The competition in MotoGP™ is stronger than it ever has been. After Maverick Viñales’ (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) supreme win at the Motul TT Assen, we’ve now seen five different winners in the opening eight races of the 2019 season.
Championship leader Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) is the only rider to have notched up more than a single victory this season with four 25-point hauls, but four other riders have managed to beat him in 2019 – on four different manufacturers.
Ducati Team’s Andrea Dovizioso pipped Marquez to victory at the opening round of the season in Qatar, but Marquez would tango his way to a dominant win in Argentina. Round 3 belonged to Alex Rins and Team Suzuki Ecstar, the Spaniard claiming his first premier class victory at the Americas GP to make it three winners, on three different machines, in the first three races.
Marquez would bounce back from Austin disappointment to win in Jerez and Le Mans before it was dreamland in Mugello for Danilo Petrucci (Ducati Team) - the Italian taking an emotional first MotoGP™ win at his and Ducati’s home Grand Prix. After a four-ride pileup, Marquez’ Catalan GP win would come easier than anticipated and on Sunday in Assen, Viñales turned up the wick to secure his and Yamaha’s first win of the season.
Five winners, four manufacturers and one outstanding Championship. Marquez may have a comfortable 44-point lead but that doesn’t mean he has it easy, competition in MotoGP™ is as fierce as ever. Who else can rise above the rest to claim victory in 2019? There are several contenders who are more than capable of standing on the top step of the podium in the near future. Who's your money on?