Could we see a 10th MotoGP British Grand Prix winner in 10 years?
30 July 2024Aleix Espargaró snatched victory from Francesco Bagnaia on the final lap of the 2023 MotoGP British Grand Prix, and in doing so became the ninth different winner in as many years.
READ MORE: Aleix Espargaró wins MotoGP British Grand Prix in last lap Silverstone thriller
Now, 12 months later in 2024, there’s a very real possibility that another rider could make it 10 from 10 at Silverstone. But who among the current line-up has not yet won the race and also stands a good chance of reaching the chequered flag first this time around?
Jorge Martín
The most likely candidate to achieve this feat is none other than Jorge Martín. With two Grand Prix wins to his name already this season – and a further four Sprint victories – Martín was top of the Riders’ standings until he retired from the lead of the German Grand Prix last time out.
The Spaniard’s history at Silverstone has been of mixed fortune. In 2014, his final year in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup he took a commanding double victory and during the 2017 Moto3 campaign, he claimed the final podium spot. From 10 other attempts across a 12-year span, however, Martín has failed to finish on the podium at any other point.
In 2023, he was on the pace throughout the weekend, leading the Sprint before dropping back to sixth at the flag and recovering from 22nd after running wide at Turn 1 to finish sixth in the Grand Prix.
Enea Bastianini
Although Enea Bastianini is yet to win on the factory Ducati Lenovo Team bike, he stands a very good chance at Silverstone. Aboard 2024 championship-leading machinery, he’s taken four podiums so far this season as well as a pole position.
Although he retired from last year’s Grand Prix, Bastianini has finished on the podium twice in the past during his Moto3 days, while he also took fourth aboard the Gresini Ducati in 2022.
Pedro Acosta
Pedro Acosta has taken the MotoGP world by storm in 2024. This sensational rookie took his first podium in only his second race weekend in the premier class and followed that up with another podium the race after, as well as notching three further Sprint podiums. Despite a recent dip in form, he still sits sixth in the Riders’ standings.
The last time he raced at Silverstone on a Moto2 bike in 2023, he finished third so there’s every possibility he could replicate that form in MotoGP.
Brad Binder
Of the contenders for this year’s MotoGP British Grand Prix victory, Brad Binder was the highest placed in last year’s race. Occupying 11th after Turn 1, the KTM rider quickly gained ground and broke into the top three.
In the final six laps, however, rain began to fall and a leading quartet of Francesco Bagnaia, Aleix Espargaró, Maverick Viñales and Binder broke free of the pack. Taking advantage of the conditions, Binder passed both Aprillia riders in a shrewd move at Copse. The group battled amongst themselves for the remaining laps, with Binder eventually taking third behind Bagnaia and Espargaró.
Binder’s season so far has looked much the same as his 2023 campaign prior to Silverstone, with one second-place finish on the board. He also won at Silverstone in his Moto3 championship-winning 2016 season, so he has strong form in Northamptonshire.
Álex Márquez
Winner of the 2023 Sprint at Silverstone, Álex Márquez is another of the potential first-time British Grand Prix winners in waiting. Climbing from fifth to first in the opening two laps, he then held off a late charge from Marco Bezzechi to win the 10-lap race.
Unfortunately, he retired from the Grand Prix last year with a mechanical issue after early contact with Bagnaia and Viñales.
His best result at Silverstone prior to the Sprint win was a second-place finish during his title-winning 2014 Moto3 campaign and, combined with a podium last time out at the Sachsenring, the stars could align for the Gresini rider.
Marco Bezzecchi
Arguably the fastest rider of the 2023 MotoGP British Grand Prix weekend, Marco Bezzecchi went quickest in qualifying, finished second in the Sprint behind A Márquez and was pursuing race leader Bagnaia in the early laps of the Grand Prix before he spectacularly crashed out at Stowe.
So far in 2024, he hasn’t been able to reach the heights of the previous campaign, though. With just one podium at Jerez notched this season, Bezzechi is no longer the front runner he was when the MotoGP paddock arrived in Silverstone 12 months ago, but last year’s performance and a second-place finish in Moto2’s 2021 visit could provide him with the motivation needed to challenge the top spots this year.
