Five days on from the Portuguese round, the MotoGP World Championship is making its second consecutive stop in the Iberian Peninsula this weekend for the Spanish GP 2022 and sixth round of the season at the Ángel Nieto- Jerez Circuit. 

The way things are, there could not be any more uncertainty as to what is going to happen, with a pack of four wolves separated by just eight points at the lead of the standings. Insane!

After becoming the fourth new winner in five races, Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha) arrives in Spain at the top of the classification but level with Álex Rins (Suzuki) on 69 points.

The Frenchman asserted his authority with a master performance in Portimão. Rins, however, also in high spirits after his legendary comeback in the Algarve, will be hard to beat. 

https://twitter.com/MotoGP/status/1519697620599508993

Three points down we find another local hero, Aleix Espargaró (Aprilia), also eager to shine at home. With his second podium of the season fresh from a week ago in Portimão, he will come out in Spain determined to regain the lead. 

One place below and fourth in the standings, winner in Qatar GP & United States, Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing) will want to make up for his crash in Portugal, which relieved him of the leadership.

Marc Márquez (Honda), for his part, returns to the fateful track where he suffered the very serious accident of 2020 which kept him out of the competition for nine months. Despite this, this race is crucial for the Catalan champion if he doesn’t want to lose all of his title chances.

The Jerez circuit is always a tough test for the #MICHELINPower tires due to the track surface and layout but we are ready to tackle this new challenge and offer another unpredictable and exciting race.

Get our raceguide https://t.co/U22acLoOfA#MichelinMotoGP #SpanishGP pic.twitter.com/Wc6vh4nJA1

— Michelin Motorsport (@Michelin_Sport) April 27, 2022

One of Quartararo’s favourite tracks   

Given the equality of forces, it is impossible to single out a clear favourite, but Quartararo seems to be one of the greatest rivals to beat. He has always performed at a very high level In Jerez, the venue where he achieved his first pole in MotoGP.

Here he had two consecutive wins in 2020 and an overwhelming victory last season. Also, the straight to the first corner is not too long, a circumstance which could favour the M1. 

Rins will chase the leadership at home  

Alex Rins (Suzuki) is dreaming of a victory that would prop him up to the first place in the standings and, incidentally, would open the doors to a two-year renewal.

The man from Barcelona sheer confidence helped him perform a memorable comeback, from twentieth to fourth, in Portimão. The mental strength and consistency that he lost in 2021 are back, helping Rins give the best version of himself. 

As for his partner, Joan Mir, he must put on a great performance. Currently in the sixth position with 46 points, 23 less than the head, he does not have much room to manoeuvre. In Portugal, he led for a little while before Jack Miller defeated him for third place, demonstrating that the speed that made him 2020 champion is still there. 

https://twitter.com/MotoGP/status/1519697069203677190

Aleix Espargaró: Let the party continue!  

Third in the standings, Aleix Espargaró (Aprilia) is still immersed in his particular dream. Riding his RS-GP, he starred in another fabulous race in the Algarve to finish third, albeit thanks to Miller and Mir’s retirements.

Confident in the power of his machine and in himself, he aspires to what would be his third podium of this unforgettable season. Besides, he is three points down from the lead, so his motivation is through the roof. 

https://twitter.com/MotoGP/status/1519696988480155648

Ducati wants to put an end to its winning drought  

The team from Borgo Panigale needs the first victory to kick start this disappointing campaign. The good news is that it was here where they claimed a fantastic 1-2 last year. Jack Miller hopes to be fighting fit after his fall in Portugal, even more so considering it was here that he achieved his first victory for Ducati twelve months ago.

Meanwhile, ‘Pecco’ Bagnaia is still sore after his heavy crash on Saturday in Portimão. After that incident, however, the Italian rider managed to climb from twenty-second to eighth place. 

Images of Spanish GP 2022: MotoGP