MotoGP, the 2022 season film: like an Oscar-winner

Twenty rounds in eight months, with emotional rollercoasters and a never-before-seen seesawing classification. The first MotoGP season post-Valentino Rossi had it all and, following the retirement of its leading light, Italy was back on top of the world with one of the Doctor’s pupils ì, Pecco Bagnaia. The first since the days of Giacomo Agostini, Casey Stoner and the nine-time champ himself. As well as the first to win the title after making up a 91 point deficit in less than half a season. A Ducati tricolour triumph in a championship characterised by the technical domination of the European manufacturers, who took 15 races out of 20. Aprilia wrote history, tasting victory for the first time, while Suzuki reached the top step of the rostrum for the last time, on two occasions thanks to Alex Rins. Honda failed to score a win, but at least it holds on to Marc Marquez. The class of great riders like Bagnaia, Fabio Quartararo and Enea Bastianini, the latter having exploded aboard the Desmosedici GP21. And Marco Bezzecchi, the best rookie of the season. Bestia and Bez fly the flag for the region of Romagna, taking up the baton from Andrea Dovizioso, who retired at Misano.

 

QATAR

HISTORIC WIN FOR BASTIANINI AND NADIA PADOVANI

The Lusail night leaves Quartararo and Bagnaia in the shadows, but illuminates Bastianini. While Fabio and Yamaha struggle, Pecco knocks out Martin, Enea’s rival for the 2023 factory Ducati ride. But it is an historic race for Team Gresini, as 23 scores his first MotoGP win and Nadia Padovani’s squad begin their Desmosedici campaign with a victory. Brad Binder and KTM are also smiling as they cross the line second, and Pol Espargarò scores his only podium of the season with Honda. Aleix Espargarò powers the RS-GP to a strong result, while Marc Marquez is back but not yet fully fit.

 

INDONESIA

OLIVEIRA AND KTM, AMPHIBIANS AT MANDALIKA

The MotoGP on Lombok is a wet affair, won by Oliveira and KTM, who are joined by Quartararo and Zarco on the podium. Miguel takes advantage of the rain, Fabio puts the disappointing Qatar round behind him and Johann proves worthy of Ducati satellite rider status. Aleix Espargarò, Bastianini and Bagnaia fail to shine, with Pecco even risking a crash, only a miracle keeping him upright. Marc Marquez leaves the paddock ahead of time after three bad crashes. Declared “unfit” to race, he heads home.

 

ARGENTINA

ESPARGARO’ AND APRILIA CARVE THEIR NAMES INTO THE MOTOGP HISTORY BOOKS

It’s all about Aprilia at Termas de Rio Hondo, as it scores its first historic win with Aleix Espargarò. The RS-GP beats Martin’s Ducati Pramac along the straight and through the turns to write an indelible page of MotoGP history. Rins takes third to give Suzuki its first podium, with Mir just behind. Bagnaia finishes top five while a disappointed Quartararo and Bastianini place in the top ten. Marc Marquez is absent, having remained in Spain for further treatment on his injured arm. Nakagami does his best for Honda but can’t do more than twelfth.

 

AMERICAS

BESTIA THE TEXAN COWBOY

Enea’s rivals can do nothing to keep up, the Italian scoring his second win of the season after starting from the second row. Rins and Miller give it a good go, both doing well to reach the podium, but they aren’t as effective as Bestia. Bagnaia is fifth once more, while Marc Marquez returns to finish just behind Pecco thanks to particularly impressive race pace. An impotent Quartararo closes seventh, berating the performance of the Yamaha. Vinales does better than Aleix for Aprilia, while KTM fails to match up to its previous form.

 

PORTUGAL

QUARTARARO FINDS HIS WAY AT PORTIMAO

Quartararo and Yamaha return to winning ways at least, proving as unbeatable as they were during the first Algarve event in 2021. Zarco confirms his consistency, with Aleix rounding out the podium. The Marquez brothers place sixth and seventh, and Bagnaia closes eighth after crashing in qualifying, the rider unhurt despite initial concern. Pecco climbs to eighth from twenty-fifth on the grid, the factory Ducati rider fighting hard despite the setback. A first false move for Enea, who crashes to take his first DNF of the season.

