The 2022 MotoGP™ season is shaping up to be one of the most dramatic and competitive in memory with as many as twelve potential winners lining up on the grid . And after a run of unpredictable races , there is a fascinating title fight that is now in its crucial phase . The first 18 races of the year offered up plenty of surprises . The early struggles of World Champions Fabio Quartararo and Yamaha were one . The Frenchman appeared lost in Qatar , Argentina and Austin . But upon returning to Europe , he began replicating the form that carried him to the 2021 title , with brilliant wins in Portugal , Barcelona and Germany . But a tough run of races , including no-scores in Aragon and Thaliand , means he has to attack with two races to go . Ducati ’ s 2022 machine started slowly , as did fancied runner Francesco Bagnaia . The Italian endured disastrous races in Qatar and Indonesia . His season has been marked by serious highs and protracted lows . He was peerless at Jerez , Mugello , where he notched up stellar victories . Careless crashes at Le Mans and the Sachsenring then set him back . But victory at Assen , Silverstone , the Red Bull Ring and Misano proved he is still in the fight . Aleix Espargaro , meanwhile , has proved Aprilia ’ s RS- GP is now among the grid ’ s strongest bikes . The Catalan has been riding as well as ever , winning a brilliant race in Argentina before scoring third places in Portugal , Jerez , France and Italy to sit firmly in the title race . An astonishing comeback at Assen , where he recovered from 15th to fourth , showed both he and Aprilia are operating on a different plane this year . Enea Bastianini is having a mercurial year . The Italian took brilliant victories in Qatar , Texas and France aboard his year-old GP21 . But since he has admitted to struggling with the heightened expectations . He scored just eleven points in the four races before the summer break to fall out of the title race but his form has since picked up . A numer of other riders have the capacity to win races , Lenovo Ducati ’ s Jack Miller has enjoyed a brilliant recent run , scoring 45 points from a possible 50 in Japan and Thailand .
PETRONAS Grand Prix of Malaysia | 19