Jorge Martin carved his name into MotoGP history by becoming the first independent rider to win the world championship.
Martin entered the finale with a 19-point lead, knowing a top-nine finish would seal the title, even if Bagnaia claimed victory.
The atmosphere at the Circuit de Catalunya was excitable as it was, but the added magic of a title fight had the crowd in an absolute frenzy—Vikings would have been put to shame.
Francesco Bagnaia delivered his best ride yet, clinching pole position and victory, with a fastest lap of 1 minute and 39 seconds.
However, it was not enough. The rabbit lost, and in the most spectacular fashion, the tortoise triumphed through sheer consistency.
The race was packed with drama from the green light. Bagnaia and Martin shot off the line neck and neck, with Marc Marquez storming past to second in the opening lap.
Espargaro, with this being his farewell race, muscled his way into fourth!
As Bagnaia crossed the line, the Ducati garage erupted! And just as quickly muted, as they turned to watch Martin glide through the finish in third place.
For the uninitiated, think of this moment as similar to David versus Goliath—an independent rider had finally broken the factory team stranglehold, a feat unthinkable!
After the race, Martin’s emotions were evident as he kissed the golden “1” on his bike’s panel, replacing his iconic number 89 in a gesture of triumph and gratitude. He reflected on the long journey filled with crashes and injuries, expressing disbelief at finally achieving the championship.
