Thailand pre-race MotoGP stats

Words and images courtesy MGP

The first ever Thai MotoGP was held in 2018. Then, Covid obliged the cancellations of both 2020 and 2021 Thai GPs. Therefore, 2024 will be the fifth time Thailand holds a Grand Prix.

At the first Thai GP in 2018, Marc Marquez took the victory from Andrea Dovizioso and Maverick Viñales. In Moto2, Francesco Bagnaia took the win, ahead of Luca Marini and Miguel Oliveira. While in Moto3, Fabio Di Giannantonio beat Lorenzo Dalla Porta and Dennis Foggia. Of these nine podium finishers, six of them are set to race in the MotoGP class at the 2024 Thai GP.

Thailand is one of the eight Asian countries to host a Grand Prix event (all solo classes). Along with; Indonesia, Turkey, Japan, Malaysia, China, Qatar, and India.

The track is one of the 13 circuits been used for GP racing in Asia so far.

The other circuits that have been used in Asia are:

Motegi (72 GP races)
Sepang (68)
Lusail (65)
Suzuka (56)
Shah Alam (21)
Shanghai (12)
Buriram (12)
Istanbul Park (9)
Mandalika (9)
Fisco/Fuji (8)
Sentul (6)
Johor (3)
Buddh (3)

WINNERS AT BURIRAM:

Marc Marquez 2 (2xMotoGP)
Jorge Martin 1 (1xMotoGP)
Miguel Oliveira 1 (1xMotoGP)
Francesco Bagnaia 1 (1xMoto2)
Luca Marini 1 (1xMoto2)
Albert Arenas 1 (1xMoto3)
Fabio Di Giannantonio 1 (1xMoto3)
Tony Arboino 1 (1xMoto2)
Dennis Foggia 1 (1xMoto3)
Fermin Aldeguer 1 (1xMoto2)
David Alonso 1 (1xMoto3)

RACES AT BURIRAM (12): 4 MotoGP, 4 Moto2, 4 Moto3

FACTORIES AT BURIRAM: BEST RESULTS

Most wins: Honda 2 – KTM 1 – Ducati 1

Honda: Honda have won two MotoGP races at Buriram, both with Marc Marquez (2018 and 2019). Marquez also qualified on pole here in 2018.

Ducati: Ducati have one MotoGP win at Buriram, with Jorge Martin in 2023 from pole. Martin won the Sprint.

KTM: KTM won the MotoGP race at Buriram with Miguel Oliveira in 2022. In the rain, which is the most recent victory for the Austrian manufacturer.

Yamaha: Yamaha have scored three podiums at the track. With two different riders: Maverick Viñales, P3 in both 2018 and 2019, and Fabio Quartararo, P2 in 2019. Quartararo also qualified on pole in 2019.

Aprilia: Aprilia’s best MotoGP result at Buriram is P7 with Maverick Viñales in 2022.

8 Eight riders on the grid have MotoGP podiums here:

Marc Marquez (2)
Viñales (2)
Bagnaia (2)
Oliveira (1)
Quartararo (1)
Miller (1)
Binder (1)
Martin (1)

4 have taken pole:

Marc Marquez (1)
Quartararo (1)
Marco Bezzecchi (1)
Martin (1)

MotoGP Teams’ World Championship: Ducati Lenovo Team

With a 160-point advantage over Prima Pramac Racing, Ducati Lenovo Team will have a chance to clinch their fourth Teams’ Championship in MotoGP. If they leave the Thai GP 132 points or more ahead.

MotoGP Independent Riders’ Championship: Jorge Martin

With a 79-point lead over Marc Marquez, Martin could wrap up the title of top Independent rider for 2024. If he leaves the Thai GP with a more than 74-point advantage.

MotoGP Independent Teams’ Championship: Prima Pramac Racing

With a 105-point lead over Gresini Racing MotoGP. Prima Pramac Racing could wrap up the title of top Independent team for 2024. If they leave the Thai GP with a more than 132-point advantage.

Moto2 World Championship: Ai Ogura

With a 65-point advantage over his closest rival Aron Canet, Ogura has a second chance to clinch the Moto2 title. Four riders are in contention, and he needs to leave Buriram with a more than 50-point advantage.

Moto2 Teams’ World Championship: MT Helmets – MSI

With a 78-point advantage over Beta Tools SpeedUp, MT Helmets – MSI can win Moto2 Teams’ World Championship. If they finish the race with more than 90 points ahead.

Moto3 Constructors World Championship: CFMoto

With a 55-point advantage, CFMoto can clinch the Moto3 Constructors’ World Championship. If they finish the race with 50 points or more advantage.

