Mid-Season MotoGP Rankings: Crash.net’s Expert Analysis on Every Rider’s Performance

Crash.net provides a mid-season evaluation, rating every MotoGP rider from 1 to 10.

Francesco Bagnaia – 9-10

Crash.net MotoGP editor Peter Mclaren commented: "Given his recent performance, winning the last four grand prix consecutively before the summer break, Bagnaia might have preferred to keep racing rather than taking a break. He has done almost everything perfectly."

In a report covering WorldSBK and MotoGP, Robert Jones commented, "A rating of 9 seems appropriate. He's shown remarkable consistency as a rider. His recent performance, including dominating every session in Assen and putting pressure on at Sachsenring that led to Martin's error, demonstrates that his riding skills make him the top rider this season."

Enea Bastianini – 7.5/10

Jordan Moreland, social media manager and podcast host at Crash.net, rated Enea Bastianini 7.5 out of 10. Moreland explained, "This is a strong score for him. We're noticing increased consistency in his performance. It's somewhat frustrating because he shows incredible speed towards the end of races, which is why I didn't rate him an eight. He has significant potential to win, often demonstrated when others are struggling. If he could harness this speed a bit earlier, he might have already secured a few Grand Prix victories."

Jorge Martin – 8.5/8-10

Regarding Martin, Moreland commented: "His score might have been higher if not for the crash in the final round, but he's still very much in the competition. It could have been a nine, but I believe an 8.5 and an 8 are reasonable ratings."

McLaren commented, "The last few races and those errors have somewhat overshadowed things, but if you look at his position in the world championship from a broader perspective, it's still impressive. One thing that stood out to me at Sachsenring is the number of laps led. Martin and Bagnaia have each led well over 100 laps, while I believe Vinales has led around 22."

Franco Morbidelli – 6-10

When talking about Morbidelli, Jones commented, "Given that he missed the pre-season, overall, it's been a positive season. Transitioning from the Yamaha to the Ducati isn't straightforward since he had to adapt to a different bike. Missing those crucial laps while learning the new bike, I believe a rating of 6 or 7 is quite reasonable."

Maverick Vinales – 8-10

Moreland: "Maverick has been excellent this season! I rated him an eight. In his debut year on the Aprilia, we saw glimpses of his talent. Last year was an improvement, but this year, the true Maverick has emerged, demonstrating an unbeatable speed, like the one he had at COTA."

Aleix Espargaro – 7-10

Mclaren: "I’d rate him around 7 to 7.5. He declared his retirement and then went on to win the sprint race in his home country, which deserves an extra half point on its own. The uncertainty with Aleix lies in his injuries. We can't be sure what he could have achieved without them."

Marc Marquez – 8/8.5-10

Jones: "I'll give him an eight. I believe he's been remarkable. We often assume that top-tier athletes like Marc Marquez can switch from Honda to Ducati effortlessly. However, considering how long he was with Honda, it's a significant challenge to transition. Despite having a lengthy adaptation period ahead of him, he's managed to compete with riders like Martin and Bagnaia right from the start. I think he's been outstanding."

Alex Marquez – Rating: 7/10

Moreland remarked, "I rated him a seven since his performance this year has been quite similar to the previous one. While he won sprint races last year, I've been mildly impressed with his progress and believe he has significantly reduced the number of crashes."

Raul Fernandez – Rating: 7 to 7.5 out of 10

McLaren commented: "He's definitely one of the year's pleasant surprises. I honestly didn't expect it. His performance in Barcelona, taking the lead the way he did, was astonishing. It made me wonder where this level of skill had been hiding. That particular race could be the pivotal moment that solidifies his place in MotoGP."

Miguel Oliveira – 6/6.5/5.5-10

Jones: "He’s been somewhat under the radar. I’m giving him a 5.5, which might seem a bit tough. We don't have all the behind-the-scenes details, so take this score with a grain of salt. Based purely on results and performance, he’s often been the fourth best rider on an Aprilia. Considering his experience and the fact that he was brought in to lead the team, Fernandez has often outperformed him. However, Oliveira had an excellent weekend at Sachsenring, and this score could improve significantly if he continues to have more races like that."

