Last week, a fairly bold new set of rules for the beleaguered Superbike World Championship, aimed at reducing the cost of competing in the series and bolstering grid sizes, was announced for next season.
The most striking feature of these 2014 regulations is the fact that motorcycle manufacturers will be obliged to provide official equipment to all competitors at a fixed cost, effectively preventing them from favouring a single 'factory' team.
Though six manufacturers are represented on the 2013 grid in World Superbike, just three - Kawasaki, Aprilia and BMW - are full factory efforts, with Suzuki (Crescent), Ducati (Alstare) and Honda (Ten Kate) relying on favoured third-party outfits to run their bikes.
Even before the new rules were announced, BMW already confirmed their departure from the championship at the end of the season, leaving only Kawasaki and Aprilia in 2014 - that is, if they decide to continue competing under the new rules, which would all but eliminate the advantage of their respective factory teams.
Another major rule change for the 2014 World Superbike season is the introduction of a secondary 'EVO' class, which will cater for Superbikes conforming to more production-based engine and electronics regulations currently seen in the third-tier Superstock series.
Such a move is very reminiscent of MotoGP's decision to add the CRT class last year; this should come as little surprise after World Superbike fell under the control of the same commercial rights holder as MotoGP last year, the Spanish-based Dorna Sports organisation.
The CRT class served to blur what was hitherto a clear distinction between MotoGP and World Superbike - that the former was for prototypes, and the latter for production-derived machinery, a dividing line that gave World Superbike its raison d'être.
Now, Superbike engines from Kawasaki, BMW and Honda are to be found powering a range of different prototype chassis in the back half of the MotoGP grid. To confuse matters further, there are also a brace of machines that amount to little more than re-badged Aprilia Superbikes dominating the CRT class.
Even the most casual observer would have no problem in spotting the remarkable similarities between this CRT bike, entered under the 'Aprilia Racing Technologies' banner, and the Aprilia RSV4 World Superbike.
What's more, proprietary electronic software, which is said to be key to the success of the Aspar-run ART machines relative to their CRT competitors, is to be banned in the CRT class (or the 'non-factory' class, as it is to become known) next year in favour of spec software written by Magneti Marelli.
That means, that if Aprilia wants to continue to use its own software, it must become a full factory team and take on the might of Honda, Yamaha and Ducati. That in turn means conforming to a rigourous 20-litre fuel limit, an enormous barrier to entry that the 'big three' manufacturers are in no mood to see removed.
Whether Aprilia has the resources to overcome this obstacle isn't clear. But, the new rules that have been announced for World Superbike must make taking on the challenge of MotoGP a more attractive proposition than it may have been otherwise.
That potentially leaves Kawasaki as the only remaining works operation on the World Superbike grid, and it would surely be a matter of time before they also departed with the marketing value of competing in the championship significantly diminished by the presence of only one full manufacturer entry.
Thus, it seems World Superbike is in the midst of an identity crisis. It's probable that, after several seasons of trialing 'EVO' bikes, the two classes will meet somewhere in the middle, leaving a fairly tightly-packed grid made up of independent teams with limited factory support.
That would surely signify the end of the two premier motorcycle racing championships trying to compete with one another, which would be the only logical outcome given that World Superbike and MotoGP are now under the control of a single commercial rights holder.
Instead of pretending to be the pinnacle, World Superbike would be able to market itself as an alternative route for riders reach MotoGP, one where young talents can test their skills against those who have already been there and done it.
This make sense, as ever since Grand Prix Racing adopted four-stroke bikes back in 2002, World Superbike has constantly suffered from its best riders leaking away to MotoGP.
The high-water mark for World Superbike was arguably the 2002 season, which witnessed an epic duel for supremacy between Troy Bayliss and Colin Edwards. The following year, both men made the leap to MotoGP.
World Superbike has struggled to scale such heights since, and the past decade has seen three more of its champions - Neil Hodgson, James Toseland and Ben Spies - switch to MotoGP. With several Grand Prix riders going in the opposite direction, most notably Max Biaggi and Carlos Checa, World Superbike came to be defined by its relationship to MotoGP rather than by its own merits.
There simply are not enough financial resources available to make both MotoGP and World Superbike global successes, meaning that the latter is going to have play second fiddle now it is under the Dorna Sports umbrella. That doesn't mean that World Superbike can't enjoy a healthy future, though.
A combination of up-and-coming talents and past MotoGP masters competing on less expensive, more production-based machinery would be make a thoroughly entertaining spectacle. Dorna should therefore leave the elite riders and full factory entrants to MotoGP, and allow World Superbike to evolve into its perfect compliment.
Saturday, 17 August 2013
Saturday, 10 August 2013
Ones to Watch 2013
With so many junior championships available to aspiring Formula One drivers in the modern age, it should come as no surprise that there are perhaps more promising hopefuls than ever before tearing up the tracks and getting themselves noticed in various formulae.
Here, I take a look at some we could be seeing in F1 paddocks within the next few years, whilst assessing the progress of some drivers I have tipped for success in the past two years.
