Fabio Quartararo can’t quite clinch his maiden MotoGP championship title at this weekend’s Grand Prix of the Americas, but he can certainly get one hand on the trophy – if he hasn’t already.
The Frenchman leads the standings by 48 points with 100 left to play for over the four remaining rounds, but he could struggle to extend his advantage over the flying Francesco Bagnaia at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.
Bagnaia has put himself in with an outside chance of nicking the title with gutsy wins in the last two races at Aragon and Misano, and his factory Ducati bike could give him the edge over Quartararo’s Yamaha at the power-hungry COTA track.
Marquez in Shape to Make His Mark
After two seasons littered with early exits from races, Bagnaia has really got his act together this year.
He held off a determined charge from legend of the sport Marc Marquez to score his maiden premier-class win at Aragon, then denied a fast-finishing Quartararo to double up seven days later in Italy.
Eight-time world champion Marquez is clearly still a long way from his best after missing a year through injury. But he managed to win in Germany back in June – maintaining his 100 per cent record at the Sachsenring – and COTA is another track where he has historically dominated.
Marquez crashed out of an uncontested lead halfway through the race the last time MotoGP visited Texas in 2019, but he had won on all his seven previous appearances at the circuit, starting from pole position each time.
The Spaniard put his Honda into the lead on no fewer than seven occasions in the closing laps in Aragon but was unable to keep the nerveless Bagnaia at bay. In Texas, he may be able to finish the job.
Repeat Unlikely for Rins
Alex Rins was the beneficiary of Marquez’s lapse of concentration in Austin in 2019, claiming his first career MotoGP victory. However, this season has not gone according to plan for the Suzuki rider. His second place at Silverstone has been his only podium finish.
His team-mate, the defending world champion Joan Mir, sits third in the standings but has not managed to win a race. The Suzuki should be on the premesis at this week’s venue, but a win looks unlikely.
The consistent Jack Miller will be eyeing a third consecutive COTA podium appearance, but with his Ducati teammate Bagnaia in such terrific form it’s hard to see the Aussie turning the tables.
Rookies Worth Watching
MotoGP rookie Enea Bastianini finished a career-best sixth at Aragon, then topped that seven days later with a podium finish at Misano, taking the fastest lap along the way.
That was some performance on a two-year-old Ducati and the young Italian is trending in the right direction.
Fellow first-year Jorge Martin has recorded three pole positions and a win in Austria this season.
He crashed out while battling Marquez for fourth place at Misano, but that was his second failure to finish in three races and there’s a feeling he might be trying too hard of late.
