MotoGP has returned to action after an exciting weekend at Lusail. The pre-season favorites showed their potential, while others faced trouble. Reigning world champion Pecco Bagnaia and his rival Jorge Martin each won a race, but Bagnaia’s victory in the main race gives him a slight advantage in the title fight. KTM had a strong start with Brad Binder on the podium twice and rookie Pedro Acosta impressing in his debut. However, some riders, like Marco Bezzecchi and Aleix Espargaro, struggled. These performances provide metrics to rank the grid in the first rider rankings of 2024.
Pedro Acosta, despite the hype surrounding him, performed exceptionally well and exceeded expectations. He made an immediate impact on MotoGP, rewriting expectations for this season and his future.
Pecco Bagnaia had a strong start to his title defense with a decent sprint result and a win in the main race. His performance was metronomic and should worry his rivals.
Marc Marquez, returning after his injuries, showed that he is back on a path to glory with a strong performance at a circuit he doesn’t particularly like. Although he didn’t reach the podium, his performance was promising.
Brad Binder had a near-perfect weekend, with the best result among the non-winning riders. His strong start to the season sets him up for a potential title challenge.
Jorge Martin, despite not winning any races, performed well and remained in touch with the battle for victory. He showed good judgment in settling for a decent start to the season.
Alex Marquez, overshadowed by his brother Marc, had a solid start to the season. He was within touching distance of a podium finish in both races, indicating a potential for improvement.
Aleix Espargaro’s potential for a win was hindered by his bike’s inability to launch well. Despite disappointing results, there is still work to be done for him and Aprilia.
Enea Bastianini’s performance was hindered by his own mistakes. Although respectable, his results did not meet the expectations set by his rivals.
Johann Zarco’s performance, beating his teammate and Honda’s lead factory rider Joan Mir, bodes well for his future with LCR. He quickly adapted to the RC213V and showed signs of a strong start to the season.
Fabio Quartararo, despite being disappointed with his 11th place finish, showed his motivation and passion. He was the best among the concession-status teams.
Francesco Bagnaia, after his race win in November, had a middling performance. Although solid, he didn’t reach the level expected of him.
Joan Mir, pleased with his own results, discovered that this year’s Honda performs better than expected. He is optimistic about Honda’s potential in 2024.
Franco Morbidelli, after missing pre-season due to injuries, had a successful debut on the Pramac Ducati. Although not headline-worthy, he steadily improved throughout the weekend.
Maverick Vinales, despite potential, struggled to perform and was far from his teammate’s level. He needs to bounce back stronger in the next race.
Alex Rins, in his first weekend on the Yamaha, showed promise despite being outside the points. If the bike improves, he is expected to improve with it.
Raul Fernandez, with high potential, failed to deliver in his debut season. Mechanical issues hindered his performance, and he needs to work harder.
Takaaki Nakagami’s performance fell short of his fellow Honda racers. He didn’t reach the bike’s potential.
Miguel Oliveira, with an Aprilia on the podium in the sprint race, had a disappointing start to the season with only one point. He needs to improve to meet expectations.
Luca Marini, despite moments of shining during testing, had a lowly position in both races. Technical issues affected his performance.
Augusto Fernandez, struggling for performance, was overshadowed by his rookie teammate. He needs to find a solution to his issues.
Marco Bezzecchi, a title contender last year, had a disastrous weekend with only two points. He needs to improve his performance and address his corner entry issues.
Jack Miller had one of the worst weekends of his career. He showed some promise in qualifying and practice, but ultimately slid backwards in the sprint race and crashed in the main race. His performance was difficult to explain, especially with his teammate and rookie outperforming him.