MotoGP is now past the halfway point of its season, with 11 rounds completed. There are some surprises, some disappointments, and some that have greatly improved in a comparison between 2021 and 2022. How are the constructors doing, then?
MotoGP promised a lot for 2022. And after 11 rounds, more than half of the championship, it has delivered everything that was expected: competitiveness. The first half of the championship pleases with surprises and also stands out with disappointments. But unpredictability is the year's greatest quality.
In theory, the season would have 21 rounds. It would be the longest calendar in the history of the premier class. However, the Finnish GP was once again canceled, according to the category for geopolitical reasons. Therefore, 20 remain. Of the 11 races that have already passed, there have been five winners and seven different poles. The dominance is of the European factories: seven tiunfos, against four from the Japanese.
Now, analyzing manufacturer by manufacturer in a comparison with 2021, there were some who went up a few notches. Others went down a lot. Starting with Ducati, the World Championship leader. It has 246 points in 11 races, but it is true that having eight bikes on the grid also helps. In all, it has six wins, and has had at least one Demosedici on the podium at every round.
At this point in the championship, in 2021, Ducati was also at the top of the table with 212 points. It had fewer bikes on the grid, it is true, but it was showing an excellent performance.
Second place in the World Championship in 2022 is the same as last year: Yamaha. Although Fabio Quartararo leads the championship, Franco Morbidelli is far from experiencing his best moment. RNF, the satellite team of the Hiwata brand, is also struggling. That is why the 'Quatarodependence' continues at full steam after a bitter start to the year for the Frenchman. So far, the Japanese factory has 172 points. It has three wins and six podiums - all from 'El Diablo'. However, compared to last season, it is 37 less.
MOTOGP STANDINGS
▶️Quartararo makes mistake and loses fat MotoGP lead at Assen
The surprise comes when we look at third-placed Aprilia. Aleix Espargaró shows himself more and more adapted to a bike of great performance and in the company of a reinvigorated Maverick Viñales. The Granollers rider is one of the title contenders. It was this season that he won the first victory for the team.
In addition, he has six podiums, five for Espargaró, one for Viñales. With no satellite team, it has 155 Constructors' points - it had only 68 in 2021 and was last place - but leads the World Team Championship with 213. And things look promising for 2023, since the RNF has ended its ties with Yamaha and closed a deal with the house of Noale.
In fourth place, who appears is KTM, which does not have a standout season. Last year, it occupied the third position, with 152 points. Now, it has 121, one win, won by Miguel Oliveira in Indonesia, and two podiums. Behind her is Suzuki, which surprised with its announcement that it will not continue in MotoGP in 2023. It did not only take the public by surprise, however. Álex Rins and Joan Mir were also unaware of the Japanese factory's decision. So far, they have a combined tally of 101 times, with two podiums - they had 138 in 2021.
Finally, the bottom of the Constructors is Honda, which is experiencing some setbacks. That's because Marc Marquez stepped away from the bikes after the Catalunya GP to have another surgery on his right arm. Although Alberto Puig, the team boss, points out that the multi-champion may return later this year, the time is still undetermined. With Pol Espargaró, Takaaki Nakagami and Álex Márquez, as well as reserve rider Stefan Bradl, significant results are yet to come. With only one podium - won by Pol in Qatar - they have 85 points. That's 19 less than they had in the last championship.