Brad Binder’s (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) magnificent maiden MotoGP™ victory at the Czech GP is yet more proof of how bright MotoGP™’s future is – the 2020 season is proof in general, in fact.
21-year-old Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) dominated proceedings at the Circutio de Jerez-Angel Nieto by taking two pole positions and his first two victories in the premier class, leaving the opening two rounds at the top of the Championship standings. Teammate Franco Morbidelli has also had three mega impressive rounds in 2020, and the 25-year-old’s first premier class rostrum in Brno was richly deserved after engine troubles halted his podium charge in Andalucia. Overall, Yamaha’s future is a terrifyingly exciting prospect – Quartararo, Morbidelli and Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) are all 25 or under and will be at the front for years to come.
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MotoGP™ STARS TALK “WIDE OPEN” CHAMPIONSHIP AND BINDER’S VICTORY
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MotoGP™ IN 2020 - PREDICT IT AT YOUR OWN PERIL
Binder’s achievement on Sunday in the Czech Republic was off the scale good. The 24-year-old, in just his third MotoGP™ race, gave KTM their first win and with the South African and Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) at the helm, the Austrian factory is all set to challenge for race wins from now on. Oliveira’s pace at the Czech GP was good enough for the rostrum, but a P13 starting slot ultimately cost the 25-year-old from spraying the bubbly alongside Binder.
The list goes on. Francesco Bagnaia (Pramac Racing) would have stood on his first MotoGP™ podium in Jerez if it wasn’t for a mechanical problem, and an unfortunate right leg injury has temporarily put his promising 2020 season on hold. Bagnaia’s current teammate Jack Miller is Ducati’s chosen one to hopefully bring the Bologna factory a first title since 2007. The Australian and Italian are 25 and 23 respectively, and a youthful Ducati line-up is starting to pull up trees in MotoGP™.
Team Suzuki Ecstar have two-time race winner and Joan Mir at their dispense for the next two years, both Spaniards in their early 20s. There’s a reason why the likes of Ducati spoke to both Rins and Mir to try and get their signatures. Rins has already proved he can win races and looks ready to challenge for a title, with sophomore Mir already picking up his equal-best MotoGP™ finish in 2020. Suzuki’s future is a mouth-watering prospect.
There’s a changing of the guard happening in MotoGP™, and there’s more fast, young and hungry riders ready to make the step from Moto2™ to MotoGP™ very soon. The likes of Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) will have his hands full when he returns from injury, but it’s going to be fascinating to see the eight-time World Champion – as well as the likes of Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) and Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) – battle it out against the rising stars of the sport in 2020 and beyond.