Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1480014
VOLUME 59 ISSUE 39 SEPTEMBER 27, 2022 P151 Bastianini claimed his first win early in the season, at Qatar's opening round; a second three races later in the USA. The third was at Le Mans, where he had already passed long-time leader Bagnaia when the older rider made that costly unforced error. That and other early errors (crashes at Qatar and in Germany) are now far behind Bagnaia. His recent progress has been com- pelling. Before the Dutch TT, last race before the summer break, he was only sixth overall, 81 points behind the French Yamaha rider. He went to the flyaway races a slender 10 points adrift. Aleix Espargaro is also still a credible challenger, only 17 points behind the leader. With five races to go and 125 points on the table, the championship was wide open. But Quartararo the greatest rival. The defender's Assen crash was all his own fault. Aragon was just rotten luck: a crowded track and nowhere to go when Marquez slowed inches in front of him. That the Repsol Honda was in front was in itself significant. Marc's racing return had already been distinguished by one spec- tacular save and one gung-ho crash. The maestro was back and making waves. Fabio was sixth on the grid, Marc 13th, but in 300 yards or less, Marquez had gotten in front of Quartararo. A reminder that Quartararo (and Joan Mir before him) were World Champions only in his absence. But Marc's half-season absence means he is not a factor now. Fortunately for his remaining chances, Quartararo suffered only superficial injuries in his second no-score this year—always a matter of luck, because his bike hit him hard when he was down, and the zipper on his leathers broke as he slid along. It was only his second non-finish of the year. Bagnaia has had double that number and only later in the season has been able to keep a cool head. It's hard to predict the final rac- es, since all four of them—Japan, Thailand, Australia and Malaysia— have been off the calendar for two years. Back in 2019, both the main ri- vals were rookies, and Quartararo was stronger: second at Motegi and Thailand, seventh in Malaysia; Bagnaia fourth in Australia, out of the top 10 elsewhere. Much has changed since then, especially in how competi- tive the Ducati has become, and the opposite for Quartararo's Yamaha. He has been extraordi- nary on the bike this year, badly outclassed on speed and accel- eration, which will count heavily in Thailand, but he's been able to exploit his corner speed, which changes the balance somewhat at Motegi and Malaysia, and by plenty in Australia. Ducati's great strength is in having at least three very strong riders, so they could secure a third successive Constructors' Champi- onship, which they did at Aragon. It's also a weakness if riders take points away from one another, especially if they take wins away. Ducati boss Paolo Ciabatti, questioned about team orders, until now not issued, remained vague, but admitted "it is time to start thinking about the riders' title." It would be only their sec- ond and their first since 2007. Bagnaia's public reaction is proud: he doesn't want anybody to help him, thanks very much. But Bastianini's position is more complicated. Just days before that Misano confrontation, he had the news he'd been wait- ing for most of the season. Next year, he will leapfrog the previ- ously preferred candidate Jorge Martin to take the factory seat alongside Bagnaia. Unless he was to win it him- self—unlikely although mathemati- cally possible—preventing his future teammate from becoming champion would make it an un- comfortable partnership. CN Ducati boss Paolo Ciabatti, questioned about team orders, until now not issued, remained vague, but admitted "it is time to start thinking about the riders' title."