Stoffel Vandoorne (Belgium, 21)
With Robin Frijns proving last year that it's more than possible to make a big impact in your first year of Formula Renault 3.5, expectations were high for Vandoorne - the Dutchman's successor as Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 champion.
Vandoorne wasted no time in living up to such expectations, taking victory during his maiden outing in the 3.5 class at Monza for his Fortec team. Since then, the young Belgian has chalked up an additional three wins, including a dominant double at Moscow Raceway, and has proven the closest challenger to series leader Kevin Magnussen.
Vandoorne was picked up by McLaren to join their junior scheme early in the year, incidentally putting him in the same fold as title rival Magnussen. With the Danish driver set to graduate to F1 next year, Vandoorne will no doubt start next season as red-hot favourite to win the Formula Renault 3.5 title (assuming, of course, he doesn't do so this year).
With the financial might of McLaren behind him, there's no reason to think why Vandoorne couldn't, in time, become the first Belgian to take a Grand Prix victory since Thierry Boutsen in 1990.
Sergey Sirotkin (Russia, 17)
Sirotkin has been in the headlines recently, and, to most, having the teenage Russian in a race seat next year is the price the Sauber team must pay to remain afloat. But, such a viewpoint does an enormous disservice to a driver who has achieved a lot in his short career so far.
By the time of his 18th birthday, Sebastian Vettel was Formula BMW champion and had achieved three fifth places in F3 Euroseries. By the same stage, Fernando Alonso, in his first season of car racing, had taken a couple of race victories in the Euro Open by Nissan series, whilst Lewis Hamilton had placed third in British Formula Renault.
Compared with the above, the record of Sirotkin, who turns 18 later this month, stacks up well: so far, he is Formula Abarth champion, a race winner and regular podium finisher in Auto GP, and, as of this year, a podium finisher and regular points-scorer in Formula Renault 3.5.
Admittedly, an F1 race seat would probably be too much, too soon for Sirotkin, particularly in an age with severely limited testing. But, if he is thrust inside a Sauber cockpit next year, Sirotkin has the potential to make a success of his situation and could be just the man to ignite Russian interest in the sport.
Tio Ellinas (Cyprus, 21)
It's been tough to pick a stand-out driver from the GP3 Series this year, with the top seven drivers in the standings separated by just 31 points. But, top of the pile for now is Ellinas, who is on track to become F1's first ever Cypriot driver.
Ellinas has gone from being impressive debutant in GP3 last year to being a major threat for the title this year for the Marussia team. Consistency has been key to his challenge, being one of only two drivers (the other is reigning British F3 champion Jack Harvey) to have scored in eight out of the ten races so far.
Ellinas has undertaken straight-line work behind the wheel of the Marussia's F1 car, as well as having taken part in the Silverstone Young Driver Test for Marussia. Team principal John Booth was said to be impressed with the way Ellinas handled the enormous step up in performance from his usual machinery.
A step up to GP2 is the next logical step for the Cypriot, along with some more track time on Fridays with Marussia. If he continues to perform, the chance of an F1 race seat will surely loom on the horizon.
Daniil Kvyat (Russia, 19)
The latest product of the conveyor belt of talent that is the Red Bull junior scheme, Kvyat has measured well against his Arden teammate and fellow Red Bull-backed driver Carlos Sainz Jr. so far this season in GP3.
Stepping up from Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0, where he was pipped to the title by Vandoorne, Kvyat has been a regular points-scorer in GP3, taking his first podium last time out at Hungary. With three rounds still to go, there's every chance that the Russian could eclipse Sainz Jr. before the year is out.
Kvyat has also impressed in his F3 outings this season, having taken four pole positions and as many podiums in his appearances for the Carlin team. In fact, had he been eligible for points, he would be comfortably inside the championship top ten.
Kvyat made his bow in F1 machinery with the Toro Rosso team at the Silverstone Young Driver Test, and given his Red Bull links, a drive with the Faenza-based team will be just the thing upon which the Russian has his sights firmly set in years to come after gaining more experience in the lower formulae.
Felix Rosenqvist (Sweden, 21)
It may be Rosenqvist's fourth season at Formula 3 level, but there is still something to be said for taking one's time moving up the rungs of the single-seater ladder. In particular, F3 has proven to be a reliable indicator of a driver's potential in the past, which bodes well indeed for the Swedish driver.
Indeed, Rosenqvist has now emerged as a real championship contender in the FIA-backed European F3 series. A superb run of recent form, including a hat-trick of victories at the Red Bull Ring, has brought him within touching distance of points leader Raffaele Marciello.
After finishing runner-up to Antonio Felix da Costa at the prestigious Macau Grand Prix last year, Rosenqvist also managed to notch up a second win in the blue-riband Masters of F3 event last month - emulating the feat of a certain Williams F1 driver Valtteri Bottas - for his Mucke Motorsport team.
The extent of his F3 experience should make Rosenqvist better placed to tackle the rigours of either GP2 or Formula Renault 3.5 than many of his rivals. If he can continue to deliver the results, interest from one or more F1 teams will surely follow.
