Valencia GP review podcast: A new champion is crowned
Joan Mir ended a 20-year wait for Suzuki in Sunday’s Valencia Grand Prix when he won the 2020 MotoGP world championship.
The 23-year-old’s rise to MotoGP title glory was rapid, making his debut in Moto3 in 2016 before winning the title the year after. A single season in Moto2 gave way to his MotoGP debut last year with Suzuki.
The most consistent charger this season with six podiums and a grand prix victory, Mir prevailed in the maddest of MotoGP season’s with a seventh-place finish in a “nightmare” Valencia are to seal the title with a round to spare. Not since Kenny Roberts Jr in 2000 has Suzuki crowned a MotoGP world champion, with Mir joining an elite list of six to have achieved that honour with the Japanese manufacturer.
In the latest Tank Slappers Podcast, Autosport’s Lewis Duncan and Motorsport.com’s Oriol Puigdemont discuss MotoGP’s newest world champion.
They also delve into the conundrum that is Yamaha, after the 2020 M1 runners struggled while Franco Morbidelli took victory on his 2019 bike, while also discussing Cal Crutchlow’s MotoGP future.
How Mir became Suzuki’s humble MotoGP hero
Miller: "Unreal" to return to MotoGP podium at Valencia GP
Dean Thompson joins Tricon Toyota NASCAR Truck program
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Bourdais: Reliability will decide who wins first LMDh race in Daytona
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Palm Beach Cavallino Classic 2023: Don't Miss Your Spot At Cavallino Classic
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Ranking the top 10 WRC drivers of 2022
The World Rally Championship welcomed in a new hybrid era in 2022, presenting an unknown challenge to the planet's top rally aces. New records were broken, as Toyota's leading charge became the youngest-ever title-winner, while familiar returning faces mixed it up with the new generation. Motorsport.com picks out the 10 best performers from the year
Ranking the top 10 MotoGP riders of 2022
The 2022 MotoGP season was another hotly contested championship, with Francesco Bagnaia emerging as the title winner after the campaign went to the wire. Motorsport.com picks out the 10 best performers of the season
Was the MotoGP 2022 title won by Bagnaia or lost by Quartararo?
Reigning MotoGP world champion Fabio Quartararo had a 91-point lead over rival Francesco Bagnaia after the German Grand Prix, a seemingly impregnable gap to overcome in the remaining 10 races. But as the Frenchman struggled for pace with his Yamaha, Bagnaia stormed back into contention and swept to Ducati's first riders' title since 2007
Why there's more to Honda's 2023 MotoGP bike than the Valencia test suggests
After a run on Honda's 2023 prototype MotoGP bike, six-time champion Marc Marquez made his pessimism clear with his initial reaction. But the Japanese marque has made leadership changes behind closed doors - and a more representative bike promised for the Malaysia test in February could placate Marquez.
Why new MotoGP champion Bagnaia has a stronger character than it seems
While new MotoGP champion Francesco Bagnaia might not be the loudest rider on the grid, his calm exterior belies a steely backbone. His part in turning around Ducati's fortunes at the start of the year, when displeased with a new engine concept, shows the strength of his character.
Why Bagnaia's MotoGP triumph is as worthy as Stoner's Ducati breakthrough
OPINION: Despite the superiority exhibited by the Ducati in 2022, the context in which Francesco Bagnaia became MotoGP world champion means that both the rider and the Italian marque merit the same recognition that the brand and Casey Stoner received after their 2007 title
Why the 2022 MotoGP season had a bittersweet ending
OPINION: MotoGP’s fifth last round showdown of the modern era delivered a tense finale despite the predictable outcome, as Francesco Bagnaia ended 15 years of pain for Ducati. But as emotions ran high for the Italian marque, a final victory for a departing Japanese rival tinged the campaign’s conclusion with sadness.
Why the 2023 MotoGP title battle has already begun
Since Ducati announced the arrival of Enea Bastianini to its factory team for 2023, the staging of the four-time race winner has strained the atmosphere within the Italian manufacturer, which has raised its guard in anticipation of what may happen between him and championship favourite Francesco Bagnaia.
Why Yamaha has just six months to safeguard Quartararo's future
Yamaha's decision to dispense pre-season with the 2022 engine it had intended to use due to lack of reliability, the promises of improvement to Fabio Quartararo and the advance with which the rider market moves leaves the Japanese brand with less than six months to prevent the Frenchman from starting to look for a way out