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The 2023 MotoGP™ season is the biggest in history , fought across 21 rounds in 18 different countries . What ’ s more , the introduction of MotoGP™ Sprint for this year promises to add a greater intensity to affairs . On track , there is sure to be the competition to match with as many as twelve potential race winners on the grid . February ’ s preseason outing at Sepang indicated MotoGP™ ’ s four other factories have their work cut out to overhaul the Desmosedici machines , after Ducati riders occupied seven of the top nine places on the final day . Their challenge will be led by Francesco Bagnaia , the man who ended Ducati ’ s 15-year wait for the MotoGP™ title so dramatically in 2022 . After a settled preseason , the Italian appears capable of replicating the form of the second half of last year , when he scored five wins and eight podiums from ten races . But Bagnaia knows he faces tougher from within this time around . Enea Bastianini has stepped up from riding a GP21 to the factory squad for this campaign . One of only two satellite riders to finish inside the championship ’ s top three in the past 17 years , ‘ The Beast ’ has his sights set on competing for the title after racking up four wins and third overall in Gresini colours last year . Pramac Ducati ’ s Jorge Martin has also shown during preseason he is not to be discounted . Beyond Ducati , only a fool would look past Marc Marquez . Yes , Repsol Honda Team has had a complicated preseason . But for the first time since 2020 , the eight-time World Champion feels physically at full strength and will only settle for his first Rider ’ s title since 2019 . The same could be said of Fabio Quartararo . The Frenchman fought admirably throughout 2022 on underpowered equipment , contesting the championship until the final race . Preseason hasn ’ t been plain sailing for Yamaha , but at least the 2021 champ has a machine brimming with horsepower . Coming off its best MotoGP™ season in history , there is reason to be optimistic at Aprilia . Not only have their ranks swollen from two to four bikes , with Miguel Oliveira and
Raul Fernandez showing potential in the RNF satellite team ; the Noale factory has made small improvements to the RS-GP and both Aleix Espargaro and Maverick Viñales are capable of contesting race wins again .
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