Lucas Auer (Austria, 18)
With the Red Bull Ring set to return to the F1 calendar next year, the Austrian fans are going to need a new home hero for whom to cheer. Who better to fill such a role than the nephew of Gerhard Berger, the last Austrian to win a Grand Prix back in 1997?
Enter Lucas Auer, who in just his third season of car racing has made quite an impact in the FIA European F3 series - he has been one of the championship's front-runners this season, racking up a maiden win at Brands Hatch (albeit after on-track victor Marciello was disqualified) and five other podium finishes.
Auer finds himself battling with Prema teammate and fellow European F3 rookie Alex Lynn, who has moved across from the British series, for 'best of the rest' honours behind Marciello and Rosenqvist.
A full title challenge in the series likely beckons for Auer before a step up to a more senior category. And, it's worth noting that having 'Uncle Gerhard' as President of the FIA's single-seater commission can hardly hinder matters as the young Austrian seeks a path to F1...
Of the drivers highlighted in my previous 'Ones to Watch' articles, Esteban Gutierrez, Jean-Eric Vergne, Charles Pic and Jules Bianchi have all made it to Formula One. Read on for a summary of how the others are currently faring...
Felipe Nasr - running second in the GP2 standings for Carlin having scored in every round bar one; his Brazilian sponsors give him a good chance of joining the F1 grid next year regardless of whether or not he comes out on top in his title battle with series veterans Stefano Coletti and Fabio Leimer.
Alexander Rossi - in his debut season of GP2 with the Caterham team, for whom he has participated in Friday Practice at the Canadian Grand Prix this year. A race seat with the Leafield-based team is a possibility for the Californian, either for next year or the year after, if he continues to impress.
Mitch Evans - currently the highest-placed rookie in the GP2 standings, the Kiwi driver has taken four podiums (including two at Monaco) for the Arden team so far and will be looking to fight for the championship next year before making the step up to F1 with the help of mentor Mark Webber.
Robin Frijns - has impressed in a series of GP2 outings this season for the Hilmer Motorsport team, particularly at Catalunya where he won the feature race and came second in the sprint. A lack of funds has nevertheless curtailed his season, and despite driving for Sauber during the Silverstone Young Driver Test, the prospects of him landing an F1 seat now appear slim.
Kevin Magnussen - leading the Formula Renault 3.5 series for the DAMS team, having taken two wins and a further six podium finishes. It seems likely that the McLaren junior will appear on the F1 grid next season, possibly at Marussia, having tested for the Woking team at Silverstone.
Antonio Felix da Costa - has failed to live up to his billing as pre-season favourite in the Formula Renault 3.5 series, but fifth in the standings for Arden isn't a fair reflection of the speed he has shown. Red Bull links means he remains favourite to replace Daniel Ricciardo at Toro Rosso next year if a vacancy emerges.
Carlos Sainz Jr. - one of eight or nine drivers still in with a chance of title glory in GP3, having scored two podium finishes so far for Arden. Tested for Toro Rosso at Silverstone but is still a few years away from being ready for a race seat, even by his own admission.
Raffaele Marciello - has seen his championship lead in FIA European F3 narrowed considerably by Rosenqvist in recent races, but his Ferrari backing should see him in either GP2 or Formula Renault 3.5 next year; an F1 test can surely only be a matter of time.
Felix Serralles - has been a regular points scorer in European F3, but is still suffering the after-effects of a crash last season in the British series. Pending a return to full fitness, the Puerto Rican will be eyeing the Euro F3 title next season.
To read my previous 'Ones to Watch' articles, click here (2011) and here (2012).
Here, I take a look at some we could be seeing in F1 paddocks within the next few years, whilst assessing the progress of some drivers I have tipped for success in the past two years.
Stoffel Vandoorne (Belgium, 21)
With Robin Frijns proving last year that it's more than possible to make a big impact in your first year of Formula Renault 3.5, expectations were high for Vandoorne - the Dutchman's successor as Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 champion.
Vandoorne wasted no time in living up to such expectations, taking victory during his maiden outing in the 3.5 class at Monza for his Fortec team. Since then, the young Belgian has chalked up an additional three wins, including a dominant double at Moscow Raceway, and has proven the closest challenger to series leader Kevin Magnussen.
Vandoorne was picked up by McLaren to join their junior scheme early in the year, incidentally putting him in the same fold as title rival Magnussen. With the Danish driver set to graduate to F1 next year, Vandoorne will no doubt start next season as red-hot favourite to win the Formula Renault 3.5 title (assuming, of course, he doesn't do so this year).
With the financial might of McLaren behind him, there's no reason to think why Vandoorne couldn't, in time, become the first Belgian to take a Grand Prix victory since Thierry Boutsen in 1990.
Sergey Sirotkin (Russia, 17)
Sirotkin has been in the headlines recently, and, to most, having the teenage Russian in a race seat next year is the price the Sauber team must pay to remain afloat. But, such a viewpoint does an enormous disservice to a driver who has achieved a lot in his short career so far.
