Mid-Season MotoGP Rider Rankings: Bagnaia Leads the Pack with a Stellar Performance

Crash.net evaluates all MotoGP racers from 1 to 10 based on their performance up to the midpoint of the season.

Francesco Bagnaia – 9-10

According to Crash.net's MotoGP chief Peter McLaren, "Bagnaia's recent performance has been outstanding, with victories in four consecutive grand prix races before the summer hiatus. For someone like Bagnaia, the break might not have been ideal. It's hard to imagine what more Pecco could have accomplished."

WorldSBK/MotoGP analyst Robert Jones added his thoughts, stating, "I believe a 9 accurately reflects his performance. His consistency has set him apart. Recently, his performance streak and his method of securing victories, from dominating each session in Assen to putting the heat on at Sachsenring, leading to Martin's error, underscore his position as the top rider of the season thus far.

Enea Bastianini – Rating: 7.5/10

Jordan Moreland, who manages social media for Crash.net and also hosts a podcast, remarked: "My rating for him is 7.5, which I believe is quite commendable. We're witnessing much greater consistency from him. It's somewhat disappointing because he demonstrates incredible speed towards the end of the races, and this is the main reason I refrained from rating him an eight. He clearly has the potential to secure victories, as evident from his performance when others seem to falter. However, if he could harness this speed a bit earlier, perhaps he could have clinched several grand prix wins."

Discussing Jorge Martin's performance, Moreland commented, "His score might have been better, yet due to his fall in the final round, it impacted his ranking. He was close to earning a nine, however, considering everything, an 8.5 and an 8 seem appropriate."

McLaren commented, "Recent rounds have somewhat marred the progress due to errors, but if you look at the bigger picture regarding his position in the world championship, what really stood out to me at Sachsenring was the number of laps led. Martin and Bagnaia have each led for over 100 laps, while I believe Vinales has led for around 22."

Morbidelli Evaluation: 6-10

Jones commented on Morbidelli's performance, noting: "Given the circumstances, his season can be seen as satisfactory. The key factor to consider is his absence during the pre-season. Transitioning from Yamaha to Ducati wasn't simple, and not having those initial laps to get accustomed to a different motorcycle plays a significant role. Therefore, a score between 6 and 7 seems quite just."

Maverick Vinales – 8-10

Moreland: "Maverick truly shone this season, earning himself an eight from me. His initial year with Aprilia showed promising glimpses, and he improved the following year. However, this season, we've seen the genuine Maverick emerge, especially with his unbeatable speed at COTA."

Aleix Espargaro – Between 7 and 10

Mclaren rates him: "I'd give him a solid 7 to 7.5. Declaring his retirement followed by a victory in the sprint race on his home turf definitely earns him an extra half point in my book. The big uncertainty with Aleix revolves around his injuries. It's hard to say what he could have achieved without them."

Marc Marquez – 8/8.5-10

Jones: "My rating is an eight. He's been outstanding. Often, we overlook the challenges elite athletes like Marc Marquez face, assuming a switch from Honda to Ducati would be seamless for someone of his caliber. However, considering his extensive history with Honda, adjusting to Ducati is no small feat. Despite the significant adaptation he had to undergo, Marquez's immediate competition with racers such as Martin and Bagnaia from the start has been impressive."

Alex Marquez – Rated 7/10

Moreland has assigned him a score of seven, attributing it to a performance that mirrors the previous year. Despite winning sprint races last year, Moreland notes a subtle yet commendable improvement, particularly highlighting a reduction in crashes.

Raul Fernandez – 7/7.5-10

Mclaren: "He's definitely among the unexpected highlights for me this year, in a good way. It caught me off guard. His performance in taking the lead at Barcelona was astounding; it left me wondering how he managed it and why we hadn't seen it before. That particular race could very well be the pivotal moment that secures his future in MotoGP."

Miguel Oliveira – 6/6.5/5.5-10

Jones comments, "Somewhat under the radar. It might seem a bit severe, but I have to assign a 5.5. It's important to note that we're not privy to all the details behind the scenes, which should be considered when evaluating him. However, based solely on outcomes and his performances, he frequently appears to be the least impressive among the four Aprilia riders, despite his seniority and the expectations for him to lead. It seems Fernandez has been more noticeable than him. Oliveira did have a standout performance at Sachsenring, indicating that his current score of 5.5 could improve if he delivers more performances of that caliber."

