More than a week after the French Grand Prix, the memory of the great battle for victory that kept us in suspense until the checkered flag is still alive. The winner was Jorge Martin, over Marc Marquez and Pecco Bagnaia, but the Le Mans race was only the last of a first part of the season… Heart-pounding.
To confirm how exciting the races are, the numbers, which are never wrong, help us. This MotoGP is the most competitive ever, because the statistics tell us that the average gap between first and second is even 951 thousandths. Less than a second of gap, it is the first time in the history of the championship that such a close distance has been reached.
Before now, the average gap had been less than two seconds only in 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2014. In 2022, however, it had dropped to one second and 259 thousandths. This year, the average dropped even further, going below one second for the first time in history.
But let’s go into detail: in Qatar, the opening race of the World Championship, Bagnaia triumphed by beating Brad Binder, second at 1″329 thousandths. The MotoGP then flew to Portimao, where Jorge Martin won. The Spaniard preceded Enea Bastianini by just 822 thousandths. Back outside of Europe, in Austin, where Maverick Vinales scored a splendid one-two, becoming the first rider to win with three different brands.
Marc Marquez, Gresini Racing
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
In the Sunday race, the Aprilia rider preceded a stratospheric Pedro Acosta by 1″728 thousandths, the widest gap of the season. Only 372 thousandths separated Pecco Bagnaia and Marc Marquez in Jerez, with the reigning world champion victorious after an extraordinary duel.
Finally, the Le Mans race, perhaps the most exciting so far, saw the top three within 585 thousandths. Jorge Martin outwitted Marc Marquez, second by 446 thousandths after overtaking Pecco Bagnaia at the end, third and just over half a second behind the Pramac rider and championship leader.
This weekend MotoGP returns to action at Montmelo, where the world challenge is renewed. Jorge Martin presents himself as leader with 38 points ahead of Pecco Bagnaia, second. Marc Marquez is third, while Enea Bastianini follows in fourth position. Will they still be the ones to give us a show or will other protagonists also join the fight?
#MotoGP #thousandths #small #gap #history