By the time of his 18th birthday, Sebastian Vettel was Formula BMW champion and had achieved three fifth places in F3 Euroseries. By the same stage, Fernando Alonso, in his first season of car racing, had taken a couple of race victories in the Euro Open by Nissan series, whilst Lewis Hamilton had placed third in British Formula Renault.
Compared with the above, the record of Sirotkin, who turns 18 later this month, stacks up well: so far, he is Formula Abarth champion, a race winner and regular podium finisher in Auto GP, and, as of this year, a podium finisher and regular points-scorer in Formula Renault 3.5.
Admittedly, an F1 race seat would probably be too much, too soon for Sirotkin, particularly in an age with severely limited testing. But, if he is thrust inside a Sauber cockpit next year, Sirotkin has the potential to make a success of his situation and could be just the man to ignite Russian interest in the sport.
Tio Ellinas (Cyprus, 21)
It's been tough to pick a stand-out driver from the GP3 Series this year, with the top seven drivers in the standings separated by just 31 points. But, top of the pile for now is Ellinas, who is on track to become F1's first ever Cypriot driver.
Ellinas has gone from being impressive debutant in GP3 last year to being a major threat for the title this year for the Marussia team. Consistency has been key to his challenge, being one of only two drivers (the other is reigning British F3 champion Jack Harvey) to have scored in eight out of the ten races so far.
Ellinas has undertaken straight-line work behind the wheel of the Marussia's F1 car, as well as having taken part in the Silverstone Young Driver Test for Marussia. Team principal John Booth was said to be impressed with the way Ellinas handled the enormous step up in performance from his usual machinery.
A step up to GP2 is the next logical step for the Cypriot, along with some more track time on Fridays with Marussia. If he continues to perform, the chance of an F1 race seat will surely loom on the horizon.
Daniil Kvyat (Russia, 19)
The latest product of the conveyor belt of talent that is the Red Bull junior scheme, Kvyat has measured well against his Arden teammate and fellow Red Bull-backed driver Carlos Sainz Jr. so far this season in GP3.
Stepping up from Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0, where he was pipped to the title by Vandoorne, Kvyat has been a regular points-scorer in GP3, taking his first podium last time out at Hungary. With three rounds still to go, there's every chance that the Russian could eclipse Sainz Jr. before the year is out.
Kvyat has also impressed in his F3 outings this season, having taken four pole positions and as many podiums in his appearances for the Carlin team. In fact, had he been eligible for points, he would be comfortably inside the championship top ten.
Kvyat made his bow in F1 machinery with the Toro Rosso team at the Silverstone Young Driver Test, and given his Red Bull links, a drive with the Faenza-based team will be just the thing upon which the Russian has his sights firmly set in years to come after gaining more experience in the lower formulae.
Felix Rosenqvist (Sweden, 21)
It may be Rosenqvist's fourth season at Formula 3 level, but there is still something to be said for taking one's time moving up the rungs of the single-seater ladder. In particular, F3 has proven to be a reliable indicator of a driver's potential in the past, which bodes well indeed for the Swedish driver.
Indeed, Rosenqvist has now emerged as a real championship contender in the FIA-backed European F3 series. A superb run of recent form, including a hat-trick of victories at the Red Bull Ring, has brought him within touching distance of points leader Raffaele Marciello.
After finishing runner-up to Antonio Felix da Costa at the prestigious Macau Grand Prix last year, Rosenqvist also managed to notch up a second win in the blue-riband Masters of F3 event last month - emulating the feat of a certain Williams F1 driver Valtteri Bottas - for his Mucke Motorsport team.
The extent of his F3 experience should make Rosenqvist better placed to tackle the rigours of either GP2 or Formula Renault 3.5 than many of his rivals. If he can continue to deliver the results, interest from one or more F1 teams will surely follow.
Lucas Auer (Austria, 18)
With the Red Bull Ring set to return to the F1 calendar next year, the Austrian fans are going to need a new home hero for whom to cheer. Who better to fill such a role than the nephew of Gerhard Berger, the last Austrian to win a Grand Prix back in 1997?
Enter Lucas Auer, who in just his third season of car racing has made quite an impact in the FIA European F3 series - he has been one of the championship's front-runners this season, racking up a maiden win at Brands Hatch (albeit after on-track victor Marciello was disqualified) and five other podium finishes.
Auer finds himself battling with Prema teammate and fellow European F3 rookie Alex Lynn, who has moved across from the British series, for 'best of the rest' honours behind Marciello and Rosenqvist.
A full title challenge in the series likely beckons for Auer before a step up to a more senior category. And, it's worth noting that having 'Uncle Gerhard' as President of the FIA's single-seater commission can hardly hinder matters as the young Austrian seeks a path to F1...
***
Of the drivers highlighted in my previous 'Ones to Watch' articles, Esteban Gutierrez, Jean-Eric Vergne, Charles Pic and Jules Bianchi have all made it to Formula One. Read on for a summary of how the others are currently faring...
