Let's talk MotoGP: Who said you can't overtake?

We just attended the race of the year. A real old-fashioned joust, a waiting race that smelled of the end of the 1980s, with a memorable explanation in the final moments. To overtake, our MotoGP riders will always find a way, wings or not. This Thai Grand Prix has finished sweeping away this stubborn myth, and it's not a moment too soon. For this episode of Parlons MotoGP, let's look back at this historic round in a few points.

 

The best

 

What I like about the Grands Prix, and these Grands Prix in particular. Not those who see five, six pilots competing; I never wanted to see Moto3 with 1000cc. My pleasure is to be able to discern the simplicity of the discipline; hand-to-hand combat, two or three, no more. Simplicity, because MotoGP is one of the clearest sports in the world. Twenty-two drivers (when they are all fit) compete for around twenty laps. Little tire management – ​​compared to other classes, no pit stops, no communication with the team and no questions to ask. Full speed ahead from lights out to the finish line, where dust separates them. It was the fourth closest podium finish in history.

 

 

If on top of that, we have, up front, three of the four best drivers in the world competing against each other, then we get an unrivaled spectacle. The vision of these pilots crossing swords is simply magnificent. On the one hand, Brad Binder, the crazy outsider with an unorthodox style. On the other, Jorge Martín and Pecco Bagnaia, with similar approaches, two aliens with speed and racing IQ to spare. This is the best on the planet, this is the MotoGP show. And it is rather rare to see him so pure, heroic, too, because in the overwhelming heat. Others gave up for this reason, but this thought did not even cross the minds of these three gladiators.

 

Jorge Martín's best race

 

I almost have to start with the winner. The “Martinator” shone brightly, with a performance worthy of a world champion. More generally, he drives with the maturity of the greatest. After two consecutive disappointments in Indonesia and Australia, he is relaunching without pressure, at the end of a weekend controlled from start to finish even though he was not the favorite on this route given his comments on Friday.

His performance on Sunday was perfect, no more, no less, and only Pecco Bagnaia has already been able to reach this level in 2023. Even after being overtaken by Brad Binder, he didn't give up until taking over the South African. And always with this cleanliness, this sensational speed of passage in curves, this feeling of control over the machine which makes it so powerful. Regardless of his final place in the championship, he will have been one of the strongest title contenders since the advent of the MotoGP era in 2002. We will have the opportunity to talk about it again when the crown is on the head of the king.

Other than “well done,” there’s not much more to say. It was surgical.

 

 

Brad Binder unlucky? Not that much

 

As has often been the case for several months, Brad Binder no longer surprises me. On the one hand, because he is one of the five best drivers MotoGP since the end of last season; He is in his place, we must no longer see him as the opportunist. On the other, because his style is unfortunately predictable. Not long ago, I highlighted its obvious lack of cleanliness in battle. It's simply impressive, and I meant it to you; of what was filmed by the international director, he made only one overtake without forcing the other to get up during the 26 laps of the Grand Prix.

But on the other hand, I tell myself that its stylistic evolution depends a lot on the KTM, and perhaps that also plays a role in its expression. Jack Miller is never in front, so we have no meaningful point of comparison. In any case, things will have to improve, and for his own good. Again on Sunday, he lost a position for going out in the green section – unquestionably, this time – but it's because he was too rushed on the bike, too close to the limit, too messy.

 

 

And then, in my opinion, humbly, I think that for a driver of his rank, there was better to do in the last corner. Since Saturday's Sprint, he was mathematically eliminated from the title race. Normally, with so much talent, Jorge Martín should never cross the finish line so calmly, Brad must at least try something, and there are several arguments to support this theory.

First, Jorge Martín was extremely defensive heading into the final corner, but it's surprising that Brad Binder didn't anticipate this. If there is a pilot who excels in the art of blockpass muscular, that’s him. Afterwards, Definitely less offensive drivers like Fabio Quartararo rookie in 2019 and Andrea Dovizioso in 2018 tried to match Marc Márquez during the mentioned editions. Certainly, the eight-time world champion was less inside, but if you look closely at the replay in the tweet below, Binder chooses to move outside very early, wanting to transplant the “Martinator” further. Knowing the braking power of the Pramac driver, it was a wasted effort.

 

 

We can't be sure of anything, but it's a safe bet that Martín would have been more worried if he had Bagnaia in his saddle pad. I am convinced that Brad had the talent necessary to make a “Márquez-Lorenzo Jerez 2013” for example, a real divebomb in the rules – or not. It wouldn't have changed his reputation, and he might not have won. But Jorge must have been the first to be surprised to cross the line without being harpooned in any way.

That's all for today ! Tomorrow we'll look back at the Pecco Bagnaia weekend, looking at how the dynamic of this season's two protagonists has evolved. Tell us what you thought of this race in the comments!

Cover photo: Michelin Motorsport