What was this 2023 season worth? For six days, “Parlons MotoGP” takes stock of the year. First, we're going to talk about what didn't work, the pilots that disappointed us, the facts that annoyed us, with, each time, three points per episode. Find the previous section by clicking here. Are you ready ? Let's go !
Level but no show
Rarely have we seen a Moto2 season as soporific as this one. Apart from a few interesting races, the championship was folded even before mid-season. We all knew that Pedro Acosta was going to win because Tony Arbolino, his main competitor from the start, could not compete with the speed, but also the genius of the Spaniard.
Apart from the exceptional end of the year for Fermin Aldeguer and the explosion of many riders, this Moto2 season was particularly disappointing from a spectacle point of view. It has now been several years since the battles between Andrea Iannone, Scott Redding, Marc Marquez and Espargaro Pol are far away, and that needs to change. The arrival of Pirelli in place of Dunlop could perfectly spice up the category. If you would like to find a complete analysis on this point, click here.
A Brad Binder too good, or not enough?
The South African represents an enigma. Closer to the lead in 2023 than in 2022, I felt it was particularly messy, especially in the second part of the season. Certainly, he gave us one of the greatest modern performances in Argentina, winning the Sprint from 15th place on the grid, but also, made mistakes unworthy of his level.
And then, this problem on overruns. Always in disaster, he never has any other choice than to touch his opponent at the rope point to pass. Many drivers noticed this, notably Luca Marini at Le Mans.
But on the other hand, it is clear that no one rides the KTM as well as him. Perhaps the machine does not allow him to do otherwise, that he is constantly forced to fight against it exactly as one could have interpreted it when he was behind Jack Miller at Jerez. His ranking speaks for itself.
Dani Pedrosa, excellent on his wild cards, nevertheless showed that it was possible to have another approach aboard the RC16. In Misano, he was better than Brad over the entire weekend, while being sunk as much as possible. Yes, but on the other hand, the Spaniard was fresh, and benefited from the latest evolution of the orange machine.
All in all, the constant supply of new parts by KTM coupled with the singular profile of Brad Binder, between genius and shortcomings (especially the qualifications, a big black spot), makes the situation quite illegible. I still think he is one of the five best drivers in the world, but I can't help but be disappointed because I imagine him capable of fighting, over a season, with Bagnaia and Martin.
No tension
Spain-Italy. A very close battle. Two brilliant pilots, capable of feats rarely seen in modern history. Identical machines, in two different teams. Enough to have one of the tensest games of all time, right?
Absolutely not. Except during free practice for the Valencia Grand Prix, we never felt the slightest ounce of tension relating to the awarding of the MotoGP world championship, the Holy Grail. Jorge Martin did not want to wage psychological warfare against Pecco Bagnaia, and preferred to laugh with him after Malaysia where he took seven seconds from his opposite number.
The camaraderie reigning in MotoGP currently has its good sides, of course, but overall, it leads to the downgrading of the discipline. Because whether we like it or not, whether we like spicy press conferences or not, it is the rivalries that make sport. And Pedro Acosta understood this very well, he also said the same thing in an interview for the official website MotoGP. Look at the gain in popularity of Formula 1 after the fiasco of 2021, or even how much our favorite discipline was on everyone's lips in 2015!
I found it a shame not to find a little tension when the show lent itself to it more than necessary. If you want more details on this aspect, find a dedicated article by clicking here.
See you tomorrow, same time, for three new points concerning what I didn't like about this 2023 season. Don’t hesitate to give me more in comments!
Cover photo: Michelin Motorsport