W
If ever there was an opportunity for promising Moto3™ riders to rise up , 2023 is it . The top three in last year ’ s championship have stepped up to Moto2™ , meaning any one of eight riders could claim the 2023 crown . As witnessed in previous years , this is poised to be a classic KTM versus Honda battle with both manufacturers boasting several names in their ranks that have what it takes to end the year as World Champion . Jaume Masia has returned to Leopard Honda after two decent seasons with Red Bull KTM Ajo . He scored podiums in Austin , Spain and France , before taking an epic victories at Assen , India and Japan , to sit in the driving seat for the World Championship . Ayumu Sasaki , riding for the newly named Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP team , will also be a contender in the weeks to come . The Japanese rider came of age last year , but had an up and down start to the season , crashing out of promising positions in Argentina and Austin . He then scored seven podiums in nine races , lifting him back into the title fight . Another rider well placed to build on a fantastic 2022 is Dani Holgado . The Spanish teenager enjoyed a quietly impressive rookie campaign last year , but has stepped up his game considerably after switching to Red Bull KTM Tech3 from Red Bull KTM Tech3 . He won races in Portugal , France and Italy . But slip ups at Assen , Barcelona , Misano and Indonesia allowed his rivals to jump ahead of him in the championship . David Alonso has already wrapped up this year ’ s Rookie of the Year title , thanks to brilliant victories at Silverstone , Barcelona , Misano and Thailand . And his consistency means he is still in overall contention . Deniz Oncu is also there thanks to a fine run of results , which included his first and second GP wins at the Sachsenring and Red Bull Ring . The young Turk is still in the mix despite an eleventh place at Silverstone , a twelfth in Barcelona , a 14th in India and a crash in Japan . The surprise package of the year so far has been Spain ’ s Ivan Ortola . The teenager failed to score points in the first two races , but showed his potential with excellent wins in Austin and Spain . He cannot be discounted . Twelve KTMs and ten Hondas will occupy the 28-rider grid in 2023 , with two Husqvarnas , two GASGAS machines and two CFMOTO bikes also present .
Qatar Airways Grand Prix of Qatar | 73