With the title race hotting up, the stage is set for MotoGP™ Fantasy as the grid lock their sights on Championship leader Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team). The Italian is on an unstoppable wave of form, but faces battle at a Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya that has seen some of the most incredible scraps in MotoGP™ history! We're here to take you through everything you need to keep in mind ahead of MotoGP™ Fantasy at the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya!
Who were the Fantasy Dream Team last time out?
Having dominated proceedings in Austria, Bagnaia's Sprint victory coupled with his Grand Prix win bagged him the most Fantasy points making him the best possible pick for a Gold Rider at 52.5 points.
Joining the Italian in the Austrian Fantasy Dream Team, was Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing). The South African pushed Bagnaia all the way to finish a close 2nd in both the Sprint and the Grand Prix. The KTM man snatched up 40 Fantasy points at the Austrian manufacturer's home round.
The best pick for a silver rider in Austria was Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team). Despite a DNF during the Tissot Sprint, an important Sunday podium saw the Italian take 28 Fantasy points.
Making out the Dream Team was Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing). The Spaniard is clinging onto his title hopes and bagged 27 Fantasy points back in Austria. A top three on Saturday will have whetted the Pramac man's appetite for a Grand Prix podium as he'll be eager to taste the Champagne on home soil.
Who can stop Bagnaia's bullet-like charge?
As attention turns to the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya, there's plenty to consider in the search for the MotoGP™ Fantasy Dream Team. Gamers have the opportunity to make two changes to their team in hopes of forming the dream lineup for the iconic Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
Francesco Bagnaia is always a safe bet at any circuit on the MotoGP™ calendar. The Italian and the Ducati have consistently proved themselves as the perfect combination, and on an incredible run of form, you get plenty of bang for your buck at 5M.
Bagnaia's close friend and Championship rival will be eager to get the better of him this time out however. Priced at 3.6M, Marco Bezzecchi has points to make up after a turn 1 incident saw him hit the deck in the Austrian Sprint. Bezzecchi bounced back with a podium in the Grand Prix however, and will be sure to come out the gates guns blazing as the green flag drops in Barcelona.
Jorge Martin cannot be discounted by any means. The Spaniard showed strong form at Austria and we know the Pramac man is capable of taking victory. A long lap penalty in Austria hindered the title contender's chances as he came away with P7. It's now crunch time for Martin if he's to keep his title hopes alive, and you can be sure he won't be going down easily this weekend.
It's always worth considering Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) at the Catalan circuit. Whilst the Frenchman's 2023 form with Yamaha remains unpredictable, Quartararo showed glimpses of promise in Austria and has always taken incredibly well to the Barcelona circuit. Priced at just 2.2M, the 2022 Catalan GP winner does bring an element of risk into your fantasy team but could very well throw up a surprise on Sunday.
The two Red Bull KTM Factory Racing riders of Brad Binder and Jack Miller cannot be discounted either, and priced at 3.5M and 2.3M could be strong choices for your MotoGP™ Fantasy team. Both riders have shown strong form this year, with Brad Binder looking to extend his podium-finishing form and put himself into Championship contention.
Equally, the Aprilia's can never be discounted, and with the fast-flowing nature of the Barcelona circuit suiting the bike's characteristics, Aprilia Racing's Maverick Viñales (1.8M) and local man Aleix Espargaro (3.2M) could very well be in the mix when the lights go out.
The stage is set for what has the potential to be another barnstorming weekend in Barcelona. Make sure to join in on all the MotoGP™ Fantasy action throughout the weekend, and ensure you don't miss a thing with the action underway from Friday, 1st September on motogp.com!
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