Throughout the 2023 MotoGP season, there were ten riders who participated in at least one round without being in the starting lineup at the beginning of the year – either as wildcards or as substitute riders.
Among these riders, it was Dani Pedrosa who stood out. The Red Bull KTM test rider made two wildcards. In the Spanish GP, he finished sixth in the Sprint race and seventh in the main race, while in San Marino, he achieved two fourth places and came very close to a podium finish in a surprising performance.
The results in Misano were the best for a wildcard rider since 2018, surprising everyone and bringing natural satisfaction to Pedrosa. The “Little Samurai” finished the season in 21st place, ahead of Joan Mir (Repsol Honda) and Pol Espargaró (GasGas Tech3/KTM), with 32 points.
The second temporary rider was Lorenzo Savadori. As an Aprilia wildcard, his best result was 11th place in the Netherlands, and he also finished 18th in Italy and 19th in Austria. The Italian also replaced the injured Miguel Oliveira in the CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP Team/Aprilia on two occasions: in France, where he finished 12th, and in Valencia, where he finished 13th. He ended the championship in 24th place.
Just behind him was Jonas Folger. Weeks after joining KTM as a development rider, the German was called upon to temporarily replace Pol Espargaró after the Spaniard’s incident in Portugal. He was in action between the Americas and the Netherlands GPs and was convincing: 12th in Austin, 13th in France, and 14th in Assen were his best results, returning to the elite of motorcycle racing with virtually no preparation.
Another recurring temporary rider was Stefan Bradl, who finished in 26th place. The German rider had only two wildcards for the HRC Team – he finished 14th in Jerez and 18th in San Marino. He replaced Marc Márquez in the Americas when the Spaniard was injured and had to withdraw. Bradl also filled in for Álex Rins while #42 was recovering, competing in three rounds for LCR Honda – he scored points in all of them.
Like Bradl, Michele Pirro had wildcard and substitute appearances. The Italian rider replaced the injured Enea Bastianini in the Americas – where he achieved his best result of the year, finishing 11th – and then in India and Japan, finishing 16th on both occasions. As a wildcard, he participated in the Italian and San Marino GPs. He finished 27th in the championship, just ahead of Danilo Petrucci, who competed in the French GP in place of Bastianini and finished 11th in his return to MotoGP.
The Japanese GP was the only one for Cal Crutchlow as a wildcard in the Yamalube RS4GP Racing Team, finishing 13th which allowed him to stay in 29th place in the championship. Iker Lecuona also made a return to MotoGP as a replacement rider. The Spaniard filled in for injured riders in Repsol Honda and LCR Honda on seven occasions, with 16th place being his best result.
Also making a sporadic return to MotoGP after two World Superbike titles, Álvaro Bautista finished 17th in the Malaysian GP. Takumi Takahashi also filled in for the injured Álex Rins in LCR Honda, but did not even qualify for the races in the San Marino GP after the times set in practice. He was the only rider who did not receive a classification in the championship.
Dani Pedrosa’s season (final ranking: 21st):
Spanish GP: 6th in Sprint/7th in GP – 18th in the championship
San Marino GP: 4th in Sprint/4th in GP – 18th in the championship
Lorenzo Savadori’s season (final ranking: 24th):
French GP: 17th in Sprint/12th in GP – 24th in the championship
Italian GP: 18th in Sprint/18th in GP – 25th in the championship
Dutch GP: 16th in Sprint/11th in GP – 21st in the championship
Austrian GP: Retirement in Sprint/19th in GP – 22nd in the championship
Valencia GP: 20th in Sprint/13th in GP – 24th in the championship
Jonas Folger’s season (final ranking: 25th):
GP of the Americas: 20th Sprint/12th GP – 21st in the championship
GP of Spain: 19th Sprint/17th GP – 22nd in the championship
GP of France: Abandonment in the Sprint/13th GP – 20th in the championship
GP of Italy: 21st Sprint/19th GP – 21st in the championship
GP of Germany: Abandonment in the Sprint/17th GP – 21st in the championship
GP of the Netherlands: 21st Sprint/14th GP – 22nd in the championship
Stefan Bradl’s season (final ranking: 26th):
GP of the Americas: 18th Sprint/Abandonment in the GP – 23rd in the championship
GP of Spain: 15th Sprint/14th GP – 24th in the championshipGP of the Netherlands: 22nd Sprint/13th GP – 27th in the championshipGP of San Marino: 22nd Sprint/18th GP – 28th in the championshipGP of India: Abandonment in the Sprint/15th GP – 26th in the championshipGP of Japan: 20th Sprint/14th GP – 26th in the championshipMichele Pirro’s season (final ranking: 27th):
GP of the Americas: Abandonment in Sprint/11th GP – 20th in the championship
GP of Italy: 15th in Sprint/Abandonment in GP – 22nd in the championship
GP of San Marino: 20th in Sprint/16th GP – 25th in the championship
GP of India: 14th in Sprint/16th GP – 27th in the championship
Danilo Petrucci’s season (final ranking: 28th):
GP of France: 16th in Sprint/11th GP – 22nd in the championship
Cal Crutchlow’s season (final ranking: 29th):
GP of Japan: 18th in Sprint/13th GP – 29th in the championship
Iker Lecuona’s season (final ranking: 30th):
GP of Spain: 18th in Sprint/16th GP – 23rd in the championship
GP of the Netherlands: 20th in Sprint/Abandonment in GP – 28th in the championship
GP of Great Britain: 22nd in Sprint/17th GP – 29th in the championship
GP of Austria: 16th in Sprint/20th GP – 29th in the championship
GP of Catalonia: 19th in Sprint/16th GP – 29th in the championship
GP of Malaysia: 20th in Sprint/16th GP – 30th in the championship
GP of Qatar: 17th in Sprint/Abandonment in GP – 30th in the championship
Álvaro Bautista’s season (final ranking: 31st):
Malaysia GP: 22nd Sprint/17th GP – 31st in the championship
Takumi Takahashi’s season (final classification: not classified):
San Marino GP: Not qualified for the races
