was showcased last year when he won the 2023 Malaysian Grand Prix which was the third to last race of the season. Of course, this was the best race of the year for the Italian racer so perhaps this is the opportunity for him to kickstart this season on a strong note. For example, he did not notch a finished race until the sixth race of the season at the Italian Grand Prix.
Prediction: In a wide-open contest, Bagnaia has the best shot of the racers above to notch a victory. With the most wins last year and the most consistent race finishes, the Italian champion is a consistent bet to finish in the winner’s circle.
Once you are all dialed in regarding the latest gaming news and notes coming from the world of MotoGP, make sure to check out the wide variety of information for you only at SBS. Of course, for even more insights on the topic at hand, our MotoGP betting sites rundown has you covered with all the latest news and betting markets on the sport. Moreover, if you are interested in charging up your wagers, then look no further than the best bonus betting sites guide. On this page, you can find a catalog of different welcome bonus offers available to you and also tips for getting the most out of the promotions. Finally, if you are intrigued by the different deposit and withdrawal options available, look no further than our payment methods breakdown which goes over a variety of different options from cryptocurrencies to more traditional banking routes.
About the Author
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football in the Mountain West Conference, and basketball. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones.
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