All behind, him in front. Reigning world champion, Fabio Quartararo arrives at Le Mans, where the Grand Prix de France will be held on Sunday May 15, the only French stage of the MotoGP championship, in the shoes of the leader of the classification. A new feat for the Frenchman, as the competition is fierce and open this season in the premier category of speed motorcycling.
In six races, five different drivers have won: the Italian Enea Bastianini twice, the Portuguese Miguel Oliveira and the Spaniard Aleix Espargaro, the Italian Francesco Bagnaia and Fabio Quartararo, once. With 89 points, seven more than his runner-up, Aleix Espargaro, the Niçois confirms that he is the most consistent driver in the paddock.
While he seemed timid last season when the track got wet, Fabio Quartararo showed, on March 20 in Indonesia, that he was also one of the best in the rain. A satisfaction that would almost make us forget his difficult start to the season, when his Yamaha returned nearly 10 kilometers per hour to the Ducati in a straight line.
Ninth in Qatar (early March) and Argentina (early April), seventh in the United States (mid-April), the Frenchman managed to reverse the trend, not without difficulty. “We always made Top 10 from the start and, in the end, I fight each time to score three, four, five more points, they are very important. But I’m really at the limit, I can’t give more”he said after the Spanish Grand Prix in Jerez on 1er may.
Complicated start to the season for Francesco Bagnaia
Announced at the start of the season as the main challenger for the title against “El Diablo” – the nickname of Quartararo because of the helmet adorned with a devil that he wore in his younger years – Francesco Bagnaia disappointed. Like last year, the Italian missed his start to the season. “Ducati is the most innovative team, but it is difficult for a rider to adapt to a motorcycle that is constantly evolving”analyzes Olivier Jacque, world champion in 250 cm3 in 2000.
While his best result in 2022 was fifth place (in Argentina and the United States), the Ducati rider set the record straight in Jerez, winning the race after leading from start to finish and beating the track record in qualifying. ” Pecco” Bagnaia could therefore confirm that he will be the main rival of “El Diablo” on the road to a second world title.
We should not forget his compatriot Enea Bastianini, third in the standings after his two victories in Losail (Qatar) and Austin (United States). The Gresini team rider is the highest ranked of the eight riders powered by a Ducati engine. Respectively fourth and sixth in the standings, the two Spanish riders of Suzuki, Alex Rins and Joan Mir, are close, but they could be destabilized by the announcement of the withdrawal of the Japanese manufacturer next season.
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