Moto2: Aragon GP Preview: It’s tough – and tight – at the top

The 2018 Moto2 champion is absolutely alight and the Aragon Grand Prix on Sunday afternoon promises to be a thrilling encounter between series leader Francesco Bagnaia and Portuguese star Miguel Oliveira, with both separated by a mere eight points. Neither rider has won a Moto2 race at the Aragon track but Oliveira was on the podium there last year, whilst also being a Moto3 winner. Bagnaia may have his hands full this weekend if he is to keep hold of the championship lead. Brad Binder is proudly flying the South African flag in 3rd place whilst Lorenzo Baldassarri, Joan Mir and Alex Marquez are chasing him. Whatever happens, the Aragon Grand Prix will be an incredible intermediate class encounter.

Francesco Bagnaia has been the man to beat in Moto2 in 2018 but of late, not everything has gone his way. Oliveira taking big points off him in Germany and the Czech Republic has meant the Italian has needed to respond – and he’s done just that. A win last time out in Misano, as well as beating Oliveira in a head-to-head scrap in Austria, Bagnaia sports a slender eight point advantage over his nearest rival and coming into Aragon, he has far from got this championship wrapped up. A best result of 10th at Aragon, Bagnaia needs to be in fine fettle if he is to hold onto the series lead leaving Spain and heading into the fly-away races.

They say that sometimes it is easier to attack than defend and Miguel Oliveira is certainly using that to his advantage. He trails Bagnaia in the title but will look to use his good Aragon form to his advantage this weekend. Whilst only taking two wins in the 2018 Moto2 season, Oliveira has finished every race and his worst result is just 6th, meaning that consistency and incremental improvements can outshine outright dominance through sporadic periods. Oliveira hasn’t retired from a race in over a year, just like Pecco Bagnaia – so does that mean it will be a case of who cracks first?

Brad Binder has ghosted into 3rd place in the championship, having taken his maiden victory at the Sachsenring back in July. The South African – like teammate Oliveira – has been consistent this year, with just one retirement and finishing every race inside the top 9. However, he has a 95 point gap up to the championship leader, highlighting just how inconsistent the rest of the field has been in comparison to the two run away leaders. Binder’s championship dreams may well be fringing on gone but he has a point to prove in the remainder of 2018 and may well act as the perfect wingman to Oliveira’s title charge.

Fan-favourite Lorenzo Baldassarri is in 4th place and is just three points behind Binder, 98 behind fellow countryman and championship leader Bagnaia. ‘Iron Balda’ has shown flashes of brilliance this season and has definitely returned to the kind of form that we know he is capable of. Baldassarri’s best result at Aragon is a 7th, coming from 2016 on the Forward Racing Kalex. A win here would boost his championship points haul no-end and could well make him a firm favourite to take the bronze medal position overall in the championship. However, if he and Brad Binder were to work together at the sharp end, they could find themselves closer to the top than they originally thought they could manage.

Two points further back in the championship race is Moto2 rookie and soon to be MotoGP Factory Suzuki rider, Joan Mir, who stormed to victory at Aragon in the Moto3 category last year. The Spaniard is just five points behind Brad Binder in 3rd and is ahead of experienced Moto2 teammate Alex Marquez. Three podiums this year have seen Mir grab a load of headlines but he is still chasing that elusive first win. Having never finished a race at Aragon lower than 5th place, Mir will be hoping that he can continue that form in 2018 and on the Moto2 bike. Will he be able to cause a surprise on Sunday?

Alex Marquez’s mistake-ridden season continues. For a many who is in his fourth season of Moto2 racing, you’d expect him to have launched a half-decent championship challenge. However, the Spaniard has not only scored no-points since he was 13th in Germany but his last top ten was at Assen, when he was 3rd. Marquez’s second half to the year has been atrocious and he needs to get the ball rolling once again; he simply cannot be beaten by his younger teammate. Aragon may well be the round where he steers his ship in a new direction, having taken his first Moto2 podium at the track in 2016, when he was 2nd.

As well as the top six in the title, there are plenty more riders for you to keep your eyes on this weekend. Marcel Schrotter took his first podium last time out, Xavi Vierge will be keen to do well at home, Mattia Pasini has found his mojo and Luca Marini has also been in fine form – despite an engine issue at Misano. Jorge Navarro rode well at Aragon last year, Sam Lowes is the only rider to have won a race at Aragon in Moto2 that is on the grid now before and Fabio Quartararo can never be ruled out either.