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If last year was anything to go by , the 2023 Moto2™ World Championship should be compulsive watching as MotoGP™ ’ s next generation of stars are poised to do battle . 2022 was a year of transition in the class , which resulted in unparalleled variety . Eight different riders winning races , eleven taking pole position and twelve appearing on the podium . Interestingly , seven of those victors won for the first time in the class . Any one of them could be the name that takes over from outgoing champion Augusto Fernandez this year . One of Italy ’ s brightest stars has been the standout name in the class so far . Tony Arbolino showed impressive consistency in the autumn of last year in his first season for Marc VDS . Now in his second , the 22-year old has his eyes on the title , and scored a podium in Portugal before winning in Argentina and France . No one has been able to live with his consistency so far this year . All eyes are also on Spanish sensation Pedro Acosta , who enjoyed a strong preseason of testing . He came out swinging , too , scoring a controlled victory in race one before taking a further victory in Austin , and a podium at Jerez . But a crash out of the French GP has given Arbolino a healthy buffer up front . Had it not been for Acosta ’ s superlative feats , another rookie – Alonso Lopez – would have taken all the plaudits in 2022 . The Spaniard , who only stepped into the Speed Up Boscoscuro team , seven races in , has shown he will be a contender this year , thanks to podiums in Argentina , Spain and France . As will compatriot Aron Canet , now in his fourth Moto2™ season and the man who pushed Acosta hardest in the season opener . Filip Salac has been the surprise package of 2023 . The Czech rider had a solid rookie season in Moto2 last year , but has really stepped up in the opening five races , finishing inside the top nine each time . And his stirring second place in France lifted him to fourth in the World Championship . Likewise , much will be expected from Ai Ogura , the 2022 runner-up . He will figure at the front once he is back to full fitness from a nasty wrist injury sustained during preseason . British duo Sam Lowes and Jake Dixon should both be factored in as potential race winners . No one could live with Lowes at Jerez , where he scored his 10th victory in the class . Likewise , Dixon has been in the top six in each race bar one .
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