After a dramatic weekend of racing at France’s Le Mans, MotoGP™ resumes at picturesque Mugello with Round 8 of the 2022 World Championship. That means it’s time to select your riders and constructor for MotoGP™ Fantasy, and we’re here to have a look at the state of play ahead of the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley.
Who made the Dream Team at Le Mans?
Winners are grinners and Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing) was not only first to the chequered flag a fortnight ago at Le Mans; he was also the top rider in MotoGP™ Fantasy. When the Italian finishes on the podium this year, he wins, and his two positions gained helped him to collect 39 points in France.
Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) was another who acquitted himself well at Le Mans, where a second placing represented his first podium of 2022 and best result so far this year. The Australian also qualified on the front row, meaning he bagged 29 points for the gamers who have him in their team.
Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) might have only qualified 18th last round, but the South African is famous for being a ‘Sunday man’. He gained six positions on the first lap alone, and another four over the course of the race, meaning another 14 points for the Dream Team. It would have been 28 points if you had selected Binder as one of your Gold Riders.
The other rider in the French GP Dream Team is the man who seemingly cannot stop finishing on the podium, Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) Another podium, from a front row start, meant he earned 12 MotoGP™ Fantasy points for the Dream Team.
Who came out on top in the constructors battle?
With Bologna bullets finishing first and second in the race, it is not surprising that Ducati was the top-scoring constructor in MotoGP™ Fantasy, scooping 34 points.
In total, the French GP Dream Team would have cost you 17.1M and earned a healthy 128 points overall.
What should I look out for at the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley?
Once again, weather threatens to spice up proceedings. We didn’t see any during the Le Mans MotoGP™ race, but the forecast is for thunderstorms this Saturday and rain also on Sunday, and that raises the stakes when picking your team.
With its long, uphill pit straight, Mugello is a track that suits the Bologna bullets to the ground. Miller might not have won the Italian GP yet, but he could be just the right combination of wet weather prowess and Ducati horsepower. The Australian has become more expensive after his exploits in France, but is still worth a look at 3.2M.
Of course, while Miller finished just off the podium when the rain poured down at Mandalika earlier this year, it was fellow Ducati rider Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) who did make the top three. The Australian and the Frenchman are currently an equal fifth in the World Championship, and while Zarco is a little pricier at 3.5M, he might be a good pick for your team.
Another rider to stand on the podium at a wet Indonesia was Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™). He also won the Italian GP in 2021, and can be relied on as a solid performer even if his motorcycle might not be quite as well-suited to Mugello. ‘El Diablo’ will set you back a large sum, however, at 4.7M.
Espargaro has recorded a hat-trick of podiums now, with third placings in each of the last three races. It would be brave to predict that his hot streak will come to an end, but it will cost you 3.9M to get the Spaniard onto your team.
Looking elsewhere in the field, Bastianini will be eager for a good result on home soil after a bizarre collision on the grid last year, and should be considered a threat due to riding a Ducati. He will set you back 3.4M, but that might well be worth the investment. Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) is another in with a good chance of winning the race, but comes at a cost of 4.4M. Maybe Team Suzuki Ecstar is worth including in your team, with Joan Mir going for 3.5M and Alex Rins for 3.7M.
As always, there is a lot to think about for MotoGP™ Fantasy gamers. If you want a second opinion, check out what 2021 MotoGP™ eSport World Champion Trast73 has to say about his choices for the weekend.