Another unpredictable MotoGP™ weekend equalled another difficult Fantasy weekend for most managers with only one of the top ten most picked riders finding themselves on the podium in Le Mans: Red Bull KTM Factory Racing's Pol Espargaro. The French Grand Prix did throw up our highest points total of 2020, though, with Repsol Honda Team's Alex Marquez walking away with a mammoth 52 points thanks to his rise through from 18th on the grid to a debut premier class podium in second.
In the Global MotoGP™ League with now just five rounds remaining, Italy's Quartararismo tops the table with 970 points, 13.5 clear of Norway's Street Fighters in second. The Italian only managed 56 points, however, last time out meaning his lead at the top was slashed. Heading into a decisive double-header at MotorLand Aragon, motogp.com take you through who's hot and who's not this week in MotoGP™ Fantasy.
MOST TRANSFERED-IN
After a strong weekend in Le Mans, Ducati Team's Andrea Dovizioso is your most-transferred in player of the week so far with the Italian's Championship charge seemingly back on track. It shouldn't come as a surprise heading to Aragon that he's red hot, though, as Dovi has finished second to Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) in both of the past two years, with last year's rise through from tenth on the grid equalling to 37 points. As a result, the Italian accounts for 17% of all transfers in this week so far.
Pol Espargaro’s third podium of the year at the French Grand Prix has seen him account for 11.4% of transfers in, however, choosing him doesn’t come without a caveat as the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider hasn’t even started the past two Grands Prix in Alcañiz. The Spaniard was out injured following an FP3 crash in both 2018 and 2019, meaning Espargaro and managers alike will be hoping that it isn’t an omen to come for the weekend ahead.
Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) might have struggled in the wet weather conditions of Le Mans, but MotoGP™ Fantasy managers remain optimistic he can continue his Championship challenge on home soil. The Mallorcan currently sits in second place in the overall standings, only 10 points from the top and Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT), and despite already being one of the most owned riders, a further 10.8% of transfers have seen him come into teams ahead of the weekend’s action.
MOST TRANSFERED-OUT
San Marino Grand Prix winner Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) has suffered the wrath of MotoGP™ Fantasy managers for underperforming in Le Mans. Starting from P11, it was always going to be a big ask to see him push through the field. He couldn’t have gotten off to a worse start as he dropped back to P17 after getting caught up in Valentino Rossi’s (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) crash on the first lap, before then crashing out himself as he looked to get himself back into the race.
Despite a race victory and podium finish already under his belt this season, the Italian has collected just 33 points in the past three rounds following his 36 point race-winning haul in Misano. Therefore, he is our most transferred-out rider heading to MotorLand Aragon.
As mentioned, The Doctor's crash was a cause of disruption for many riders in the French Grand Prix, and it was the Italian’s third consecutive crash. The nine-time World Champion is bottom of the form guide over the past three round having walked away with a measley 13 points. As a result, he's the joint-second most transferred out rider, along with his factory Yamaha teammate Maverick Viñales.
It was another disastrous start for the Spaniard, as he slipped from P5 to as far back as P20 in the opening laps, due in part to the Rossi crash at Turn 3. The Championship contender did end up among the points with a 10th place finish, but lost more ground to the top of the Championship table. Yet more inconsistent showings from the number 12 sees him drop out of many managers plans for this weekend, despite finishing fourth in 2019.
FACTORY FAVOURITES
Unsurprisingly, Ducati lead the way in manufacturer selections this week as the Bologna bullets look to take full profit from the near kilometre-long back straight in Aragon. Podium finishes for both Dovizioso and Miller in 2019, coupled with an improving Francesco Bagnaia (Pramac Racing) and a confidence-filled Danilo Petrucci (Ducati Team) means the men in red could be a strong shout this weekend.
DIFFERENTIALS
Two men spring to mind when you're looking for points outside of the top ten most-selected riders: Alex Marquez and Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu). The Moto2™ World Champion's season-best points haul of 52 in Le Mans has been coming with the Repsol Honda man regularly rising through the field on a Sunday. He now sits fifth in the top scorers of 2020 so far, two spots behind Mr Consistent himself, Taka Nakagami.
The Japanese rider is the only man to finish inside the top ten of every race this year, a string of results that now sees him as the third highest scoring rider of 2020. An incredible 186 points so far this year doesn't look like stopping, so should definitely be on managers' watchlist ahead of this weekend's action.