 

SPAIN

PECCO’S FIRST WIN OF 2022

The news of Suzuki’s imminent departure overshadows Bagnaia’s brilliant win. During the test following the race weekend, Ecstar learns that the Hamamatsu manufacturer is planning to withdraw from MotoGP and the Ducati rider’s win takes a back seat as a result. The podium is rounded out by Quartararo and Aleix, with number 93 finishing fourth. Rins and Mir are incredulous about Suzuki’s decision, as is their technical staff, having managed the GSX-RR so well all year.

 

FRANCE

ENEA DOMINATES AT BUGATTI

In front of a home crowd, Quartararo can do nothing to stop Enea scoring his third win, joined on the podium by Miller and Aleix. The Frenchman and fellow countryman Zarco follow behind. Marc Marquez is sixth but no more, and Suzuki sinks, with both Rins and Mir scoring zero points. The same goes for Bagnaia, who crashes and takes his second DNF in seven races. The alarm bells start to ring for Pecco and Ducati Lenovo, now 46 points behind the current Yamaha champion.-

 

ITALY

PECCO, THE WINNER AT MUGELLO

A Mugello as bare as a tree in winter can’t stop Pecco from winning once more, while Quartararo limits the damage to close second. Aleix and Aprilia reach the podium on home turf, with Bezzecchi, Marini and Di Giannantonio all doing well to finish top ten and score pole. Bastianini crashes out. It is a Saturday to remember, with Valentino Rossi bringing the crowds to the track as he retires “his” number 46. Marquez and Honda call a special press conference in which they announce that Marc will undergo a fourth surgery on his right arm. His tenth-place finish looks a little like a farewell.

 

CATALUNYA

WHY DOES FABIO INDICATE “THREE” AFTER WINNING FOR THE SECOND TIME?

Nakagami scores a strike off the line, taking out Pecco and Rins as well as himself. Quartararo profits, winning his second race of the year. Pramac reaches the podium with both Martin and Zarco. Disaster strikes for Aprilia when Espargarò starts celebrating his third-place finish only to find he still has one lap to go. Aleix carries on to finish fifth and in tears. And things are worse for Enea, Dovizioso, Di Giannantonio and Bezecchi, who all retire. Italy only scores points with Marini and Morbidelli, sixth and thirteenth.

 

GERMANY

ALONE IN THE GRAVEL, PECCO REACHES HIS LOWEST POINT

Pecco throws away his pole position, crashing after being passed by Quartararo and plummeting to his lowest point of the season. The gap to Fabio is now 91 points, after the Frenchman wins once more. Ducati does reach the podium albeit with Zarco and Miller, while Aleix and Aprilia again finish fourth, ahead of Marini, fifth, “Diggia”, eighth, and Enea, tenth. A technical problem prevents Vinales from reaching the podium, while Honda fails to score even one point, something that hadn’t happened since the French GP of 1982.

 

THE NETHERLANDS

BAGNAIA AND BEZZECCHI CELEBRATE IN HOLLAND

The University of Assen sees Bagnaia repair the damage and win his third race of 2022. Bezzecchi scores his first MotoGP podium, while Vinales tastes success for the first time with Aprilia. Bastianini can do no more than eleventh, while Quartararo fails the test, the Frenchman attempting to pass Espargarò only to crash and force Aleix to take evasive action. While the Aprilia rider soon catches back up to finish fourth, number 20 crashes again, scoring his first DNF. And if that isn’t enough, he is then handed a Long Lap Penalty for Silverstone.

 

GREAT BRITAIN

CONFERENCE FOR DOVI: MISANO TO BE HIS LAST RACE

Pecco returns from the holidays but a road accident in Ibiza and the subsequent controversy doesn’t detract from his performance on track, the Italian winning for a fourth time, ahead of Vinales, Miller and Bastianini. Faced with a Long Lap Penalty, Quartararo closes eighth, followed closely by Aleix. Despite fracturing his heel in FP4, the Aprilia rider does well to power the RS-GP into the points. An odd Saturday for Dovizioso, who announces his retirement, with Misano set to be his last race.

 

AUSTRIA

DUCATI LENOVO CONGRATULATES PECCO

A fifth victory for Pecco, who is joined by Quartararo and Miller on the podium. Pecco continues to make up points while, in the fight for the factory ride, Enea finishes with a DNF, while Martin is criticized by the men in red for not being a team player. With Borgo Panigale about to make its decision, the Italian looks to be the favourite to replace Miller, who signs with KTM in June. The big news of the weekend is that of the Sprint Race, to be introduced as of 2023.

