MotoGP Jerez: Race preview

The lead four remain tight at the top as the MotoGP paddock descends on Spain’s Jerez Circuit, with Quartararo on form and some key rivals now on home turf.

From another weekend of intrigue, drama and spectacle, the paddock now heads east along the Algarve and into Andalucia, ready to set up shop at the classic Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto. If it was tight at the top of the standings before, it’s even more so now, with Fabio Quartararo’s (Monster Energy Yamaha) win in Portugal seeing him take the lead in the Championship for the first time this year… but equal on points with Suzuki Ecstar’s Alex Rins. If that wasn’t enough, Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro remains only three points off in third, and Gresini Racing’s Enea Bastianini is still within eight of the top. That’s the closest top four after five races with this scoring system… ever.

As unpredictability continues to somewhat rule then, what are we to expect from the Gran Premio Red Bull de España? One thing is likely, a fast Quartararo. The reigning champion was sublime last time out and pretty much wiped the floor at a venue he’s ruled before, and that’s a criteria Jerez more than matches. El Diablo’s speed at the track has made him formidable from that very first MotoGP pole, and it’s also another track where the main straight isn’t a mammoth runway down to turn one for the Yamaha to tackle. So, is it another Quartararo special coming up?

If it is, Monster Energy teammate Franco Morbidelli will want what he’s having. It remains a tougher run of it so far in 2022 as the number 21 continues to look for the sweet spot with a new crew and coming back from injury onto the new bike. WithU RNF Yamaha’s Andrea Dovizioso, meanwhile, has had Morbidelli’s number a few times