Round 11 of the MotoGP™ World Championship is upon us, with MotorLand Aragon again the destination as we look forward to the Liqui Moly Teruel Grand Prix.
In the previous week’s action, Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) came up trumps to take his first victory of the season, while Alex Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) showed that his performance in Le Mans was no flash in the pan, with the pair pushing each other to the limit throughout. It means there has already been eight different winners in 2020 and with the single-season record standing at nine, could this be a history equaling weekend?
Let’s take a look at how MotoGP™ Fantasy managers feel the action will unfold.
Transferred In
Fresh from consecutive podium finishes, Alex Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) is the most transferred in rider and accounts for 35% of activity. He looks a smart choice give his recent form, which has seen him pick up 103 points in the past three weekends of action, more than any other rider, while his 21.5-point average is only bettered by Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar). Another strong performance at the weekend's Grand Prix would complete an incredible triple-header for the man from Cervera, as he is now firmly locked into a battle for Rookie of the Year with Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing).
With Honda’s good history in Aragon, will we see a Marquez on the top step of the podium for the first time in 2020?
Next on the list in our most recent victor Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar), with 24% of transfer activity seeing the Spaniard brought in. He looks another sensible choice given his form so far during this triple header, securing victory last weekend and challenging for the podium in a wet French GP until the conditions forced him out of contention. Second only to Marquez in points collected in the last three Grand Prix with 88, it would be hard to bet against him adding significantly to that total this weekend.
Championship leader Mir’s ownership continues to grow with 9% of transfers inwards. The Majorcan remains winless this season but he has shown remarkable consistency to claim five podium finishes and a median score of 21.9. With a typical grid position of P9 and his trademark late charges towards the top of the field, you can see why he has more points than anyone else in MotoGP™ Fantasy. Can he finally get his first premier class win this weekend?
Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) and Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) both round out the top five transferred in riders, with 5.7% and 4.5% of transfers respectively. Viñales has been particularly strong during Qualifying but has been inconsistent when it comes to race time, while Morbidelli hasn’t quite rediscovered the form that saw him earn victory in the San Marino GP, however, both have clearly done enough in recent weeks to persuade MotoGP™ Fantasy managers, to take a punt on them for round two in Aragon.
Transferred Out
It was a rough first time out in Aragon for Ducati, as all six of their riders had to go through the dreaded Q1 on Saturday. As a consequence, Francesco Bagnaia (Pramac Racing) is the most transferred out on the back of a poor weekend for the Italian, where he was the only rider to crash out on race day.
It was also a difficult weekend for Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT), with the former World Championship leader securing pole despite a heavy crash during FP3 on Saturday morning, but it all went disastrously wrong for the Frenchman as a pressure issue with his front tyre saw him slip back to P18 for a career-worst finish while ceding the Championship lead to Mir.
Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) features third on the list of the most transferred out. However, he tested positive for Coronavirus meaning he misses both rounds of action in Aragon, as he stays at home and hopefully makes a speedy recovery.
Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Jack Miller (Pramac Racing) complete the Top 5 riders out, with neither doing enough to persuade MotoGP™ Fantasy managers to stick with them.
Factory Favourites
Suzuki are top of the pops after both their riders claimed podium finishes last weekend, seeing them as the most transferred in manufacturer. Though they only have a victory between them this season, they look the form riders of the Championship and many will be backing them to bag another big result at the Teruel Grand Prix. However, Yamaha remains the most popularly owned constructor and many will be hoping they lockout the podium places once more.
Differentials
When it comes to looking at riders who will make the difference, then look no further than form rookie Alex Marquez. The Repsol Honda rider has been in nothing short of spectacular form in the past two Grand Prix, and despite being the most transferred in rider this week he still doesn’t crack the Top 10 most owned, meaning he could prove a shrewd signing.
Takaaki Nakagami is also one to watch here, the LCR Honda Idemitsu rider collecting 68 points in last three Grand Prix, a tally only bettered by four riders, however, on a track where the Honda has an excellent history, it would be far from a shock to see the Japanese rider back on the rostrum.