Felipe Nasr - running second in the GP2 standings for Carlin having scored in every round bar one; his Brazilian sponsors give him a good chance of joining the F1 grid next year regardless of whether or not he comes out on top in his title battle with series veterans Stefano Coletti and Fabio Leimer.
Alexander Rossi - in his debut season of GP2 with the Caterham team, for whom he has participated in Friday Practice at the Canadian Grand Prix this year. A race seat with the Leafield-based team is a possibility for the Californian, either for next year or the year after, if he continues to impress.
Mitch Evans - currently the highest-placed rookie in the GP2 standings, the Kiwi driver has taken four podiums (including two at Monaco) for the Arden team so far and will be looking to fight for the championship next year before making the step up to F1 with the help of mentor Mark Webber.
Robin Frijns - has impressed in a series of GP2 outings this season for the Hilmer Motorsport team, particularly at Catalunya where he won the feature race and came second in the sprint. A lack of funds has nevertheless curtailed his season, and despite driving for Sauber during the Silverstone Young Driver Test, the prospects of him landing an F1 seat now appear slim.
Kevin Magnussen - leading the Formula Renault 3.5 series for the DAMS team, having taken two wins and a further six podium finishes. It seems likely that the McLaren junior will appear on the F1 grid next season, possibly at Marussia, having tested for the Woking team at Silverstone.
Antonio Felix da Costa - has failed to live up to his billing as pre-season favourite in the Formula Renault 3.5 series, but fifth in the standings for Arden isn't a fair reflection of the speed he has shown. Red Bull links means he remains favourite to replace Daniel Ricciardo at Toro Rosso next year if a vacancy emerges.
Carlos Sainz Jr. - one of eight or nine drivers still in with a chance of title glory in GP3, having scored two podium finishes so far for Arden. Tested for Toro Rosso at Silverstone but is still a few years away from being ready for a race seat, even by his own admission.
Raffaele Marciello - has seen his championship lead in FIA European F3 narrowed considerably by Rosenqvist in recent races, but his Ferrari backing should see him in either GP2 or Formula Renault 3.5 next year; an F1 test can surely only be a matter of time.
Felix Serralles - has been a regular points scorer in European F3, but is still suffering the after-effects of a crash last season in the British series. Pending a return to full fitness, the Puerto Rican will be eyeing the Euro F3 title next season.
To read my previous 'Ones to Watch' articles, click here (2011) and here (2012).
Saturday, 3 August 2013
MotoGP mid-season review
With MotoGP midway through its annual summer break, it's time to look back at the first part of what has so far been a captivating season and rate the riders - who have been the star pupils and who needs to do more homework?
Marc Marquez (E, Repsol Honda), 1st - 163pts A+
As early as the second round of the season at Austin, when Marquez became the sport's youngest ever race-winner, it was clear that the reigning Moto2 champion had the potential to go all the way in his debut season at this level. In a campaign that so far has even put Valentino Rossi's 500cc debut season back in 2000 to shame, Marquez has notched up three wins, two second places and three third places, meaning he has been on the podium at every round bar one - when he crashed in the closing stages at Mugello. It will be fascinating to see how the 20-year old responds to the challenge of preserving his 16-point lead for the remainder of the year.
Dani Pedrosa (E, Repsol Honda), 2nd - 147pts A-
Just as Pedrosa was finally set to emerge from the shadow of the two-time champion Casey Stoner, the pint-sized Spaniard's title aspirations have been dealt a body blow by the arrival of Marquez in the other side of the Repsol Honda garage. Pedrosa responded well after his defeat at Austin with back-to-back victories at Jerez and Le Mans, consolidated by a pair of second places, but his challenge has faltered since his injury sustained in practice at the Sachsenring. He'll need to be firing on all cylinders for the rest of the year if he is to overcome Marquez to take a well overdue first premier class title.
Jorge Lorenzo (E, Yamaha Factory Team), 3rd - 137pts A
Like his countryman Pedrosa, Lorenzo has seen his title aspirations damaged by injury. More impressive than any of his three victories at Qatar, Mugello and Catalunya was his superhuman ride to fifth in the Dutch TT just two days after suffering a fractured collarbone in a crash during practice. He was forced to miss the following race at Sachsenring after he aggravated the injury in another crash, but soldiered to sixth position a week later at Laguna Seca. If titles were won on virtue of sheer bloody-mindedness, Lorenzo would be champion already, but there's a lot of work ahead to reel in the Repsol Honda riders in the latter half of the year.
Valentino Rossi (I, Yamaha Factory Team), 4th - 117pts B+
Rossi's season started auspiciously enough with a strong second place at Qatar behind teammate Lorenzo, but things appeared to tail off somewhat after that. Five more races went by until he returned to the podium, taking advantage of his teammate's injury to take a universally popular victory at Assen, backed up by a brace of solid, if unspectacular podiums in the next two races. Those results prove "The Doctor" can still cut it at the front of the MotoGP field, albeit perhaps not as consistently as we have been used to previously. A title challenge is still within the realm of possibility, but more wins will be essential to keep Rossi's hopes alive.
