Top five riders you need to keep an eye on

India is gearing up to host its first-ever MotoGP Grand Prix at the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. The event, which has been termed as the MotoGP Bharat Grand Prix will begin on Friday and culminate on Sunday.
The Buddh International Circuit which was built in 2011 to host Formula One races will host the race and is more than 5 kms long.  It is one of the fastest circuits on the MotoGP calendar, with a top speed of over 300 km/h (186 mph). The track has been modified slightly to meet the demands of MotoGP racing, with increased safety measures.
MotoGP Bharat Grand Prix will witness some of the exciting riders challenging for the championship, which includes the likes of Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia, but he is closely followed Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo and Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro.
Here is a look at the ones you need to keep your eye on.
Fabio Quartararo – Having been mightily impressive as a MotoGP rookie in 2019 and adding wins to his arsenal in 2020, Fabio Quartararo became France’s inaugural premier class World Champion in 2021. A year later, Quartararo finished runner-up following a fascinating title fight with Francesco Bagnaia that was decided at the final race of the season. 2023 hasn’t gone to plan for Quartararo and Yamaha so far as an underperforming YZR-M1 has led to the Frenchman standing on a Sunday podium just once – P3 at the Grand Prix of The Americas.
Francesco Bagnaia – Francesco ‘Pecco’ Bagnaia arrived in MotoGP in 2019 having claimed the 2018 Moto2 title. A debut MotoGP win came at Aragon in 2021 but a title charge ultimately slipped through his fingers. However, 2022 was a different story. Despite a slow start which saw him sit 91 points behind Quartararo, Bagnaia produced a stellar second half of 2022 to ultimately put him in a position to clinch the crown at the season finale. Sporting the #1 for the 2023 season, Pecco has been the rider to beat. Five Sunday victories, including three Sprint and Race doubles, sees the Italian lead the title race heading into the closing stage of the year.Most Read
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Aleix Espargaro – Aged 34, Aleix Espargaro is the oldest rider on the grid as the Spaniard competes in his 13th consecutive premier class campaign. Espargaro’s debut podium came in 2014 riding an under powered Forward Yamaha, and after two years with Suzuki, his Aprilia adventure began in 2017. Tough years unfolded until a first rostrum with Aprilia came in 2021. Then, in 2022, Espargaro won his first GP and handed Aprilia their first in MotoGP, with a hugely positive year ending with a P4 in the Championship. 2023 started slowly but Espargaro returned to winning ways with a double victory at the CatalanGP.
Marc Marquez – At just 20 years and 266 days, Marc Marquez remains the youngest ever premier class winner. The Spaniard is regarded as one of the GOAT’s and boasts eight World Championships, including six in MotoGP between 2013 and 2019. In 2020, a crash at the Spanish GP saw the #93 sustain a right humerus fracture that would keep him out of action until 2021. Four surgeries later, Marquez returned in 2023 fully fit and ready to fight for the title again. However, 2023 hasn’t gone to plan as injuries and a struggling Honda has made for a tough campaign for the elder Marquez brother. Does a turn in fortune await?
Maverick Vinales – 2013 Moto3 World Champion Maverick Viñales has been a MotoGP mainstay since 2015. The Spaniard claimed a debut win in the class at Silverstone in 2016 – Suzuki’s first win in almost a decade – before moving to Yamaha in 2017. After eight wins and plenty of podiums, Viñales’ successful relationship with Yamaha ended controversially midway through 2021 before a new chapter began at Aprilia. Viñales has four podiums so far with the Noale factory – two in 2022 and two in 2023 – as the partnership goes from strength to strength.