The Ducati team won everything in 2022: they are the reigning World Champions, holders of the triple crown, and therefore logically the team to beat for the 2023 season. Ducati has set itself the objective of repeating this feat in 2023 , but will it be that simple?
There are a few key elements for them to successfully defend their crown: the first concerns the development of their bike, secondly, the relationship in the pit between their two factory riders and thirdly, the management of new threats...
With success comes expectation and with expectation comes pressure and there's really nothing like putting a number 1 on your bike to pile on the pressure.
For the first time in more than a decade, we will find a number 1 on track in the MotoGP category. A spotlight, a landmark, a target to aim for. Pecco Bagnaia has the entire peloton chasing him this year, just like past champions have had before him. It is a superficial but remarkable fact that no rider has retained their title using the number 1 in the modern era of MotoGP, be it Nicky Hayden, Casey Stoner, Jorge Lorenzo and Casey Stoner again. All lost their number 1 status just a year after achieving their dream and in 2023 Pecco Bagnaia will aim to break the curse for the first time. It must be said that he has more than just the tools to get the job done. But he and Ducati must obtain crucial keys before they can even think of becoming World Champions again...
First and foremost, having the most efficient machine on the field, from the start of the season, which Ducati has failed to do over the last two seasons.
Pecco Bagnaia's difficulties at the start of the 2022 season were quite obvious. After winning four of the last six races of 2021, he entered the offseason as the fittest driver. He was very confident in his machine, saying that it was perfect and that it would be difficult to improve. Turns out he was right, it was hard to improve.
Ducati brought a whole host of new parts to pre-season testing, including a new engine and exhaust. These two components paired together caused chaos for Pecco Bagnaia, as he and the factory became somewhat lost trying to get their new components to work. The new engine had more power and the new exhaust amplified the demonic power at low revs, forcing them to look for various ergonomic and tuning solutions to make them work.
Ultimately, the 2 official drivers, Pecco Bagnaia and Jack Miller resorted to a 2021-2022 transition engine specification and used the older, shorter exhaust to smooth out the new engine's power. This allowed them to find a bike that was more balanced to their taste, and closer to the GP21 in terms of engine.
For 2023, they simply can't do it again. Pecco Bagnaia came back from a 91-point deficit this season mainly thanks to his hard work and consistency in the second half of the season. But also because of the bad luck and the wavering form of his main rival for the title, Fabio Quartararo. In 2023, they may not be so lucky
Enea Bastianini was one of the sensations of 2022. In his second year in MotoGP, he managed to win four races last year, just behind Pecco Bagnaia. Their on-track battles at Misano, Aragon and Malaysia were just a preview of what we can expect from these two in 2023 and it's relatively intriguing. They are going to be rivals, it is inevitable, it remains to be seen whether the atmosphere can remain amicable between the two Italians.
Pecco Bagnaia has often spoken about his relationship with Jack Miller during their multiple years as teammates. The Australian driver was a constant source of encouragement and friendship, giving him confidence in times when he needed that slight boost. The best example being Thailand last year, where Jack Miller told Pecco Bagnaia to really believe in himself before the race and that he could perform well in dangerous wet conditions.
Enea Bastianini will undoubtedly be a very different type of teammate. The question will be whether Pecco Bagnaia can maintain his incredible level without that extra push from a teammate. Or maybe a possible rivalry between the 2 Italians will lead them both to reach a higher level than anything they have shown before?
Finally, there is also the constant variable of MotoGP: change. Indeed, in 2023, seven drivers have changed teams and these changes all bring new threats. The most important of these may well prove to be Miguel Oliveira as he begins a new chapter with Aprilia after leaving KTM. The Portuguese rider was very impressive during the test in Valencia after the 2022 season finale. He was fast, consistent and, above all, happy with the bike, the team and his new opportunity.
A happy rider is a fast rider and that couldn't have been more true for him after his first encounter with the Aprilia RS-GP. Many are already designating him as the outsider of 2023, the joker ready to upset the established order. There is no doubt about his speed, he has already won five races in MotoGP and with a bike that was able to challenge for the title until the penultimate race last year, there is no doubt about his speed. really nothing to hold him back. History is against him, no satellite rider has ever won a MotoGP crown in the modern era, but curses and records are meant to be broken.
Of course, the other six drivers who changed machines, Jack Miller, Pol Espargaro, Alex Marquez, Joan Mir, Alex Rins and Oliveira's teammate Raul Fernandez, will also be present at the front. Looking at this list, Ducati has a lot of riders to worry about before we even get to those who haven't changed teams. Marc Marquez is hoping Honda can build a machine capable of challenging for the title, KTM look like they've made huge strides and there is of course the threat from within in the likes of Jorge Martin who, as we know, is a man of revenge after being snubbed for the factory handlebars in favor of Bastainini.
Ducati is the benchmark, there is no doubt about it. Let's just say, they have the best machine on the grid, and very good drivers. But, as we know all too well, they have to take steps forward, because the other teams are also making strides.
Photos: Dorna Sports
