If there's anything we've learned from the 2023 Red Bull Grand Prix of San Marino, it's just how quickly the state of play can change in the MotoGP™ Championship story. Utter domination from Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) has seen the Spaniard capitalise on Francesco Bagnaia's (Ducati Lenovo Team) injured state as Martin narrowly reduced Pecco's lead – and did it in the Italian's own backyard! Let's take a look at the state of play after the action in Misano.
Bagnaia went into the weekend with a 50-point lead over his nearest rival Jorge Martin, and after his mammoth highside in Barcelona, there wasn't even the certainty that the Champion would be able to ride. The Italian was passed fit in the end and put on a heroic display considering his physical condition. Martin smelt blood, however, and fully capitalised on his title rival's struggles taking maximum points with victories in both the Tissot Sprint and Grand Prix.
The difference at the top is now only 36 points with the Spaniard reducing the gap by 30 from the moment the lights went out in Barcelona on Sunday, to the moment the chequered flag dropped in Misano. Whilst Bagnaia has seen his lead almost halved in just 7 days starting from the point of his accident, the Italian did score some crucial points in Misano, taking 23 by bagging 3rd place in both the Sprint and the Grand Prix.
Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) is still very much in the Championship picture in 3rd. Whilst the Italian has lost ground to the 2nd placed Jorge Martin, two 2nd places in Misano has seen the VR46 man edge closer to the leader Bagnaia. "Bezz" took 29 points from Misano as he now sits 29 behind Martin and 65 behind Bagnaia.
Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) will be feeling bitter after only walking away from the weekend with seven points. The South African still sits in 4th in the standings but now finds himself 110 points adrift of the leader, and 45 from the 3rd-placed Bezzecchi. A Sunday crash for the KTM star saw him recover to 14th as he added two extra points to the five he scored after a 5th-place finish in the Sprint.
Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) did his Championship a world of favours last time out as he took maximum points from his home round to jump up to P5. The Spaniard didn't have such luck this time out but did maintain his 13-point lead over Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) after both riders came away with just six points. The Spaniard also has a 13-point gap to Binder ahead as he stands on ground equally as shakey as his KTM competitor.
The gauntlet has been thrown in MotoGP™ as the Championship battle gets hotter and hotter. There's no predicting which ways the tables will turn in this rollercoaster 2023 season, especially with the riders facing a new challenge next time out at the Buddh International Circuit. It's a level playing field as the riders head to a brand-new circuit on the MotoGP™ calendar, so make sure not to miss a single detail as the battle continues at the Grand Prix of India from the 22nd to the 24th of September!