VOLUME 59 ISSUE 35 AUGUST 30, 2022 P99
B
y many measures, the first
half of the 2022 MotoGP
has been deeply impres-
sive. Be it the surprise of the as-
sailants (Aprilia and Aleix Esparga-
ro), or its underachievers (Honda,
where are you?), no one can
posit the series has been easy to
predict. Thirteen different podium
finishers in the season's first 11
races are testament to that.
What's more, this year's cham-
pionship has been faster than
ever—and not just by the small
matter of tenths or hundredths of
a second. Lap records have been
broken at six of the 10 tracks the
series had visited before. Race
records have also taken a beat-
ing. Seven of the outings wit-
nessed so far were quicker than
what MotoGP machines had done
before.
And quicker by quite some
margin. Factors such as tempera-
ture and track conditions must
always be taken into account.
But some of the numbers make
for wild reading. Take the season
opener in Qatar for instance.
The race-winning time was 10.7
EVOLUTION
DUE TO SEVERAL TECHNICAL ADVANCEMENTS, MOTOGP
MACHINES ARE NOW ACCELERATING AND BRAKING
LIKE NEVER BEFORE. BUT IS THAT AFFECTING THE
SHOW? CYCLE NEWS LOOKS AT THE REASONS BEHIND A
NEWFOUND DIFFICULTY TO OVERTAKE
BY NEIL MORRISON I PHOTOGRAPHY BY GOLD & GOOSE
