The MotoGP™ title, Moto2™ title and more are still left to be decided as a thrilling weekend awaits at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo
#TheDecider at the Gran Premio Motul de la Comunitat Valenciana is appearing on the horizon. It’s a huge weekend of action coming up at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo, so what remains at stake heading to the final round of the 2022 season?
PETRONAS Grand Prix of Malaysia: MotoGP™ race highlights
MotoGP™ Riders’ title
The big one. Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) vs Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™). One of these two will be crowned 2022 MotoGP™ World Champion on Sunday in Valencia, with Pecco holding a 23-point advantage over the Frenchman after his Malaysia GP victory.
Both third place Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) and fourth place Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) can still earn P2 overall, but that would require them winning the race and Quartararo having a very disappointing Sunday. One point splits Espargaro and Bastianini, so the bronze medal is up for grabs. Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) is also mathematically in with a chance of still finishing inside the top three, but that’s a huge ask for the Australian who sits 22 points off Bastianini.
Before the MotoGP™ title decider gets underway, we’ll be watching the compelling Moto2™ title race come to a close as Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) go head-to-head. The odds are in Fernandez’s favour after Ogura’s last-lap crash in Sepang, with 9.5 points separating the duo.
Just like the Riders’ title, it’s Red Bull KTM Ajo vs Idemitsu Honda Team Asia for this crown. The former – and reigning title holders – have a 33.5 advantage over the latter, so it’ll be difficult for Idemitsu Honda Team Asia to come out on top. Not impossible though!
Moto2™ Rookie of the Year
After Pedro Acosta’s (Red Bull KTM Ajo) crash in the Malaysian GP, Alonso Lopez (Beta Tools Speed Up) is now in pole position to clinch the Moto2™ Rookie of the Year accolade – despite missing the first six races. Lopez’s Sepang P2 saw the Spaniard go 3.5 points clear of Acosta in the Championship, so this one is all to play for in Valencia.
Moto3™ Rookie of the Year
Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI) sits eighth overall on 104 points, with his closest rookie challenger coming in the form of 2021 JuniorGP™ title winner Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Ajo). There’s seven points between the duo, while David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports) also has a mathematical chance of picking up the Rookie of the Year title. The Spaniard is 20 points off Moreira though, so a big swing is needed for Muñoz.
Tensions will be high in Valencia – what a weekend we’ve got in store at #TheDecider!
