Let's talk MotoGP: Is the VR46 team overshadowing Pramac?

This will not have escaped your notice: The Mooney VR46 Racing Team is in great form at the start of the season, even more so than Prima Pramac Racing. Moreover, at the time of writing, Marco Bezzecchi is still leader of the general classification and his team first in the team classification. Apart from this simple observation, are we not witnessing a change in the Ducati hierarchy? Analysis.

I) Why the situation is interesting

We must monitor the performance gap between the two teams. First of all, because until now, Prima Pramac Racing was considered as “the sister team” to use the words of Davide Tardozzi, pronounced on the grid of 2022 Catalan Grand Prix. Basically, this means that the purple-tinted Ducatis are equal to the official ones, or at least, considered as such. This represents several significant advantages: If there is to be a promotion within the factory team, we will first look at this team rather than another. Let us also note the latest improvements, from which Pramac pilots benefit unlike other formations using the Desmosedici GP22, intended to no longer evolve significantly.

But it is clear that since last year and the excellent season ofEnea Bastianini in Gresini, we are witnessing a particular phenomenon, Prima Pramac is losing its splendor, and this is confirmed at the start of the 2023 season, hence this article.

II) State of play

This season, Gresini is more discreet even if Alex Marquez was on pole on Argentinian soil. It is not possible to put the work of Fausto and the VR46 on the same footing, because the former does not enjoy the results of two fast drivers. Fabio DiGiannantonio, despite the quality of its package, is still behind. And barring any huge surprises, Alex Márquez's 2023 season should not be as impressive as “Bestia's” 2022 season.

Mooney VR46 Racing Team has two competitive drivers, complementary although different, which can shine on Saturday and Sunday. This is exactly what happened at the start of the year. Although the pre-Jerez rounds are not so significant for the outcome of the championship (according to the last seasons), it must be recognized that the pair of Italians are satisfactory.

Bezzecchi is now the winner in MotoGP, and Luca Marini, who suffered his first two falls in the premier category on the hills of Portimão, found something in Austin to achieve his first podium. Clearly, we will have to count on them as we told you before the start.

III) The status of Prima Pramac called into question?

Yes, VR46 works well. The team is well oiled despite the surprising absence of Valentino Rossi, and weighs considerably on the general standings. The duo is well put together and this is very promising. Now, quid from Pramac?

 

The situation is more delicate. First of all, do they still benefit from the latest improvements? Certainly, but the most perceptive among you have noticed that the Prima Pramac pair does not use the 2023 fairing (and the famous downwash ducts), unlike Mooney VR46 just like Gresini. Perhaps this is a preference of both drivers? Difficult to say, but this observation is interesting.

Next, let's focus on the drivers and their performance. Johann zarco is having a decent start to the season, within its standards. Remember that the Frenchman is always very strong at the start and tends to run out of steam towards the end. We have seen many observers congratulate his last legendary lap in Portugal, and rightly so, but we must also remember that he finished second from pole position a year before on the same track.

As often with our frenchies, let's not get carried away too quickly. Then in Argentina, he is still the author of a remarkable race but here too, already seen in Thailand last year. Currently 5th in the general classification, he is off to a good start, but no wonder, he is in his (very good) standards, where it should be given its level and equipment.

Concerning Jorge Martín, it's harder. The Spaniard falls too much to hope for anything. You are right : we did not take it into account when studying the Bagnaia case. But there is a big difference between the two thieves: when Pecco doesn't fall, he is in front. On the other hand, the “Martinator” has real slackness and sometimes doesn't have the rhythm to play for the top 5.

His explosive profile, long awaited during the Sprints, hasn't even been taken advantage of yet. Twice on the podium on Saturday evening, he was never able to really compete with the winner even if he did not finish that far in Portugal. Bagnaia lectured him, relegating him to a second at the halfway mark.

In short, the two drivers are still strong, but are no longer the “men of the moment”. Luca marini et Marco Bezzecchi embody freshness, youth, controlled enthusiasm and common sense. Certainly, if they continue like this, they will be preferred to the Prima Pramac pair in the event of a free place within the factory team.

 

And it is the entire training that must be careful. Will they be able to justify lackluster results with Ducati? Already last year, the season was not great, so be careful not to be overtaken by another Ducati customer in 2023.

That said, it should still be noted that the GP23 should evolve shortly and that overall, it is still early to draw conclusions. But the problems mentioned previously (Johann's shortness of breath in the second half of the season and Martín's inconsistency) are facts that have lasted for a long time already, which improvements are not sure to erase.

What do you think ? Are we seeing a change within the Ducati hierarchy? Give us your opinion in comments!

Cover photo: Michelin Motorsport