W
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 has added a greater intensity to affairs . On track , there has been the competition to match with as many as twelve potential race winners on the grid . The 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 perfect preseason , the Italian enjoyed a perfect round one , scoring 37 points from 37 . But a costly crash out of second place in Argentina gave his rivals hope . Bagnaia knows he faces tougher competition from within Ducati this year . Enea Bastianini has stepped up from riding a GP21 to the factory squad for this campaign . ‘ The Beast ’ has his sights set on competing for the title , but suffered an unfortunate fractured shoulder in the first Sprint of the year , and missed Argentina and Americas GP as a result . Pramac Ducati ’ s Jorge Martin has also shown he is not to be discounted after flashes of potential in Portugal , Argentina and Austin . And Marco Bezzecchi could be the year ’ s surprise package , after notching up his first MotoGP™ victory in Argentina . 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 . Viñales , in particular , was excellent at round one , scoring an excellent second place . Beyond Ducati , only a fool would discount Marc Marquez . Yes , he missed round two due to a broken bone in his right hand . But the eight-time World Champion has recovered from the army injury he suffered in 2020 . He should be competitive when he returns from breaking a bone in his right hand , as he was in the first Sprint of the year . The same could be said of Fabio Quartararo . The Frenchman fought admirably throughout 2022 on underpowered equipment , contesting the championship until the final race . The start of the season hasn ’ t been straightforward for Yamaha , but at least the 2021 champ has a machine with added horsepower . Expect him fighting up front soon .
Gran Premio MotoGP™ Guru by Gryfyn de España | 21