3 different race winners, all 5 constructors on the box, 8 Sunday podium finishers and 11 in total prove MotoGP™ is closer than ever!
MotoGP™ has been a thrilling spectacle of speed, skill, and strategy for many years and with the 2023 season now in full swing, fans are being treated to some of the most competitive racing in recent memory. Three rounds in, and it’s still anyone’s guess as to how this year World Championship battle will play out. It’s worth noting that no rider has scored points in all six events, the Saturday Tissot Sprint or the Sunday race, during the first three rounds, which highlights how unpredictable and competitive the racing has been so far.
This means that even the most consistent riders have experienced setbacks, opening the door for others to make their mark on the Championship. The fact that there have been three different race winners in the first three races, as it was in 2022, is a remarkable feat. This is the first time in 70 years that this has happened in consecutive years, underlining the competitiveness in the Championship.
In the first three rounds, eight different riders have finished on the podium on Sundays. This is a testament to the depth of talent in the sport, with a variety of riders and teams capable of challenging for the top spots. Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) is the only rider with more than one podium, which shows how closely matched the competition is.
All five manufacturers have celebrated podium joy over the first three rounds too. Ducati have been particularly strong, with current Championship leader Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) claiming the Argentina GP win and podium at the Portuguese GP. Reigning Champion Pecco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) secured the Portuguese GP win, as well as two more Sprint wins. Johann Zarco, Jorge Martin (both Prima Pramac Racing), Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) and Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) have all experienced plenty of podium joy too.
For Honda, they had plenty to celebrate last time out as Alex Rins took victory at the Americas GP plus a Sprint podium to end LCR’s five year wait for a race win and announce himself as a potential contender in 2023. The Spaniard’s success was his third in six races and also saw him join an elite list of names to take victories aboard two different Japanese bikes. Things are looking a little brighter for HRC in 2023, with Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) also bringing them a Sprint podium in the season opener, after starting from pole position.
Aprilia, KTM and Yamaha have also tasted success. Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) secured a podium in Portimao, while Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) got his 2023 tally up and running at COTA with a P3. KTM are the only constructor without a Sunday podium, but they do have a Sprint win thanks to a superb ride from Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) at the Argentina GP.
The early stages of the season have seen Marco Bezzecchi leading the title race, closely followed by reigning Champion Pecco Bagnaia, with Honda’s Rins, Aprilia’s Viñales and Pramac’s Zarco not far behind. With the level of competition at an all-time high, anything can happen in the coming rounds.
Next up is the Guru by Gryfyn Grand Prix of Spain, which takes place at Circuit de Jerez – Angel Nieto this weekend. Make sure you tune in then!
