FEATURE I 2023 FIM MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW
P100
#41 ALEIX ESPARGARO
APRILIA RACING
As his form tailed off dramatically in the autumn of last
year, it was tempting to conclude Espargaro's 2022 would
be a one off. But the veteran 33-year old has appeared
emboldened by his finest-ever season (four places and 92
points better off than he ever managed before). He's dili-
gently worked over preseason and could well be another
rider regularly in the podium hunt this year if recent surgery
has successfully cured the fibrosis in his right arm.
#88 MIGUEL OLIVEIRA
RNF APRILIA
2023 is a step into the unknown for Oliveira. For
seven of the previous eight years, he was a crucial
figure in KTM's talent structure that spanned all
three Grand Prix classes. Now aboard a year-old
RS-GP he appears in good shape to prove KTM
was wrong to give him up. Expect him to outper
-
form the factory team on more than one occasion.
#36 JOAN MIR
REPSOL HONDA
Honda hired Mir on the basis of his "savage career
results," according to Team Boss Alberto Puig. But Jorge
Lorenzo and Pol Espargaro, previous names to oc-
cupy this seat, serve as a warning to the 2020 MotoGP
champ. Understandably, expectations are muted. "My
style is to do a season from less to more and increase
the intensity a little race-by-race with better feelings."