Fabio Quartararo – 7/10 – Alex Rins – 6.5/7-10

Moreland: "It's tough, but among the Japanese manufacturers, they seem to have shown the greatest progress and desire to get better by retaining Quartararo. I rated both riders equally. I'm leaning towards a 7 for both Yamaha riders, and I've seen promising moments; for instance, Rins was exceptionally quick at Mugello on Friday, ranking in the top three."

"Quartararo has demonstrated moments of brilliance, and his speed remains impressive. I would rate both of them a seven."

Brad Binder – 6.5/7-10

Jones: "We had higher expectations for KTM. Last season, KTM had a strong chance to win the Valencian Grand Prix with both Binder and Miller, but unfortunately, they both crashed. This could have influenced the outlook for this season. Binder showed tremendous competitiveness in Qatar, securing two second-place finishes and starting the season as a potential championship contender. We all trust and believe that Binder is one of the top riders on the circuit. However, things have somewhat unraveled in various aspects."

Jack Miller's performance has been rated between 5.5 and 6.5 out of 10. According to Jones, Miller hasn't quite adapted to the bike this season. He had a significantly better performance last year, but this season, he appears somewhat fatigued and seems to be struggling to enjoy his second year with KTM.

Pedro Acosta – 8/9-10

McLaren: "I would rate Acosta an eight. Competing as the leading KTM rider against strong competitors like Binder and Miller is quite an achievement. Additionally, he is giving Vinales a run for his money as the best rider behind the dominant Ducatis, which are undoubtedly very powerful. This rating is well-earned. For a rookie, his performance has been notably error-free."

Augusto Fernandez stands at 5 feet 10 inches. Jones commented, "Augusto Fernandez is a key figure here. We're discussing riders who might lose their spots but still remain in the competition, and how that affects the overall quality. I believe Augusto Fernandez is at high risk of losing his MotoGP position because his performance hasn't met expectations. He seems to be the most likely candidate for this outcome."

Marco Bezzecchi – Rating: 5.5-10

Moreland: "This may spark debate, but I’ve rated Bezzecchi a 5.5. Around this time last year, he had clinched three grand prix victories and looked impressive on the GP22. It's clear that transitioning from the GP22 to the GP23 has been challenging for the riders, and there were high expectations for Bezzecchi to spearhead VR46. He turned down the Pramac seat and the GP24. I’m not sure if he regrets that decision now, but it has certainly been a disappointing season."

Fabio Di Giannantonio Score: 7.5-10

Moreland commented, "He's been performing excellently. His transition to the GP23 has gone smoothly. The only thing Diggia needs now is a podium finish. Although he had a significant crash at Sachsenring recently, he was doing well up until then. I believe a podium finish is within his reach soon."

Takaaki Nakagami – 5-10

Illustrating the extent of Honda's struggles, Jones remarked: "During the Covid season, Nakagami was competing for victories and had his best performance year. Although Nakagami's MotoGP track record isn't the most impressive, all the riders have demonstrated winning potential. In the cases of Mir and Zarco, they have secured wins. However, Honda's current challenges and circumstances have severely restricted them."

Luca Marini – 5-10 / Johann Zarco – 5.5-10

Mclaren: "Zarco was among the top six in the championship around this time last year, so his performance has significantly declined. Marini is in a similar situation. Despite this, they have maintained a positive attitude, refraining from complaints or criticism. However, it is crucial that they start making improvements."

Joan Mir – 6.5/7-10

Moreland: "I rated Mir a six primarily because he's at the forefront of what we might call the 'Honda cup.' He has accrued the most points, but it's a challenging situation. The team is facing significant difficulties, and it's evident that Mir is exerting immense effort, frequently averting front-end crashes."

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