Sprint specialists, 11 riders on the podium, viva Italia and more – here’s the top stats from the first 5 races of 2023
The first five races of the blockbuster 2023 MotoGP™ season have started the new era in style. With close competition and some truly spectacular battles on track, the verdict is already in – with TV audiences up by 27% and the stands welcoming 40% more fans this year than last. Here’s a rundown of what we’ve seen so far statistics-wise – enjoy, and make sure to buy your tickets for Mugello to see more history made, in person AND with the spectacular backdrop of Tuscany!
Now strap in, it’s stats time…
Prosecco for all!
“A magic moment” – Zarco sends 116,692 crowd home happy
In the first five events, every manufacturer has been on the Grand Prix podium. Ducati and Honda have won Grand Prix races, and KTM has come close as Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was just two tenths off in Jerez. The Austrian factory have also already chalked up their first wins in the Tissot Sprint – two of them, again with Binder.
The Sprint specialists
After the announcement of the new sporting format, there was plenty talk about who would emerge as a specialist in the sprint to the finish. So far, it’s an 80% share enjoyed by reigning Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) and KTM’s Binder, with two apiece. The rider who many thought would thrive in the Saturday showdown also won the most recent Sprint: Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing).
11 riders, five podiums
So far, 11 riders – 50% of the grid – have been on the Grand Prix podium. That matches the first five Grands Prix of 2020 as the golden era of close competition continues.
The riders who have been on the Grand Prix podium and not the Sprint podium are Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing), 2021 Champion Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™), Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) and Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™).
Martin vs M. Marquez: “You always improve battling with him”
The only rider who has been on the podium on Saturday and not Sunday is Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team). The eight-time World Champion nearly changed that last time out and few would bet against the number 93 erasing that stat by the Sachsenring (at the latest?). Marquez also didn’t race in three events, potentially skewing the stat.
Independent winners
There have been three wins for Independent Teams so far in 2023 – two for Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) and one for Alex Rins (LCR Honda Castrol). The only year to match that after the first five races in the MotoGP™ era is 2020.
Before 2023, there had also only been two events in the MotoGP™ era where Independent Teams locked out the GP podium: Qatar 2004 and Portugal 2020. This season, it’s already happened twice. Argentina saw Bezzecchi win from Zarco and Alex Marquez, and the French GP was also won by Bezzecchi, this time ahead of Martin and Zarco.
Viva Italia!
UNHEARD: “He made a mess of it”
Fittingly ahead of the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley, there are some great stats for the home heroes. The top two in the Championship – Bagnaia and Bezzecchi – are split by both one point and one podium. They’re equal on Grand Prix wins so far in 2023 with two apiece, but Bezzecchi pulls ahead on rostrums, with three. That also makes the number 72 the rider with the most GP podiums so far.
Thanks to the duo, 2023 is also the first time there are four wins for Italian riders over the opening five MotoGP™ races since 2006 when Loris Capirossi, Valentino Rossi and Marco Melandri did the honours.
