In photos: Qatar to Assen

One photo per event – ​​check out some top pics from each Round of the MotoGP Championship from Qatar to Assen

It’s time to take a look back at each of the 11 rounds we’ve seen so far in 2022, but in a different way to usual. We thought it would be a nice idea to grab one photo from each race to remind us of what went down ahead of the mid-season break.

Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing MotoGP) lifts the race winners’ trophy after taking the opening victory of the season at the Losail International Circuit. It was an emotional evening for Gresini upon their return to the premier class, as it was just over a year since the paddock lost the much-loved Fausto Gresini.

Our eagerly anticipated return to Indonesia didn’t disappoint, not least because we were treated to a traditional rain dance on Sunday. Once the race got underway, Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) produced a wet weather masterclass to claim victory.

It was a history-making weekend in Termas de Rio Hondo as we witnessed Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) claim his first Grand Prix win. It was also Aprilia’s maiden premier class win as they announced themselves as 2022 title contenders.

The Circuit of The Americas played host to Round 4 as sophomore sensation Bastianini took his second victory of the season. Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) joined the Italian on the podium.

It was a timely return to the top step for reigning World Champion Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) at Portimao. It had been a tricky start to 2022 for the Frenchman and Yamaha, but his win on the rollercoaster set the tone for the rest of his season so far.

Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) vs Quartararo. Like the latter, 2022’s start had been tough for Pecco but a win at the Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto kickstarted his Championship chase.

Drama unfolded at Le Mans as Bagnaia, who had looked so strong all weekend, crashed out of second place soon after Bastianini had grabbed P1. The latter went on to win his third race of the season as Pecco was left to rue a costly error.

Bouncing back: Pecco earned a much-needed 25 points with a dream victory at Mugello in front of his and Ducati’s home fans, but Bastianini suffered a DNF. Quartararo finished a close P2 with Aleix Espargaro completing the rostrum in P3.

The most dramatic round of the season to date? Fresh from the high of winning at Mugello, Pecco’s race came to an abrupt end at Turn 1 as Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) took out the Italian and Rins. Quartararo strode to a commanding win as we witnessed Aleix Espargaro miscalculate the laps remaining – the home hero sat up a lap early and dropped from P2 to P6, eventually finishing P5.

In front of a bumper Sachsenring crowd, Pecco suffered his third DNF in four as he crashed out of second place in the early stages. Quartararo, however, made no such errors to win his third race of the season, extending his title lead to over 30 points in the process.

ROUND 11 – NETHERLANDS

The other contender for the most dramatic race of the year so far. An uncharacteristic error at Turn 5 on Lap 5 saw Quartararo crash while trying to overtake Aleix Espargaro. Espargaro was taken into the gravel but managed to keep his RS-GP upright, and from there we saw the Spaniard produce a heroic comeback from P15 to P4 – which included a double overtake at the final chicane. Pecco led from start to finish to win, huge for his title hopes, as Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) and Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) stood on the podium.

After the summer break, the story continues at Silverstone.

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