For now, the only rider who appears able to fly the Yamaha flag is Fabio Quartararo. His results and performance speak for themselves but, while it’s true that both he and Jack Miller have scored two wins apiece, there are other considerations to be made. If he hadn’t been slowed down by arm pump at Jerez, he would very likely have won the race. And he could have been hard to beat at Le Mans too, had it been dry. But the results only come when you pass under the chequered flag and the Ducatis are his main adversaries right now.

The force that is Ducati

Starting with Pecco Bagnaia who, as Joan Mir did last season, is showing impressive consistency on track. He’s still to score his first MotoGP win, but his race management is excellent and he’s very clear-headed, qualities that see him achieve the best possible result each week. Twelve points behind the championship leader is Johann Zarco. Perhaps the biggest surprise so far, the Frenchman has achieved three second-place finishes in the first five races. A team Pramac rider, he is clearly in the running for the title, as is Jack Miller of course. His two back-to-back wins mean that he now lies just 16 points from the leader, and with fourteen races still to come, anything can happen.

Viñales is far off

The second Yamaha, that of Quartararo’s team-mate Maverick Viñales, lies in fifth place, 24 points from the front. But the Spaniard has been inconsistent thus far, “El Diablo” therefore looking to be the only rider capable of taking on the Ducati trio in an attempt to bring the title home to Yamaha. Will he be able to defeat the trio alone? Or will his fellow Yamaha riders lend their support, stealing precious points away from the title challengers? For now, things don’t appear to be in his favour, and the next race will take place at Mugello, one more track where the Ducati could play a starring role.

Translated by Heather Watson

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