Round 5 of the MotoGP™ World Championship provided drama by the bucket load as the chase to be crowned the MotoGP™ King in 2023 took yet another decisive twist. A second victory of the year for Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing) saw him cash in on Pecco Bagnaia's (Ducati Lenovo Team) tangle with Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) to close the reigning World Champion's lead down to just one point.
But Bezzecchi won't be Bagnaia's only concern heading to his home Grand Prix at the magnificent Mugello because there's now four riders split by one 14 points at the top of the standings. Bagnaia's primary concern will, of course, be Bezzecchi after a second Grand Prix win of 2023 saw him cut Bagnaia's post-Jerez advantage by 21 points.
KTM and Brad Binder will also concern the number one, though. Yet another sensational Sprint performance saw him steal a point back on Bagnaia before a sixth place finish in Sunday's Grand Prix added another ten points to the South African's ever-growing tally. He now sits 13 adrift of Bagnaia and right in contention.
The biggest mover over the weekend is Prima Pramac Racing's Jorge Martin. The Spaniard moved up from seventh to fourth, and went from 39 points adrift to now only 14. A first Sprint win on Saturday, followed up by 20 further points in Sunday's Grand Prix was The Martinator's best weekend of the season by some margin, helping him emerge as our latest title contender. Martin's Prima Pramac Racing teammate Johnn Zarco, meanwhile, crept up to fifth, now 28 points behind Bagnaia.
The weekend's big loser was Red Bull KTM Factory Racing's Jack Miller after a double DNF stunted the Australian's progression. Up to fourth and brimming with confidence after double podium delight in Jerez, Miller has now slipped back to eighth in the standings and sits 45 points away from the title leader.