Cal Crutchlow (GB, Monster Tech 3 Yamaha), 5th - 116pts A
2013 has seen Crutchlow blossom into one of the championship's most impressive performers. The Coventry-born rider managed to take his satellite Tech 3 bike to an incredible four podium finishes in five races, including the second step twice at Le Mans and the Sachsenring, as well as to a superb pole position at Assen. His early fall at Catalunya and a mysteriously indifferent ride to seventh at Laguna Seca have been the only noticeable blots on an otherwise unspoiled copybook for Crutchlow, who must be desperately hoping he can bag a maiden win before he moves to the struggling Ducati team for the 2014 season.
Stefan Bradl (D, LCR Honda), 6th - 84pts B+
It was a shaky start to the season for Bradl, who fell from his bike in three of the first four rounds, but since then the German has begun to rival Crutchlow for the honour of the year's outstanding non-factory rider in his sophomore year in the premier class. Fourth place at Mugello marked the start of five successive top-six finishes, the latest of which was a highly impressive ride from pole position to second place at Laguna Seca. That upturn in form has proven sufficient to guarantee Bradl another season within the HRC stable, though he'll have to do more to be in with any chance of a full factory ride in years to come.
Andrea Dovizioso (I, Ducati Team), 7th - 81pts A-
Much like last year, it's difficult to find too much fault with the performances of Dovizioso, who has been the only rider in the field to have scored points at every race this season. Unlike last year however, when the Italian could be expected to challenge for a podium on a good day with the Tech 3 team, Ducati's struggles have largely relegated the talented Italian to a series of private battles with teammate Nicky Hayden in the lower half of the top ten. Fourth place at Le Mans, when the conditions masked the bike's lack of pace to a degree, has been the highlight, along with a well-earned fifth place on home turf in the dry at Mugello.
Alvaro Bautista (E, Gresini Honda), 8th - 71pts C+
The latter half of 2012 seemed to suggest that Bautista may be ready to prove his worthiness of factory machinery, but the first half of this year's campaign has been underwhelming in comparison to his fellow satellite Honda rider Bradl. In addition to back-to-back crashes at Mugello and Catalunya, the Spaniard has been largely outpaced by the former Moto2 champion, his best finish of fourth at Laguna Seca coming on a day where Bradl was busy fighting Marquez for the win. Bautista will need to find a way back on to the podium before the year is out to be assured of maintaining his seat at the Gresini outfit for next year.
Nicky Hayden (US, Ducati Team), 9th - 65pts B
The MotoGP paddock will be a poorer place next year if, after losing his factory Ducati ride for next year, Hayden takes the opportunity to bid the series farewell. While the "Kentucky Kid" may have been outscored by teammate Dovizioso, the pair have finished very close together at the majority of races this season, no more so than the most recent round at Laguna Seca where he narrowly pipped Dovizioso to eighth place in front of his home fans. Hayden still undoubtedly has much to offer; it's simply a question of whether any other team is willing to eschew youth and exuberance in favour of the 2006 champion's services.
Aleix Espargaro (E, Power Electronics Aspar), 10th - 52pts A
Quite simply the class of the CRT field, it's a huge injustice that Espargaro looks set to be overlooked for a prototype ride in 2014. The Spaniard's crash at Laguna Seca was his first real mistake of the season, before which he had been the first CRT rider home in each and every race. Admittedly, the Aspar-run ART bike is demonstrably superior to its rivals in the class, but the way Espargaro has put more experienced teammate Randy de Puniet to shame - as well as certain prototype riders on occasion - has been highly impressive.
Bradley Smith (GB, Monster Tech 3 Yamaha), 11th - 51pts C
Though it's not unreasonable to expect most MotoGP rookies (Marquez aside) to take half a season or so to find their feet, there comes a time when they need to begin showing what they are made of. It's been an underwhelming first nine races for Smith, who could probably have benefited from a further year of Moto2 competition before making the step up. Still, the Oxford-born rider has made commendably few mistakes, taking a best finish of sixth at the Sachsenring, but it's time Smith added some more speed to his consistency.
Michele Pirro (I, Pramac Ducati), 12th - 36pts B
In addition to two outings as 'wildcard' for the beleaguered Ducati team, test rider Pirro has found himself thrust into the limelight on no fewer than four other occasions as a result of Ben Spies' injuries. The Italian has acquitted himself well in both scenarios, making few errors and measuring up well to his principal opposition, compatriot Andrea Iannone. Taking the 'lab bike' to a creditable seventh place at Mugello has been Pirro's finest hour so far, and if Spies remains on the sidelines there could be more assured performances to come.
Andrea Iannone (I, Pramac Ducati), 13th - 24pts B-
The transition from Moto2 to MotoGP for the rider they call "Crazy Joe" has not been an easy one, and the volatility that prevented Iannone from reaching his potential in the intermediate class shows little sign of mellowing. Crashes at Jerez and Catalunya have taken their toll on the Italian's points tally, as has an injury sustained in practice for the Sachsenring which has seen Iannone miss two races. There have been some solid finishes though, not least of all back-to-back top tens in the first two rounds of the year ahead of teammate Spies.
