editor
The MotoGP World Championship starts within a month, roughly, with the Portuguese GP being the first race of the championship. Then, and as a result of the works taking place at the Losail International Circuit, Portimao receives the opening of the season after consecutive years with Qatar being the country chosen for this purpose.
With the start of another championship there is the possibility of setting new records. In a set of ten points compiled and shared by motogp.com, find out what could happen in 2023:
1 – There is a set of nine MotoGP riders who can reach the 50th podium of their respective careers, taking into account everything that has been achieved in all categories of the World Championship. They are: Francesco ‘Pecco’ Bagnaia (43 podiums), Miguel Oliveira (41), Enea Bastianini/Brad Binder/Alex Márquez (40), Jorge Martin (36), Joan Mir (33), Jack Miller and Fabio Quartararo (32).
2 – Maverick Viñales and Jack Miller both have the opportunity to make MotoGP history if they manage to win with a third bike. The current Aprilia rider has already taken the top spot on the podium with the Suzuki GSX-RR and Yamaha YZR-M1, while Miller, now riding a KTM, has already won with Honda and Ducati.
3 – One level down are Joan Mir, Alex Rins and Miguel Oliveira who have the opportunity to win with a second manufacturer this season. While Mir and Rins have already triumphed with the Suzuki, Oliveira could win a Grand Prix again after the five races he won on a KTM RC16.
4 – Augusto Fernandez is the only newcomer to the MotoGP category this year. In the colors of GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3, Fernández could be the first rookie to win a race in the premier class since Jorge Martin did it in 2021 at the Styrian GP. In the current era of MotoGP, only five riders have won in their rookie season: Jorge Martin, Brad Binder, Marc Marquez, Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa.
5-Francesco Bagnaia is on a good path to once again write his name in the championship riding a Ducati. Currently, ‘Pecco’ is the third Ducati rider with the most MotoGP wins; he has three fewer wins than Andrea Dovizioso and 12 fewer than Casey Stoner.
6 – With four wins under his belt, Enea Bastianini could move up the ranks of Ducati riders with the most MotoGP wins, bearing in mind that Loris Capirossi has won on seven occasions aboard the Desmosedici.
7 – Takaaki Nakagami could become the first Japanese rider to win in the premier class since Makoto Tamada won at his home GP in 2004. However, the LCR Honda rider could yet become the first Japanese rider to stand on the podium in the premier class in over a decade, with Katsuyuki Nakasuga being the last to achieve it in Valencia (2012).
8 – In the list of riders who made history with Yamaha, Fabio Quartararo could be close to the top. Currently sixth man when it comes to finishing podium races with the japanese manufacturer, Quartararo is currently tied with Max Biaggi. If he wants to match Kenny Roberts (39), the frenchman will have to claim eleven podiums this year.
9 – With 59 wins, Marc Marquez could become the second most successful rider in the MotoGP category if he can surpass Giacomo Agostini’s record of 68 podium finishes. Furthermore, the Cervera-born rider is close to breaking into the top three for wins in all categories; the next to be ‘overthrown’ is Angel Nieto who won on 90 occasions and is ahead of Marquez by the ‘small’ difference of five victories. If that happens, Marquez becomes the spanish rider with the most wins in the entire world championship, including all classes.
10 – If Marc Marquez manages to be champion in 2023, the #93 will match Valentino Rossi and his nine world titles. Joan Mir, Fabio Quartararo and Francesco Bagnaia are also in contention for their second MotoGP title, exclusively.