Moto3 Teams’ World Championship: CFMoto Gaviota Aspar Team

With a 94-point advantage, CFMoto Gaviota Aspar Team can win Moto3 Teams’ World Championship. If they finish the race with 90 or more in hand over their closest rivals.

Moto3 Rookie of the Year: Angel Piqueras

Angel Piqueras can win the fight for the Rookie of the Year! If he finishes the race with a more than 50-point advantage over his only rival Luca Lunetta. Who is 51 points behind him.

EXTRA FACTS AND STATS

At the 2023 Thai GP, there were 0.253s between Jorge Martin and Francesco Bagnaia. Who crossed the line in P3 before being promoted to P2, making it the fourth-closest podium margin of all-time in a full-length premier class race, as well as the third closest in the modern MotoGP era since 2002.

In the same race, Raul Fernandez finished 15th just 15.093s behind winner Martin, equalling the second-closest top 15 of all-time in a full-length premier class race from Qatar 2019. Only Doha 2021 was closer (8.928s).

REMATCH?

If Martin leaves Buriram with more than 74 points ahead of Marc Marquez and Enea Bastianini, the MotoGP title fight will be decided between Francesco Baganaia and Jorge Martin for the second successive year.

WHAT HAPPENS IF…

150 – If Marc Marquez finishes on the podium at Buriram, it will be his 150th Grand Prix podium and puts him on two fewer than Jorge Lorenzo, who is fourth on the list of riders with most podiums.

78 – If at least one Ducati qualifies in the top three, it will be the 78th consecutive race that a Ducati rider starts on the front row, a run that stretches back to Valencia 2020.

64 – Ducati are on a streak of 63 consecutive GP races with at least one rider on the podium. If they take a podium this weekend, they will extend their own record to 64.

22 – With 21 pole positions so far in MotoGP, all with Ducati, Francesco Bagnaia will become the Ducati rider with most pole positions in the class if he takes pole at Buriram, moving above Casey Stoner. Meanwhile, with 20 poles so far with Ducati in the class, Jorge Martin has the chance to instead equal Bagnaia and Stoner on 21 apiece.

20 – Pedro Acosta will be 20 years and 155 days old on Sunday. If he wins, he will become the second-youngest premier class winner after Marc Marquez (20 years 63 days old in Austin in 2013).

17 – With 16 wins so far this year, Ducati will be aiming to equal the record of the most wins in a single premier class season set by the Bologna factory last year (17 wins).

15 – If Ducati win, it will be Ducati’s 15th MotoGP GP win in a row, extending the personal record for the Bologna factory. The last manufacturer with 15 (or more) premier class wins in a row is Honda’s 22 wins in a row from Malaysia 1997 to the Dutch TT in 1998.

12 – With 11 wins so far to equal Valentino Rossi’s record from 1997, David Alonso can now become the rider with most wins in a single lightweight class season if he wins another.

9 – A Bagnaia win would be his ninth of the year, further ensuring this is his best premier class season in terms of wins. The last rider who took nine (or more) MotoGP wins in a season is Marc Marquez (12 in 2019). As with eight, only Marc Marquez, Valentino Rossi, Casey Stoner and Jorge Lorenzo have won nine or more in a single MotoGP season.

7 – If a rider other than Martin, Bagnaia, Marc Marquez, Bastianini, Viñales or Aleix Espargaro wins the Tissot Sprint at Buriram, 2024 will have had more different Sprint winners than 2023.

6 – There are six full-time riders on the grid who could take their maiden MotoGPTM win this weekend: Alex Marquez, Raul Fernandez, Luca Marini, Takaaki Nakagami, Augusto Fernandez and rookie Pedro Acosta.

1 – Aprilia and Yamaha riders could give their factory a maiden premier class win at Buriram.

ON THIS DAY…

October 25th

2015 Malaysian GP, MotoGP Legend Valentino Rossi finished third behind MotoGP Legends Dani Pedrosa and Jorge Lorenzo, following an incident with Marc Marquez – aka the Sepang Clash.

2009 Malaysian GP, Valentino Rossi finished third behind MotoGP Legends Casey Stoner and Dani Pedrosa to clinch his ninth and last world title, his seventh in the premier class of Grand Prix racing.

1998 Argentinian GP, Loris Capirossi finished second after a collision with Tetsuya Harada. He was later disqualified but still clinched the title.

At the same GP, MotoGP Legend Mick Doohan took his 54th and final Grand Prix win from Tadayuki Okada and Alex Barros. He is still the fourth most successful rider in the premier class in terms of wins.

October 26th

At the 2016 Malaysian GP, Marc Marquez took his 12th win of the year to equal Mick Doohan as the riders with most wins in a single premier class season. Marquez went on to win the following race in Valencia to set a record of 13 wins in a single premier class season.