 

SAN MARINO E RIVIERA DI RIMINI

A PHOTO-FINISH FOR PECCO AND ENEA

Prior to the Misano race, Ducati makes its decision – Bastianini will join Bagnaia on the factory team in 2023. Galvanised, Enea and the Desmosedici GP21, with a special livery dedicated to Fausto Gresini, battles Pecco all the way to the line, enraging Ducati management that is left ‘shocked’ by the Italian’s attacks. Vinales finishes third, Marini fourth, El Diablo fifth. The Frenchman’s lead over number 63 shrinks to 30 points. Dovizioso retires after 346 races, the 125 crown and a total of 24 race wins.

 

ARAGON

BESTIA GETS THE BETTER OF PECCO AT MOTORLAND

At Motorland, Bastianini beats both Pecco and Aleix to anger Ducati management once more. Enea is still in the running for the title and so gives it his all. But Bagnaia wants it too, comforted by Quartararo’s retirement. Fabio is caught up in an incident that begins with a breakdown for Marc Marquez’s Honda. The Frenchman even gets into trouble while returning to the paddock, when the scooter he’s on is hit by another scooter. Fabio sustains chest and abdomen injuries, as well as a DNF.

 

JAPAN

MILLER WHEELIES WITH JOY

Miller wins ahead of Binder and Martin. Bagnaia makes a mistake on the final lap while attempting to pass Quartararo, eighth. The standings: Fabio 219, Pecco 201, Aleix 194. Joan Mir is missing, following the announcement that he will join Repsol Honda alongside Marc Marquez, the fourth-place finisher in Japan.  Aprilia errs prior to the start of the race, leaving the sighting lap mapping activated on Aleix’ RS-GP. The Spaniard is forced to switch bikes during the first lap of the race, unsuitable tyres preventing him from scoring points.

 

THAILAND

TERRIBLE WEATHER AT BURIRAM

It’s déjà vu for Oliveira, who triumps in the wet just as he did in Indonesia. Miller finishes ahead of Bagnaia, both on the podium, with Quartararo ruled out after struggling in the wet. Radio silence from the world champion, who is now just 2 points ahead of Pecco. Aleix is eleventh and still fighting for the title, though Enea is closing in. Danilo Petrucci makes a special appearance, coming from MotoAmerica to stand in for Mir at Suzuki and finishing twentieth.

 

AUSTRALIA

RINS GIFTS SUZUKI THE FIRST OF TWO FAREWELL WINS

Set to move to LCR Honda, Rins, the heart and soul of team Ecstar, wins aboard the Suzuki. In the most spectacular race, Marc Marquez finishes second, Bagnaia third. Quartararo makes two mistakes, the second of which proves decisive in that he crashes and hands the championship leadership to Pecco. The Italian, having been 91 points down in Germany, is now 14 points ahead, with just two rounds to go. Bezzecchi is Rookie of The Year, beating Fernandez, Gardner, Di Giannantonio and Darryn Binder to the title.

 

MALAYSIA

SEPANG PREDICTS THE 2022 MOTOGP STANDINGS: PECCO, ENEA, FABIO

Pecco has a first match point but fails to close the deal. His seventh win of the year is overshadowed by the ongoing team orders controversy. Did Enea really attack him, or did he let his future team-mate win? Quartararo is third, his teeth gritted as he clings on to the hope of defending his 2021 title. Race day at Malaysian coincides with an unforgettable date – 23 October, exactly 11 years since the death of Marco Simoncelli at that same track.

 

COMUNITA’ VALENCIANA

AFTER CASEY STONER IN 2007, DUCATI SECURES THE RIDER’S TITLE ONCE MORE

Like Giacomo Agostini with the MV team and the Italian bike. 50 years after the 1972 all-Italian triumph, Bagnaia, the factory Lenovo and Ducati top the MotoGP standings. Pecco needs only a ninth-place finish to bring the rider’s title back to Borgo Panigale for the first time since 2007, with Casey Stoner. The first title for Italy since Valentino Rossi’s victory in 2009. A swansong by Rins sees him score one final, bittersweet win. Aleix misses out on overall third place, with Enea securing the bronze medal position.