Thoughts by Kate Adams
As we approached the final leg of the triple-header, a mix of excitement, nerves, and a tinge of regret settled in as the 2023 MotoGP season draws to a close.
Aprilia's Alex Espargaro began the weekend on a forgettable note, experiencing four crashes during Friday's practice sessions. This set the tone for a middling performance in the sprint, securing a P12 finish with teammate Maverick Vinales also falling outside the points in P10. Unfortunately, Aprilia's luck didn't improve on Sunday as A. Espargaro suffered a crash. The only silver lining came from Maverick Vinales, who managed to secure 5 points with a P11 finish.
RNF had a weekend best left forgotten as both Raul Fernandez and Miguel Oliveira retired due to technical difficulties, continuing the unlucky streak the team finds themselves in.
Repsol Honda had a weekend that mirrored their season. Both Marc Marquez and Joan Mir employed tow tactics to try and advance through Q2. Unfortunately, neither succeeded, highlighting the need for significant progress within the Honda Project for the upcoming year. With no announcement yet on who will fill the vacant seat, it's a question mark as to what steps Honda will take to move forward.
LCR placed Iker Lecuona into the injured Alex Rins' seat. Lecuona had a weekend as strong as one can expect while riding a Honda in the current scenario. A P16 in the sprint left him just outside the points, while teammate Nakagami crashed out but rejoined to finish in P18.
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Yamaha had a more positive weekend compared to what they had been experiencing. Specifically, they enjoyed a more positive Sunday after both riders failed to secure any points in the Tissot Sprint. Fabio Quartararo managed to override the challenges with his bike, securing a strong P5 finish after a fierce battle with Marco Bezzecchi in the Grand Prix race. Franco Morbidelli also finished at P7 in the Grand Prix, placing both Yamahas in the top 10, an uncommon sight in recent times.
The highlight of the weekend was in the Factory Ducati garage. While Pecco Bagnaia increased his championship lead with a pair of P3 finishes in the weekend's races, the return of 'The Beast', Enea Bastianini, was remarkable across the garage. Bastianini exhibited the form that had been missing since he was taken out in round 1 in Portugal, securing a P4 in the sprint and a dominant victory in the Grand Prix race.
Ducati asserted dominance over the weekend with both podiums locked down. Pramac Ducati saw Jorge Martin claim P2 in the sprint but missed the podium with a P4 finish on Sunday, allowing Pecco to extend his championship lead by 1 point to a total of 14, highlighting the championship's unpredictable nature.
Gresini Ducati witnessed a standout performance from Alex Marquez, who secured his second Sprint win of the year and a P2 in the Grand Prix. Both Gresini and VR46 had decent but not exceptional weekends, without any significant shifts, either positive or negative, for either team, except for the exceptional performance by Alex Marquez.
We're heading to Qatar this coming weekend, with the race taking place under the night sky, promising an exhilarating display of racing.
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