Leaders will be leaders

Dovizioso, Bagnaia and Martin return to the top of the Championship standings in Texas

It’s often said how unpredictable the MotoGP™ World Championship is across all three classes, and this season is no different. After the Qatar, Argentina and Americas Grands Prix, there has been a different rider leading the World Championship after the race, in each class.

What’s more? The riders who are now top of the standings in their respective classes were the three race winners in Qatar – a roller coaster season of MotoGP™ racing is well and truly underway.

Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) returns to the top of the standings in the premier class, having a slender one-point advantage over Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team). The Italian triumphed in Losail after another spectacular battle with Marquez, however it was Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) who left Argentina as the series leader after his soaring win. Now though, ‘DesmoDovi’ has returned to the summit of the Championship, salvaging a solid fifth place in Austin – as Marquez stormed to victory, with Crutchlow crashing out. 

Francesco Bagnaia (SKY Racing Team VR46) also regained the Championship lead in Austin, after losing out to Mattia Pasini (Italtrans Racing Team) at Termas de Rio Hondo in what was a difficult round for the Italian. However, after a fantastic tussle with Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) at the Circuit of the Americas, Bagnaia is now ten points clear at the top. Is he the man to beat in the Moto2™ class this year?

In the opening race at COTA, Jorge Martin (Del Conca Gresini Moto3) pulled the pin to perfection to grab his second win of the season, leapfrogging Aron Canet (Estrella Galicia 0,0) to return to the top of the Championship. Martin pipped Canet to the line in Qatar after a classic battle, however a gamble in Argentina didn’t quite pay off for the Spaniard – meaning Canet led the standings heading to Austin. Now though, it’s advantage Martin as we approach Europe.