It's time for the end of year review! After dealing with the Moto3 world championship yesterday, “Parlons MotoGP” focuses today on the Moto2 season, marked by two distinct dynamics, almost opposite to those of the smaller class. Are you ready ? Let's go !
An exceptional level
I have already had the opportunity to repeat it many times, but I think it was the most competitive grid in the history of the category since its introduction in 2010. The level of the current drivers is absolutely sensational. They know how to do everything, manage, attack, go fast on a lap, and above all, many of them benefit from these skills.
I'm not going to go back on Pedro Acosta's dominance, because I have already dedicated an article to it that I invite you to read by clicking here. On the other hand, how can we not mention the monstrous end of the season of Fermín Aldeguer at Speed Up. With four victories in four races, he equals Toni Elias' record established in 2010, which even Marc Márquez had never managed to beat. Sensational. The way in which this young prodigy establishes himself is quite striking.
Fermin Aldeguer will be a danger next year, there is no doubt about it. Photo: Speed Up Racing
Apart from the two protagonists, others have distinguished themselves. And they all give the impression of raw talent capable of exploding next season. I am thinking in particular of Alonso Lopez at Speed Up, Jake dixon at Aspar, capable of strokes of genius, ofAron Canet at Pons, who, even if he still did not win, had the opportunity to demonstrate his great racing IQ. The Honda Team Asia duo composed of Somkiat Chantra andAi Ogura could prove very dangerous, exactly as Joe Roberts, Sam Lowes, Celestino Vietti ou Filip Salač !
And again, these were only the talents already identified! Young people also revealed themselves, like Marcos Ramirez and Manuel Gonzalez, as well asAlbert Arenas, on the podium in Catalonia, or Sergio Garcia. He was a rookie of the year who was very consistent in his performance and also capable of those breakthroughs which make an honest season a remarkable exercise. The diversity of profiles with great potential made 2023 a year rich in lessons. In total, seven different thieves won.
Note that I did not talk about the vice-world champion Tony Arbolino. Indeed, I was a little disappointed by his second part of the season. The Italian completely collapsed in certain Grands Prix, particularly in qualifying. Earlier I thought it was, with Peter Acosta, the ideal candidate to come and look for in Moto2 for a handlebar in the premier category, but I was wrong; he needs more time. I mention it at the end of this part because when you think about it, it's the only one that was disappointing despite its final ranking. Everyone exceeded expectations, so well done.
Tony Arbolino failed to live up to expectations. Photo: Elf MarcVDS Racing Team
aside
Some, through very relevant comments, have already expressed their doubts about the preparation capacity of this category at the next level, MotoGP. I understand this concern, but I wouldn't go that far. Except Remy gardner, the other recent promotions have been rather successful. Raul fernandez had difficulty getting into it, it's true, but he was able to find speed at the end of last season. Augusto Fernandez, he convinces at GasGas Tech3 and is not ridiculous. And then, Jorge Martín, for example, was straight away in 2021 after his successful move to Moto2 in 2020. Even Enea Bastianini, arrived the same year, was explosive as a rookie while he was 2020 champion. Then again, there is no point going back to the 2019 vintage, already legendary.
Yes, it's true that we see fewer climbs than in the 250cc era, although Sylvain Guintoli was the only rookie in 2007. And it is true that MotoGP is so extreme that it is surely more difficult to adapt to it. But today, where would you look for a candidate for a potential handlebar other than in Moto2? We even imagine more transfers from Superbike because the pool of talent in the world is just too important. Moto2 also does not prepare in the best way because the nature of the races is radically different – as we will see in the following point, but no one would choose a Toprak before a Fermin Aldeguer. So I think the phenomenon is not that serious.
How long it was
Now that we've said that, let's talk about the big black spot. The show on the track. Frankly, Moto2 is particularly tiring on this point. This season, marked by two currents of domination (first Pedro Acosta then Fermin Aldeguer), was crushed from all sides. Of course, between the few poor performances of the two thieves, we could breathe a little, but overall, it was quite boring.
It was not uncommon to see six or seven seconds between first and second in the dry! Finally, which races will we remember? Australia, truncated, or perhaps, my favorite, Catalonia, won by Dixon. This has been going on for several years now, and “if it continues, it will have to stop” as someone else would say. And it's not like we had a real battle for the title! HASfter Arbolino's poor performance at Assen, we knew that Pedro Acosta was going straight there.
Pedro Acosta was better in all compartments. A little below at the end of the season, he was able to manage without making any mistakes. Photo: Red Bull KTM Ajo
Let's hope that the arrival of Pirelli as the sole tire manufacturer spices things up. Because it is true that this in no way prepares for the close battles of MotoGP and permanent intensity in the premier category, even if youth, enthusiasm and Moto3 training allow them to maintain this incisiveness.
What did you think of this Moto2 season? Give me a rating out of 10 in the comments! Personally, I would give it a 5/10 because I was happy to see talents blossom and a historic season from a prodigy, but the suspense was sorely lacking.
Cover photo: Speed Up Racing
