JACK’S BACK ... FOR KTM
MOTOGP is back, with the opening round of 21 at Portimao, Portugal this week, the start of a landmark season for the sport. The introduction of Saturday sprint races, the muscle of Ducati and Australian Jack Miller moving to the KTM garage all make 2023 a fascinating prospect. Here are six things to look for:
DASH FOR CASH
UNLIKE Formula One, which gradually introduced sprint races at certain locations, MotoGP’s sprints will be in every round, to be held after qualifying on Saturday afternoon.
So get set for 42 races. Which rider has the fitness and stamina all-year-long could be key.
The sprints will be half regular race distance and points awarded about half of the usual championship allocation.
The sprint finishing places will not apply to the grid for the Sunday race and free Practice Four also disappears.
The move for more TV eyeballs, crowds and sponsorship follows the decision by the World Superbikes series to add a 10-lap Superpole sprint to its two-race rounds in 2019.
BACK-TO-BACK PECCO
FRANCESCO Bagnaia last year claimed Ducati’s first world crown since Casey Stoner in 2007.
This year, the Italian again has the weight of Ducati behind him and is likely to start the season as favourite, especially given his strong second half of 2022. His biggest threat is probably from teammate Enea Bastianini, with the ‘Beast’ graduating from Ducati’s Gresini satellite team. The red Bologna Bullets will be tough to beat.
ORANGE CRUSH FOR JACK
AUSTRALIAN Jack Miller enters his ninth MotoGP season, this time in orange, making the move to the factory KTM team after five years at Ducati.
The Queenslander, 28, joins mate Brad Binder and the two should give the Austrian manufacturer renewed hope to move up the field.
Miller, fourth and fifth in the past two championships, was upbeat about the KTM after the pre-season hitout.
MORE AIRTIME
THEY upset the purists, but expect more fins and wings on bikes this season as teams seek an aerodynamic advantage.
Yamaha star Fabio Quartararo trialled an F1-style tail wing in testing but with little benefit, while others teams are toying with variations of wings.
TOP MARC
SIX-time MotoGP champion Marc Marquez has been dogged by injury problems for three seasons and is still looking to get his groove back.
Despite the once unbeatable Honda producing average returns in testing, Marquez is still likely to be appearing on the podium plenty of times. His talent is undeniable, even after four surgeries on his arm.
TOP GUN CONTENDERS
AFTER a stellar 2022 season, Aprilia looks poised to be Ducati’s main contender for honours. With a strong riding duo of Aleix Espargaro and “top gun” Maverick Vinales, the factory can really make their mark, maybe in the sprints.