Some numbers regarding the MotoGP season that ended a few weeks ago at the Cheste circuit in Valencia were released, culminating with Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati) winning his second championship.
Here are some interesting facts. In all 20 main races, there were always unexpected events that prevented the starting grid from being complete. For example, in the debut at Portimão, Pol Espargaró (GasGas Tech3/KTM) suffered a serious crash that left lasting effects and marked the year for the Spaniard – he only returned to compete in August. At the Algarve circuit, Miguel Oliveira (CrypyoDATA RNF MotoGP Team/Aprilia), Marc Márquez (Repsol Honda), and Enea Bastianini (Ducati) also hit the tarmac.
In the first five Grand Prix races, there were 16 casualties in the field, with only 15 percent of these accidents occurring in the Sprint races according to the newspaper Sport.
According to Dorna’s data, there were 358 crashes, 23 more than those that occurred in 2022. Another interesting fact is that Ducati, with eight competing bikes, had the most falls with 125 to be precise. Honda followed with 79, while KTM riders fell 77 times, Aprilia riders 60 times, and Yamaha riders went down 16 times.
15 riders (68.2 percent) made it to one of the three podium spots, matching the record set in 2020 and 2021.
The triumph of Bagnaia in Valencia was the 17th for Ducati in 2023, if we add the main team and the others with the seal of the transalpine factory. Jorge Martín (Prima Pramac/Ducati), vice-world champion, was the rider who secured the most victories in Sprint races, with a total of nine.
Bagnaia counted four, Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM) and Álex Márquez (Gresini/Ducati) each added two, Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team/Ducati) and Aleix Espargaró (Aprilia) both had one victory. Martín was also the only rider to score points in all 19 Saturday races, including 14 appearances in the top three.
