Francesco Bagnaia’s unstoppable momentum in the 2024 season continued with an amazing victory at the Japanese Grand Prix, marking his eighth win of the year. On an outstanding Sunday, the reigning World Champion not only closed the gap to the leader in the championship standings but also put his name among the sport’s legends. Bagnaia’s triumph at Motegi places him in prestigious company, joining MotoGP legends like Casey Stoner, Marc Marquez, and Valentino Rossi as riders who have managed to win eight races in one season.

With four races remaining, Bagnaia has the opportunity to add more victories to his name and rewrite MotoGP history. One more win would tie him with Jorge Lorenzo’s nine victories, while winning two races would match Stoner’s title-winning season. Three more wins would put him alongside Valentino Rossi, who achieved eleven wins in one season. However, the ultimate legend with the most wins is Bagnaia’s future teammate, Marc Marquez, with thirteen victories.

Bagnaia’s win also marked a milestone as the 900th Grand Prix victory for an Italian rider, while it was his 26th win in MotoGP. He now has Dani Pedrosa and Eddie Lawson in his sights as he aims to build on his success in Ducati’s dominant season. His win in Japan was Ducati’s 13th consecutive victory, setting a new record for the Italian manufacturer. This is the longest winning streak by any factory in the modern era.

Ducati is now on track to claim another Riders’ World Championship as Bagnaia and Martin continue their championship battle. The next chapter of this rivalry will unfold in Australia on October 18th. For now, we wait eagerly for the action to resume.