October 27th

At the 2013 Japanese GP, Pol Espargaro won in Moto2 to take the title, while his rival Scott Redding crashed out before the red flag and didn’t restart.

At the same GP, Alex Marquez won the Moto3 race from Maverick Viñales and Jonas Folger, taking his maiden Grand Prix win.

PREVIOUSLY AT BURIRAM:

#1 Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) has three podiums at Buriram, including a win in Moto2 in 2018 on his way to clinching the title. His other podiums here are P3 in 2022 and P2 in 2023, both in MotoGP. He crossed the line in third in 2023 but was promoted to second following Brad Binder penalty.

#5 Johann Zarco (Castrol Honda LCR) has raced in Buriram three times with a best result of P4, scored in 2022. In 2019, he left KTM before the Aragon GP and missed three races, including the Thai GP.

#10 Luca Marini (Repsol Honda Team) has two podiums here, including a win in Moto2TM in 2019. His other podium is P2 in Moto2TM in 2018. He finished P7 in MotoGP in 2023, for his best result on his two visits to the track in MotoGP, but did take a podium in P3 in the Sprint.

#12 Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) has two podiums at Buriram: P3s in both 2018 and 2019 in MotoGP, riding a Yamaha. In 2022, he finished P7 as the top Aprilia rider. In 2023, he retired from the race.

#20 Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team) has finished on the podium here once: P2 in MotoGP in 2019 from pole. He led across the line every lap except the final one when he was passed by Marc Marquez. In 2022, he was pushed wide at Turn 1 and finished P17 for his second-worst result in MotoGP.

#21 Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing) finished P6 here in MotoGP in 2019, which is his best result from his four visits to Buriram.

#23 Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) has a best result of P6 at Buriram, scored in 2022 in MotoGP. In 2018, he fought for the podium in Moto3TM, but crashed out on the final corner, taking out Marco Bezzecchi.

#25 Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse Racing) has a best result of P9 at Buriram, scored in Moto3TM in 2019. In both 2022 and 2023, he finished P15 here in MotoGP.

#30 Takaaki Nakagami (Idemistu Honda LCR)’s best MotoGP result at Buriram is P10, scored in 2019. He missed the 2022 Thai GP due to a hand injury sustained in Aragon and was replaced by Tetsuta Nagashima.

#31 Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) has raced twice at Buriram, both times in Moto2, and finished on the podium once: P2 in 2023 on his way to clinching the title.

#32 Lorenzo Savadori (Trackhouse Racing) has never competed in GP racing at Buriram, but raced here three times in WorldSBK from 2016 to 2018, with a best result of P9 in 2016 (Race 2) and 2018 (Race 2).

#33 Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) has two podiums at Buriram: P2 in Moto2 in 2019 and P3 in MotoGP in 2023, after being demoted for exceeding track limits on the last lap. He finished P2 in the Sprint.

#36 Joan Mir (Repsol Honda Team) has a best result of P7 here, scored in MotoGP in 2019. In 2022, he missed the Thai GP due to an ankle injury sustained earlier in Austria and was replaced by Danilo Petrucci.

#37 Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) has a best result of P4 at Buriram, scored in Moto2 in 2019. He finished P17 in his first MotoGP here in 2023.

#41 Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing)’s best result at Buriram is P8 taken in 2023 despite a three-second tyre pressure penalty, and after qualifying third. He also finished P5 in the Sprint.

#42 Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team) finished P5 in MotoGP at Buriram in 2019, which is his best result of his three visits to the track. He missed the 2023 Thai GP as he underwent surgery on his leg.

#43 Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) has one podium at Buriram: P2 scored in MotoGP in 2022 after leading the race for 10 laps before being passed by Miguel Oliveira. In 2019, he inadvertently turned off his bike on the grid and started from pitlane, eventually finishing P14.

#49 Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) has one win here, in Moto3 in 2018, his final victory in the class. He finished P9 in MotoGP in 2023, for his best result on his two visits here in the class.

#72 Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) took his maiden pole position in MotoGP at Buriram in 2022. His best result here is P4, scored in MotoGP in 2023. In 2018 in Moto3TM, he fought for the podium until the last lap but was taken out by Enea Bastianini in the final corner.

#73 Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP) has a best result of P5 at Buriram, scored in Moto2TM in 2019 after qualifying on pole. He finished P8 in his first MotoGP race here in 2022, his best result in the class here.

#89 Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) took the double (Sprint and GP race wins) at Buriram in MotoGP in 2023, after qualifying on pole for the fourth – and the final – time that season.

#93 Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP) has won at Buriram twice and is the most successful rider here in any class: in 2018 (from pole position) and in 2019 following a great battle with Quartararo.