Fabio Quartararo and Alex Rins Evaluation – Quartararo: 7/10 – Rins: 6.5 to 7/10

According to Moreland, choosing between the Japanese bike makers is challenging, yet it seems they've made the most progress and demonstrated a clear desire to advance, especially with their decision to retain Quartararo. He awards the same rating to both Yamaha competitors, settling on a 7 for each. Moreland highlights moments of brilliance, like Rins' exceptional performance on Friday at Mugello, where he was among the top three fastest.

"The glimpses of brilliance Quartararo has displayed, his speed remains evident; I'd rate both aspects a seven."

Brad Binder – Rating: 6.5/7-10

Jones commented, "Our expectations for KTM were certainly higher. Last season, they were on the brink of winning the Valencia Grand Prix with both Binder and Miller, but unfortunately, both riders didn't finish due to crashes. That moment could have been a precursor to this season's achievements. Binder showed impressive competitiveness in Qatar, securing two second-place finishes and kicking off the season on a high note, making us believe he was a strong contender for the championship. There's a general consensus that Binder ranks among the elite riders. However, it seems things haven't quite gone as planned in several respects."

Jones on Miller: "This season hasn't been great for Miller; he hasn't meshed well with the motorcycle. Compared to his successful previous year, this time around he appears more fatigued and hasn't seemed to take much pleasure in his sophomore year with KTM."

Pedro Acosta – 8/9-10

Mclaren believes Acosta truly earned his score of eight. Standing out as the leading KTM rider, surpassing competitors such as Binder and Miller, is not an easy accomplishment. Competing closely with Vinales for the title of the most proficient behind the dominating Ducatis – which are showing considerable strength – is a testament to his deservingness. Considering he's a newcomer, his minimal errors are noteworthy.

Jones stated, "The major focus is on Augusto Fernandez, as we discuss how certain riders might retain their place on the grid despite losing their seat, and its effect on the rankings. I believe Augusto stands a strong chance of being dropped from his MotoGP seat, as his results have simply not lived up to expectations."

Marco Bezzecchi – Rating: 5.5/10

Moreland expressed a potentially divisive opinion by rating Bezzecchi a 5.5. Reflecting on the previous year, Bezzecchi had secured three grand prix victories and showed promising performance on the GP22. Despite the known challenges associated with transitioning from the GP22 to the GP23, there were high hopes for Bezzecchi to emerge as a frontrunner for the VR46 team. He turned down an opportunity with Pramac and the GP24, a decision that might be a source of regret given his underwhelming season.

Fabio Di Giannantonio Rating: 7.5 out of 10

Moreland shared, "He's performed impressively well. His transition to the GP23 has been seamless. The only achievement eluding Diggia is securing a podium finish. Despite his significant accident at Sachsenring recently, he was performing commendably up until that incident. I believe he's close to achieving a podium placement."

Takaaki Nakagami – 5-10

Emphasizing the extent of Honda's difficulties, Jones commented, "Reflecting on the season affected by Covid, Nakagami was in contention for victories and experiencing his most successful year. While Nakagami's MotoGP record may not be the most impressive, he, along with Mir and Zarco, has demonstrated the capability to secure wins. Their performance has been significantly hindered by the challenges and circumstances Honda faces."

Luca Marini – Rating: 5 out of 10 / Johann Zarco – Rating: 5.5 out of 10

Mclaren commented, "Zarco had a significant position, being in the top six of the championship around this time last year, so his decline has been notable. Marini has experienced a similar dip, but what stands out is their positive attitude. They've refrained from any negative remarks or complaints, yet what's crucial is that they need to show improvement."

Joan Mir – 6.5/7-10

Moreland: "My rating for Mir is a six, mainly because he's at the top of what we might refer to as the 'Honda championship'. He's accumulated the highest number of points, but it's a challenging situation. They're really having a hard time. It's evident that Mir is exerting a lot of effort, constantly managing to prevent crashes involving the front end."

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