Let's talk MotoGP: can Bastianini become world champion?

As usual, let's come back together to this French Grand Prix version 2022, rich in lessons and spectacle. Special outsiders episode! Not even to mention Quartararo ni Bagnaia, to which we returned at length after Jerez , we will study the question in two distinct points, and it is impossible not to start with the hero of the day.

I) Enea Bastianini is the best performer of the year 2022.

It's not even a question anymore, but a statement. Let's look at the situation a little higher. What does it take to become MotoGP world champion? First, a good machine. It's essential and whatever anyone says, all the great champions have benefited from the best machines in their time. The Desmosedici GP21 from Gresini Racing is very efficient and has no reason to be ashamed of the 2022 models. Last year, Ducati perhaps produced the best MotoGP since the start of the era in 2002, fast in a straight line, agile, stable and does not wear the tires too much. Four drivers with different styles could fight for victory. “Bestia” has inherited a monster.

Second, you must not give up under pressure. Management of the issue and the ability to perform in crucial moments (“the clutch » in English) is a strength shared by almost all world champions since 1949. Bastianini proves, once again after Austin, that he is of this caliber. Go hard against Bagnaia after a solid comeback, try to intimidate him then overtake him while remaining clean? That doesn't scare him.

Third, win. This is something that is too often forgotten, unfortunately. If regularity is important, it rarely pays off if you never impose yourself. It seems hard to believe, but Bastianini is still the only one to have won several times this year. Apart from a few exceptions (Mir 2020, Hayden 2006, Lawson 1989, although he takes victories, Schwantz was faster...when he finished), the favorites are always those who are able to crush the competition. The most glaring example is – all controversy aside – thein the 2015 season, where Rossi lacked pure speed. So of course, we often remember that drivers like Jorge Lorenzo were consistent, sometimes without being the fastest, and rightly so. Except that during each of his titles, the Spanish driver takes at least six victories. Ditto for Stoner or Rossi in the 2000s. Furthermore, Bastianini only had one crash in seven races, which is honorable even from the point of view of consistency.

 

 

Not all aspects of being a world champion have been covered (race intelligence, qualifying, good form in the rain), but yes, after seven races, Enea can be titled. A figure to illustrate this statement: 13.42 points per race for Bastianini, after seven Grands Prix (significant sample). Joan Mir was titled with 12.21 points per race in 2020 and Fabio with 15.44 in 2021. Remember the excellent start to the season of “El Diablo” last year: it was at 16.42 points per race after seven rounds, without retirement unlike “Bestia”. Although it will be difficult to maintain this pace all season, we should stabilize around the fourth place regularly to immediately become a very serious candidate for the title, which would give a total similar to what Bagnaia produced last year. All this remains relative, and there is no doubt that the 2022 Ducati version will only progress and surpass the previous one.. But to watch closely because the talent is there.

II) Aleix Espargaró, can he also be titled?

Hard to say. Even if he is higher ranked in the championship than Enea by four points, nothing can guarantee such a fate at the moment, for the same reasons as explained above. Aleix is ​​constant (definitely the key word of the day), but is not, for the moment, able to impose itself regularly. Certainly, this victory in Argentina is important, but Quartararo and Bagnaia seem to have woken up since; the two thieves will be difficult to contain over time, without even mentioning the loss of concessions for Aprilia. After three consecutive podiums, the door is open but in reality, it is not that simple.

 

 

Each time, we are quite far from the lead. (+ 6.0s in Portugal, + 10.7s in Jerez and + 4.1s on the Bugatti). Moreover, to talk a little about physiognomy, these three results are the fruit of responsive racing (and not proactive like Bastianini's victories). In Portugal, Aleix did not tempt Johann, helped by the fall of Miller and Mir, while it was necessary to wait for a muscular exchange between Márquez and Miller to see him pass and fly away at Jerez. At Le Mans, the fall of Bagnaia, seemingly out of reach, precipitated this podium. Let us add that after studying the images, Fabio was too little dangerous and was not able to force Espargaró to defend, except on the last lengths, also due to the lack of performance of the Yamaha on a circuit “stop and go » like Le Mans, where it becomes difficult to overtake without that little extra when exiting corners and in a straight line.

Of course, the Spaniard also has assets on his side: Strong in battle, very good racing sense, great experience, close to his machine which he himself helped to develop and excellent form in qualifying, which is a real plus. If we can't take our eyes off him, he will have to take the races to his advantage and liven up the Sundays, if, of course, the world title is his goal. A fourth place overall would already be an excellent result.

That's all for today ! Tell us what you think of the championship in the comments! All will be read and discussed.

 

 

Cover photo: Michelin MotoGP