Ahead of the return of the on track racing at the British GP, we take a look at the lay of the land in MotoGP™ Fantasy
After a lengthy and well-deserved rest, MotoGP™ is back with the Monster Energy British Grand Prix the first port of call as we begin the second half of the season. Naturally, with the return of the on track fun, the next round of the much loved and popular MotoGP™ Fantasy game is on the cards and below is a full recap of what’s come before, and what we think will come over the weekend at Silverstone.
Who were the form riders before the break?
Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) took victory last time out in impressive fashion to reignite his title challenge, while he also was MotoGP™ Fantasy’s top scorer in Assen with 35 points. Maverick Viñales also shone at the Dutch circuit, with the Aprilia rider taking a first podium since joining the Noale factory almost one year ago, while he tallied 32 points for his owners.
Equally impressive was rookie Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team). The Italian has been the outstanding debutant rider in the premier class this season, and he capped off an excellent opening half of the year with a maiden MotoGP™ podium.
Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was also in excellent form prior to the summer break, collecting an impressive 131 points in his last five races, second only to Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™). We can’t forget about Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) either, who scythed his way through the pack at Assen to claim fourth after getting caught up in Quartararo’s early crash, and the Spaniard has 119 points to his name from his last five outings, the third highest score from that period.
The ones to watch in Silverstone
There are options aplenty to choose from ahead of the British GP, with lots up for consideration. Quartararo took victory at Silverstone one year ago, but the reigning Champion has a Long Lap Penalty coming his way for his Turn 5 crash in Assen, meaning he will have to do the hard way if he is to go back-to-back. The Frenchman is priced at 5.1M.
Aleix Espargaro ended his and Aprilia’s long podium wait last season, and the number 44 looks a decent bet for another strong British showing. Since the European leg of the 2022 season kicked off, Espargaro hasn’t finished outside the top five, claiming four podiums, two P4s and one unfortunate P5. Not to mention that his most recent outing saw him fight through the field from P15 to secure a fourth place finish in Assen.
Pecco Bagnaia has been on fire in qualifying throughout the season, taking four pole positions and two more front row starts to date. Uncharacteristic mistakes mean that the Italian hasn’t always been able to convert that advantage on the grid into podiums and victories, but he still does have three race wins to his name in 2022. Should he remain error free, the Ducati rider will be among the main contenders. He can be yours for 4.1M.
Outside the main race contenders, Brad Binder, at 4.1M, is always a good option to have in your team given the South African’s proclivity to make up for an underwhelming qualifying with outstanding Sunday rides.
Cheaper alternatives exist, with Suzuki’s Alex Rins a gamble that might just pay off. The Spaniard knows how to pull out a result in Silverstone, taking victory here in 2019 and a podium in 2021. A strong start to the season saw Rins joint top of the Championship, but he has encountered a difficult run of form that has seen him claim points just once since Portimao. As a result, his price has fallen to 2.8M, but having had some time off, the number 42 will be optimistic of a strong start to the second half of the campaign to end his stint with the Hamamatsu factory with a bang.
Elsewhere, it looks like Maverick Viñales has found his feet at Aprilia. Top Gun took P3 in Assen, while he was unfortunate to see his podium challenge fall short at the Sachsenring due to a technical issue. It bodes well for him and the Noale factory as they look primed to be among the frontrunners at the British GP, an event Viñales was victorious at before in 2016. The Spaniard is available for 2.9M.
There are of course numerous other riders who could prove good value for the weekend’s action, and you can track their progress from Friday morning when FP1 kicks off.
Who are the best constructor options?
Ducati have been the standout factory to date in MotoGP™ Fantasy, which is little surprise given they have eight bikes on the grid. They have amassed over 100 points more than their nearest rival, Yamaha, but naturally will cost you the most at 3.9M. If you have the budget, they are safe bet to bring in the points. However, if you need to free up some funds, Aprilia are a slightly cheaper option at 3.5M and have two riders with race winning potential in England.
