MotoGP riders’ title: is it Ducati’s to lose?

If we consider the MotoGP standings, with five races still to run and 125 points still to be assigned, the title fight is still very much alive. Despite almost everyone (who? The riders, except the man himself) deeming Fabio Quartararo to be the favourite, the momentum currently lies with Ducati. There are at least two riders in the fight for the final crown, namely Pecco Bagnaia and Enea Bastianini.

The collapse of the current champion

Looking at how the 2022 season has played out so far, we note how the Frenchman has suffered from a drop in performance from the Dutch GP to Aragón, something that can be put down to the team-bike-rider package as a whole. Consequently, his results have suffered, the rider having scored a strong second place in Austria but also two "zeros", and various points lost along the way.

Victory is something different, and far off. El Diablo’s last win dates back to the Sachsenring and was facilitated by a crash for Bagnaia. The first of his three wins came at Portimão, the second in Catalunya.

Not enough, not by any means, not for a man who is defending the number 1 plate – despite having decided to retain his #20 – also because Pecco is approaching, and fast. After the crash and subsequent injuries sustained at Motorland, he has lost a good part of his championship lead to the Italian. And the ducatista is not alone.

 Aleix and Aprilia consistent and convinced

They might not have the flair, but they are strong... Espargaró and the RS-GP are still in the mix, particularly after the latest Aragón podium. The Catalan rider – together with Luca Marini, although the latter places further down the standings – is the only rider to have continuously improved his position in the championship. No small thing.

It’s very significant in fact, in a championship where riders pay dearly for any small mistake and every chequered flag can make the difference. Considering the 33-year old is an expert rider, an intelligent rider, assisted by a team that is more than capable of winning, Aprilia has what it needs to get the job done, the stats speak for themselves.

Ducati: Pecco Vs Enea. Is the title the red bike’s to lose?

In pure mathematical terms, Enea took five points from Pecco yesterday. That might not sound like much but it is, trust us - Quarta has stumbled but he won’t give up and we've already talked about Aleix, so every single point can make the difference between winning or losing the title.

A championship that - come on, admit it – is Ducati's to lose. Don’t you agree? With eight Desmosedicis on the grid, unbeatable GP22 machines and Bastianini’s GP21, how can we say otherwise? If we refer back to the standings, now that the summer break is over, the red bike has eaten up whatever it can.

There’s now just one sticking point. What will happen in Borgo Panigale? Will someone keep Bestia at bay, or will the Gresini rider be left free to race unhindered? Ducati’s ‘cup runneth over’ as they say but they should be careful, as any false move, even the hint of a false move, will impact on the final outcome. Casey Stoner and 2007 remain a distant memory. 2022 represents the best hope yet, but be careful not to waste the opportunity.

traslated by Heather Watson