09:06
Acosta nearly ran into the back of Martin into Turn 3. That could have been huge!
Marc Marquez, 2024 Thai MotoGP
2024 Thai MotoGP: Sprint as it happened
Updates from Saturday’s sprint in Thailand as it happened.
With just three rounds to go, Jorge Martin takes a 20-point title lead over reigning champion Francesco Bagnaia into Saturday at the Thai MotoGP.
Momentum is very much with Martin, who beat Bagnaia in both Phillip Island races and took a clean sweep of Pole Position, Sprint and Grand Prix victories at Buriram last year.
But both title contenders will need to watch out for the likes of last weekend’s Phillip Island winner Marc Marquez, who was twice victorious at Buriram for Honda.
KTM fought for victory with Brad Binder one year ago, when Marco Bezzecchi and Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo were also in the top five.
Due to the heat and stress on the tyres, Buriram is among the venues where Michelin selects its stiffer construction rears.
Francesco Bagnaia starts on pole ahead of Enea Bastianini and Jorge Martin, who crashed in Q2.
After a dry Friday, there is a risk of thunderstorms on Saturday and Sunday.
The sprint starts at 9am UK time.
09:05
lap 3/13
Bastianini extends his lead to 0.8s over Bagnaia.
09:05
Marquez is hounding Bagnaia towards the end of lap two.
09:05
Martin gets ahead of Acosta into Turn 5. He's fourth now.
09:04
Quartararo had a big moment on the first lap and has dropped to 14th.
09:04
lap 2/13
Bastianini leads Bagnaia by 0.6s, with Marquez third. Martin cannot get ahead of Acosta into Turn 3!
09:03
Bagnaia gets ahead of Marquez into Turn 3.
09:03
race start - lap 1/13
Bastianini takes the lead from Marquez as Martin's aggression on Bagnaia has cost him big time. He's down in fifth!
08:59
Warm-up lap
The warm-up lap is underway.
08:59
Tyre choice
Confirmation from Michelin of the earlier tyre choice, save for one change: Joan Mir has gone onto the hard rear.
08:57
Martin leads Bagnaia by 20 points ahead of this sprint. Every race now vitally important as the championship nears its end.
08:53
tyre choice
Bit of a mix on tyres on the way to the grid.
Everyone is on the medium rear, bar Raul Fernandez on the hard.
Most have gone with the hard front, but Bezzecchi, Di Giannantonio, A.Marquez and Espargaro have gone with the soft.
08:50
Just 10 minutes till lights out!
08:47
The sighting lap is underway and everyone is taking it as gently as possible. Buriram is hard on fuel consumption.
08:43
From our man on the ground, Pete McLaren:
Conditions not as hot, but it's humid and there is cloud around.
Buriram MotoGP sprint build-up
© Crash
08:41
Starting grid
Row 1 - Bagnaia, Bastianini, Martin
Row 2 - Bezzecchi, M.Marquez, Quartararo
Row 3 - Acosta, Di Giannantonio, A.Marquez
Row 4 - Vinales, Morbidelli, Zarco
Row 5 - Binder, A.Espargaro, Miller
Row 6 - A.Fernandez, Rins, Nakagami
Row 7 - Mir, R.Fernandez, Marini
Row 8 - Savadori
08:39
Good morning and welcome back to our live coverage of the 2024 MotoGP Thai Grand Prix.
The sprint will start in just 20 minutes.
05:33
Qualifying over!
Francesco Bagnaia is on pole position with a new lap record. Enea Bastianini and Jorge Martin will complete the front row.
05:31
Francesco Bagnaia looks angry about something in the pits, but is set to claim pole position.
Johann Zarco becomes the 4th faller of the session.
05:28
2mins to go, can Martin hold on to the front row and Marquez row two?
05:28
Marquez lost the front at the Turn 3 hairpin, Martin at Turn 5 (where Quartararo made an earlier save).
Now Morbidelli is down as well!
That leaves Bagnaia holding pole ahead of Bastianini and Martin.
05:26
And now Martin is down as well!
05:26
Marc Marquez crashes out, losing the front while chasing Martin.
05:25
Bagnaia only has Bezzecchi behind him, while Martin and Marc Marquez are part of a big group.
