Others

Championship leader Jorge Martin is seeking advice from his close friend and rival Francesco Bagnaia on how to secure his first title at this weekend's Grand Prix of Barcelona. Martin holds a 24-point lead over Bagnaia, a reversal of last season's situation when Bagnaia successfully defended a 21-point advantage.Martin can clinch the title with a victory in Saturday's sprint race, but any mistakes could allow Bagnaia to snatch it away. "Maybe 'Pecco' (Bagnaia) can give me advice because he was like this last year," Martin said.Martin has adopted a different approach this season, focusing on riding at his best rather than dwelling on the title. "I am not thinking about it. I didn't think about it all season so I want to focus on what I can control," he said.Despite Bagnaia's impressive 10 grand prix wins this season, Martin's consistency has kept him in contention. "I feel much more free because I just have to do what I can do, enjoy the weekend and try to win," Martin said.Bagnaia acknowledges the challenge but remains determined. "You never know," he said. "You can't escape from pressure. It's difficult to live with but we are racers and we have to do the best as possible."The race was originally scheduled for Valencia but was moved to Barcelona due to devastating floods in the region. It has been dubbed the Solidarity GP to show support for the affected communities.

Marc Marquez's impressive performance at the Spanish MotoGP has reignited hopes of a seventh world title, but the 31-year-old remains cautious. After a challenging period marked by injuries and vision issues, Marquez's second-place finish behind Francesco Bagnaia in Jerez was a significant step forward.Marquez's pole position and relentless pursuit of Bagnaia showcased his determination to return to the top. It was his best result since finishing runner-up in the Australian MotoGP in October 2022. "I won in terms of my plan," said Marquez. "I am getting better and better, and I must maintain my consistency."Despite being just 32 points behind series leader Jorge Martin, Marquez downplays his title chances. "It is way too early," he said. "I know I will have plenty of trouble on several tracks."Marquez's surprise at being so close to Martin highlights the competitiveness of the season. "We are racing to our limits," he said. "The title race will be very close."For Bagnaia, the Jerez race was equally important. His victory ended a winless streak since the season opener in Qatar. The 25-year-old is now 17 points behind Martin and aims to become the first Italian to win three world titles on an Italian bike since Giacomo Agostini in 1966."Our goal is always to win," said Bagnaia. "We closed the gap, and every race counts."Bagnaia's superstitious pre-race routine, which includes touching his bike, kissing his glove, and tapping the tank, helps him stay calm. He believes this season resembles his championship-winning year in 2022. "We have collected a lot of data that should help us overcome the current problems," he said.As the MotoGP season continues, Marquez and Bagnaia will face stiff competition from Martin and other top riders. The battle for the world title promises to be intense and unpredictable.