Let’s have a look at the top ten races that moulded the decisions of the 2022 MotoGP title.
Ducati's historic Triple Crown will forever commemorate an unforgettable racing season that was the 2022 MotoGP™ World Championship. An adventurous year in more ways than one. We have picked out 10 of the best and most defining moments from the campaign for you to relive.
A Beauty And The Beasts Lighting Up Qatar
The season opener at Lusail International Circuit was a thriller, handing Enea Bastianini the Gresini Racing MotoGP™ victory, shortly after the tragic loss of the late Fausto Gresini. The Italian gave us a glimpse of what to expect throughout the 2020 Moto2™ World Champion season. Ducati stars Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) and Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) are suffering from dropouts in the first round after the turn 1 error from Pecco.
Aleix and Aprilia’s Debut Victories in Argentina
It was worth the wait. When MotoGP™ returned to Termas de Rio Hondo for the first time since 2019, a new challenger emerged with the fast new Aprilia Racing RS-GP car. Aleix Espargaro, who had never won a Grand Prix before, finally took the top step of the podium after an impressive battle with his compatriot Martin. Here everyone realized that Espargaro and Aprilia will be the genuine contenders for the championship in 2022.
Pecco At The Cathedral Of Speed
After a DNF and Quartararo's win in Germany, Bagnaia and Ducati were eyeing a 91-point lead over the Frenchman as he entered Assen. The quick and smooth nature of Assen's special tarmac will serve Yamaha's YZR-M1, but the 2021 Dutch TT winner will make his first big mistake of the season.
The crash took Aleix Espargaro off the track, and when Quartararo crashed for the second time, Bagnaia took a huge victory, taking a whopping 25 points. Espargaro's magical comeback was capped with a double overtake at the final chicane, dropping the Spaniard back to fourth.
Diverse Fortunes in Catalonia
In a stunning victory, Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) extended his lead at the top of the general classification to 22 points, while podium contender Aleix Espargaro made a costly false lap error and the home grandstand was filled with Grand Prix grief. Meanwhile, a mistake by Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) on lap one, turn one saw the Japanese champion eliminate both Alex Rins and Pecco, trailing 66 points behind Quartararo in the title race.
Bagnaia’s Return To Contention With Historic Quartet
At three venues, Silverstone, Red Bull Ring and Misano, Bagnaia have won four times in a row. At the Misano World Circuit, Marco Simoncelli edged Bastianini by just 0.034 seconds to close the gap to 30 points.
Marquez Returns, Bastianini Bites Back, And Misfortune For Quartararo
Marc Marquez (Team Repsol Honda) is back at the Aragon GP following his fourth career-defining operation on his right hand after the Italian GP. But it wasn't the comeback the eight-time champion was looking for, as Marquez was involved in two incidents in the opening. Marquez limps and does a lot of damage to his Honda. But what happened beforehand was fascinating. Bastianini vs. Bagnaia, second round. This time Bastianini took the win, as P2 saw Pecco now sit within 10 points of Quartararo. The game has started.
Ducati’s Mixed Emotion As Miller Wins And Bagnaia Crashes
With the final five races coming, it was in Japan that Ducati's Jack Miller rode the race of his life, taking an impressive first win of the season. It was a 25-point win that put the Australian in the title race when teammate Bagnaia made a big mistake on the last lap to secure a DNF. However, the damage was limited as Quartararo P8 and Aleix Espargaro lost the points through team errors.
Marquez Reaching A Milestone And Quartararo Squandering Title Leads
There was never a lack of conversation as MotoGP™ returned to beloved Phillip Island. The most important was Quartararo's DNF. A costly crash in Turn 2 saw the Yamaha star relinquish the title lead, while Bagnaia finished third, giving the Italian a 14-point lead over Malaysia and the chance to take his first match point. Elsewhere, Suzuki's Alex Rins won a barnstormer while Marc Marquez claimed his 100th premier class podium.
The Decider: Bagnaia Kept Calm To Win The 2022 MotoGP Title
The Championship in Malaysia and Bagnaia's impressive performance decided the MotoGP™ title in Valencia for the first time since 2017. With 23 points split between the two, it is only the win that will give Quartararo a chance to retain the title. Despite his best efforts, Pecco wasn't with El Diablo because he was nervous about becoming the first Italian World Champion since Valentino Rossi in 2009. It was a fairytale end to Rins' Suzuki career, Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), and Martin.