The recent flooding in Valencia has forced MotoGP to move its 2024 season finale to the Circuit ෴de Barcelona-Catalunya, a track which suits both contenders.

Francesco Bagnaia won the Catalan Grand Prix earlier this year, and would have s🍬e♈cured a Sprint-Grand Prix double had he not crashed in Saturday’s half-distance race while leading on the final lap.

On the other hand, Jorge Marꦬtin has not won in the premier class in Barcelona, but he has been on the podium there in each of the last threeꦑ Grands Prix.

💛“Barcelona is a good track for both of us,” championship leader Martin said in the post-race press conference at the Malaysian Grand Prix.

“Pecco [Francesco Bagnaia] won last Sunday there; I was second, quite close, for sure I miss🉐ed a bit but we will understand why.”

Sepang winner Bagnaia added: “Mathematically it’s still possible. We know that it’s quite difficult, but in Barcelona everything can happeไn.

“I crashed in thꦑe Sprint race when I was leading by one second and trying to avoid any mistakes and I crashed the same.

“So, it will be tricky, the conditions will be more tough compared to Jun🐽e because it will ꧒be cold.

“Two corners in Barcelona are quite tricky: turn two and turn five; so it will be i꧒mportant to try to be so competitive, but be calm.”

Both riders also insi📖sted that the change in location for the final round wi📖ll no impact how they prepare for it.

“We adapt to everything every time,” Bagnaia said, “so for me n🦩o [it won’t change how 𝄹I prepare]. In terms of performance, I perform better in Barcelona normally [compared to Valencia].

“But also it’s a track that’s more tricky, where the mistakes are very close, so you have to 🧔be more 🎉precise. But I don’t have a preference.”

Martin has a strong record in Barcelona, despite being without a👍 win there in the premier class.

“For me, it’s the same,”🦩 he ⛦said. “I think I perform really similar in Barcelona and Valencia.

“In Montmelꩵo I’ve been𒁃 on the podium in 2022 and 2023, so I think I’m competitive.

“As Pecco says, there are some tricky corners, also now in November — let’s see, we can find a lot of different conditions: maybe it can rain, can be windꦐy, can snow, I don’t know.

“I hope Michelin will find a nice solution, like Australia, but let’s 𝔉see🎃 what happens.”

For Bagnaia, the task of overhauling his 24-point deficit to Martin with only 37 now available seems almost impossible, with third-placed Enea Bast🍰ianini finishing 10 seconds adrift in Malaysia.

“It’s something that we need to improve for t▨he next 🅘one in Barcelona,” Bagnaia joked.

“I will try to give the slipstream to everybody during the weekend to make that s🐠omeone will be in the middle. I have to win both races, so let’s 🧜see.”

In compar🔯ison, for Martin there is the assurance that the destiny of the championship is firmly in♍ his control.

“F🦂or me, the confidence doesn’t change a lot coming to this race or coming to the next race,” he said.

“Also, I am confident about my work, how I arrive here. I just think that it’s a privilege to be at this point, battling with a champion like Pecco is crazy so for sure I’m confident, I’m happy that we take seven more points from this⛎ race.

“I feel a b🔴it closer to the final target, but nothing👍 is over until it’s over, so we need to be super-focused, and for sure believe until the end.”