Hector Barbera (E, Avintia Blusens), 14th - 24pts B
Stepping down from a prototype to a CRT bike must have been a difficult pill to swallow for Barbera. Despite that, the Spaniard has put his teammate and former 250cc sparring partner Hiroshi Aoyama in the shade so far this year, and more often than not he has been the first user of the FTR chassis across the line, even breaching the top ten on two occasions. It's not all been plain sailing for Barbera though, with a crash at Catalunya and a subdued ride at Assen among the low points of the first half of the season.
Randy de Puniet (F, Power Electronics Aspar), 15th - 19pts C
Whereas Aspar teammates de Puniet and Espargaro were relatively evenly matched in 2012, this year the pendulum has swung decisively in favour of the latter. The Frenchman continues to crash far too frequently for a rider of his experience, more than likely trying to compensate for the inadequacy of his CRT bike, and has been regularly outpaced by Espargaro all season. That de Puniet is being linked with Suzuki's forthcoming MotoGP return shows nevertheless that he is still highly regarded; it may be just the thing to reinvigorate his career.
To see my Formula One half-term report, click here.
Marc Marquez (E, Repsol Honda), 1st - 163pts A+
As early as the second round of the season at Austin, when Marquez became the sport's youngest ever race-winner, it was clear that the reigning Moto2 champion had the potential to go all the way in his debut season at this level. In a campaign that so far has even put Valentino Rossi's 500cc debut season back in 2000 to shame, Marquez has notched up three wins, two second places and three third places, meaning he has been on the podium at every round bar one - when he crashed in the closing stages at Mugello. It will be fascinating to see how the 20-year old responds to the challenge of preserving his 16-point lead for the remainder of the year.
Dani Pedrosa (E, Repsol Honda), 2nd - 147pts A-
Just as Pedrosa was finally set to emerge from the shadow of the two-time champion Casey Stoner, the pint-sized Spaniard's title aspirations have been dealt a body blow by the arrival of Marquez in the other side of the Repsol Honda garage. Pedrosa responded well after his defeat at Austin with back-to-back victories at Jerez and Le Mans, consolidated by a pair of second places, but his challenge has faltered since his injury sustained in practice at the Sachsenring. He'll need to be firing on all cylinders for the rest of the year if he is to overcome Marquez to take a well overdue first premier class title.
Jorge Lorenzo (E, Yamaha Factory Team), 3rd - 137pts A
Like his countryman Pedrosa, Lorenzo has seen his title aspirations damaged by injury. More impressive than any of his three victories at Qatar, Mugello and Catalunya was his superhuman ride to fifth in the Dutch TT just two days after suffering a fractured collarbone in a crash during practice. He was forced to miss the following race at Sachsenring after he aggravated the injury in another crash, but soldiered to sixth position a week later at Laguna Seca. If titles were won on virtue of sheer bloody-mindedness, Lorenzo would be champion already, but there's a lot of work ahead to reel in the Repsol Honda riders in the latter half of the year.
Valentino Rossi (I, Yamaha Factory Team), 4th - 117pts B+
Rossi's season started auspiciously enough with a strong second place at Qatar behind teammate Lorenzo, but things appeared to tail off somewhat after that. Five more races went by until he returned to the podium, taking advantage of his teammate's injury to take a universally popular victory at Assen, backed up by a brace of solid, if unspectacular podiums in the next two races. Those results prove "The Doctor" can still cut it at the front of the MotoGP field, albeit perhaps not as consistently as we have been used to previously. A title challenge is still within the realm of possibility, but more wins will be essential to keep Rossi's hopes alive.
Cal Crutchlow (GB, Monster Tech 3 Yamaha), 5th - 116pts A
2013 has seen Crutchlow blossom into one of the championship's most impressive performers. The Coventry-born rider managed to take his satellite Tech 3 bike to an incredible four podium finishes in five races, including the second step twice at Le Mans and the Sachsenring, as well as to a superb pole position at Assen. His early fall at Catalunya and a mysteriously indifferent ride to seventh at Laguna Seca have been the only noticeable blots on an otherwise unspoiled copybook for Crutchlow, who must be desperately hoping he can bag a maiden win before he moves to the struggling Ducati team for the 2014 season.
Stefan Bradl (D, LCR Honda), 6th - 84pts B+
It was a shaky start to the season for Bradl, who fell from his bike in three of the first four rounds, but since then the German has begun to rival Crutchlow for the honour of the year's outstanding non-factory rider in his sophomore year in the premier class. Fourth place at Mugello marked the start of five successive top-six finishes, the latest of which was a highly impressive ride from pole position to second place at Laguna Seca. That upturn in form has proven sufficient to guarantee Bradl another season within the HRC stable, though he'll have to do more to be in with any chance of a full factory ride in years to come.
