The spectacle put on by MotoGP riders is always impressive to see: knees and elbows on the ground in an exaggerated style defined by lean angles approaching 70 degrees. All the while, the tires of the 300-plus horsepower prototypes slide on the precarious traction line.
We tend to think that there isn't much difference between the premier class drivers in the way they drive, but photos like these, taken in the same corner, highlight the small differences.
First of all, let's focus on the fantastic driving style of Iker Lecuona. The first thing that stands out is how vertical its leg is when the Tech3 driver reaches high lean angles. Its style is aggressive and angular, with the Valencian rider's head stretching far forward on the bike. On the angle, the pilot is concentrated and his position is careful: his elbow, his knee and his shoulder are ideally aligned.
The Tech3 rider also uses a fairly large tank, which has a lip so he can hang his leg over to give him the confidence and stability he needs with his body position when on the angle.
Miguel Oliveira's style is just as interesting to watch but his body position is very different. He doesn't sit as forward as Iker Lecuona, so his leg goes around the tank a little more, meaning it points less in the air than the Tech3 driver's.
The difference in size between these two drivers is obvious when we observe the position of the heads: that of the Portuguese driver is further back, the upper triple clamp is much more visible in the photo than that of the Spanish driver, while she is caught in the same turn.
We can also note how Miguel Oliveira keeps only one finger on the front brake lever when he is on the corner. The small dial located just above your left index finger allows you to adjust the clearance of the front brake lever.
Ducati riders have quite similar riding styles, but there are some details that differentiate them. The tank covers are different on the GP21s of Pecco Bagnaia and Jack Miller. Indeed, just in front of the Italian's right leg, the tank cover is located behind the fuel filler cap. This tank cover extends a little further back than on the Jack Miller machine, meaning Pecco Bagnaia's leg is a little more vertical than Jack Miller's.
This is only a small difference and is purely a matter of personal preference.
Another detail regarding Jack Miller's driving style concerns the position of his arms, very angular, which is reminiscent of Ben Spies. He looks strong on his machine, with his arms at almost a right angle to the handlebars, as if he were in a bench press position.
At the level of his left arm, in particular his shoulders, we note that he does not have the same position as that of his teammate.
Johann Zarco and Pecco Bagnaia have very similar styles on their machines. No wonder these drivers both make the reds of Bologna perform! The French rider uses a different tank cover than the other 2 Ducati riders.
While the 2 French riders ride relatively different motorcycles, one having a V4 and the second an in-line 4-cylinder, their riding styles are very similar.
Jake Dixon took his first steps on a MotoGP prototype last weekend and we can say that he did a very good job. With his experience in the British Superbike Championship, he looked remarkably comfortable on the M1, despite never having ridden it before. He has a style quite similar to that of Fabio Quartararo, but the British driver being a little taller, the gap between his right elbow and his right knee is almost non-existent.
Finally, here is Aleix Espargaro, the rider who finally took Aprilia to the podium this weekend and he did it brilliantly by keeping Jack Miller out of the way on the final lap.
The Catalan driver's style is one of the most classic in the category. He leans over a lot but most of his body remains fairly central on the bike. This is because most riders expose most of the fuel tank when at high lean angles, unlike Aleix Espargaro, who sits fairly centrally. It's a style that seems to be working for the Aprilia and it will be interesting to see if Maverick Viñales' style evolves as he continues his adjustment and understanding of the RS-GP from round one. 'Aragon.
Photos: Dorna Sports