Andrea Dovizioso (I, Ducati Team), 7th - 81pts A-
Much like last year, it's difficult to find too much fault with the performances of Dovizioso, who has been the only rider in the field to have scored points at every race this season. Unlike last year however, when the Italian could be expected to challenge for a podium on a good day with the Tech 3 team, Ducati's struggles have largely relegated the talented Italian to a series of private battles with teammate Nicky Hayden in the lower half of the top ten. Fourth place at Le Mans, when the conditions masked the bike's lack of pace to a degree, has been the highlight, along with a well-earned fifth place on home turf in the dry at Mugello.
Alvaro Bautista (E, Gresini Honda), 8th - 71pts C+
The latter half of 2012 seemed to suggest that Bautista may be ready to prove his worthiness of factory machinery, but the first half of this year's campaign has been underwhelming in comparison to his fellow satellite Honda rider Bradl. In addition to back-to-back crashes at Mugello and Catalunya, the Spaniard has been largely outpaced by the former Moto2 champion, his best finish of fourth at Laguna Seca coming on a day where Bradl was busy fighting Marquez for the win. Bautista will need to find a way back on to the podium before the year is out to be assured of maintaining his seat at the Gresini outfit for next year.
Nicky Hayden (US, Ducati Team), 9th - 65pts B
The MotoGP paddock will be a poorer place next year if, after losing his factory Ducati ride for next year, Hayden takes the opportunity to bid the series farewell. While the "Kentucky Kid" may have been outscored by teammate Dovizioso, the pair have finished very close together at the majority of races this season, no more so than the most recent round at Laguna Seca where he narrowly pipped Dovizioso to eighth place in front of his home fans. Hayden still undoubtedly has much to offer; it's simply a question of whether any other team is willing to eschew youth and exuberance in favour of the 2006 champion's services.
Aleix Espargaro (E, Power Electronics Aspar), 10th - 52pts A
Quite simply the class of the CRT field, it's a huge injustice that Espargaro looks set to be overlooked for a prototype ride in 2014. The Spaniard's crash at Laguna Seca was his first real mistake of the season, before which he had been the first CRT rider home in each and every race. Admittedly, the Aspar-run ART bike is demonstrably superior to its rivals in the class, but the way Espargaro has put more experienced teammate Randy de Puniet to shame - as well as certain prototype riders on occasion - has been highly impressive.
Bradley Smith (GB, Monster Tech 3 Yamaha), 11th - 51pts C
Though it's not unreasonable to expect most MotoGP rookies (Marquez aside) to take half a season or so to find their feet, there comes a time when they need to begin showing what they are made of. It's been an underwhelming first nine races for Smith, who could probably have benefited from a further year of Moto2 competition before making the step up. Still, the Oxford-born rider has made commendably few mistakes, taking a best finish of sixth at the Sachsenring, but it's time Smith added some more speed to his consistency.
Michele Pirro (I, Pramac Ducati), 12th - 36pts B
In addition to two outings as 'wildcard' for the beleaguered Ducati team, test rider Pirro has found himself thrust into the limelight on no fewer than four other occasions as a result of Ben Spies' injuries. The Italian has acquitted himself well in both scenarios, making few errors and measuring up well to his principal opposition, compatriot Andrea Iannone. Taking the 'lab bike' to a creditable seventh place at Mugello has been Pirro's finest hour so far, and if Spies remains on the sidelines there could be more assured performances to come.
Andrea Iannone (I, Pramac Ducati), 13th - 24pts B-
The transition from Moto2 to MotoGP for the rider they call "Crazy Joe" has not been an easy one, and the volatility that prevented Iannone from reaching his potential in the intermediate class shows little sign of mellowing. Crashes at Jerez and Catalunya have taken their toll on the Italian's points tally, as has an injury sustained in practice for the Sachsenring which has seen Iannone miss two races. There have been some solid finishes though, not least of all back-to-back top tens in the first two rounds of the year ahead of teammate Spies.
Hector Barbera (E, Avintia Blusens), 14th - 24pts B
Stepping down from a prototype to a CRT bike must have been a difficult pill to swallow for Barbera. Despite that, the Spaniard has put his teammate and former 250cc sparring partner Hiroshi Aoyama in the shade so far this year, and more often than not he has been the first user of the FTR chassis across the line, even breaching the top ten on two occasions. It's not all been plain sailing for Barbera though, with a crash at Catalunya and a subdued ride at Assen among the low points of the first half of the season.
Randy de Puniet (F, Power Electronics Aspar), 15th - 19pts C
Whereas Aspar teammates de Puniet and Espargaro were relatively evenly matched in 2012, this year the pendulum has swung decisively in favour of the latter. The Frenchman continues to crash far too frequently for a rider of his experience, more than likely trying to compensate for the inadequacy of his CRT bike, and has been regularly outpaced by Espargaro all season. That de Puniet is being linked with Suzuki's forthcoming MotoGP return shows nevertheless that he is still highly regarded; it may be just the thing to reinvigorate his career.
To see my Formula One half-term report, click here.
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