With eight rounds in the books and 12 still remaining, a lot of MotoGP action is yet to come, st✃arting with the British Grand Prix at ಞSilverstone on August 6th. 

But before then, we have 💮mid-season awards to hand out…

Best rider - Francesco Bagnaia

• Joan Mir “in negotiation👍s” to join Ducati next season 
• Red Bꦍull and KTM want two LCR seats for Marc Marquez and Pedro Acosta

This is an obvious choice based on wins and championship standings, however, this was a ♑tough call given the progress, but also consistent form shown by Marco Bezze🥃cchi.

Ducati have never been so dominant, but even so, Bagnaia and Bez🍌zecchi have stood out along with Jorge Martin. Bagnaia, who has six wins to his name, l🐼ooks like the favourite to repeat as MotoGP champion, but Bezzecchi and Martin can’t be ruled out. 

Best team - Pramac Ducati

No team has combined for as many podiums as that of Martin and Johann Zarco for Pramac. Leading the teams’ standings by 12 points, Pramac’s only challenger at the moment 🍎is Mooney VR46 thanks to the impressive results of Bezzecchi and Luca Marini.

That margin was considerably more heading into Assen, however, Martin failed to step on the podium for the first time since Le Mans, as w🀅as the case for Zarco. 

Best new rider and team combination - Jack Miller/KTM

This was also a tough call because of the early-season performances from Alex Marquez. It’s clear that the Spaniard has the ability to win a race this season, but the combination of Miller and KTM has been more consistent, while the Australian has been a big reason for the Austrian manufacturer’s improved form in𓆉 2023. 

Biggest surprise - Marco Bezzecchi

Although he missed out on best rider, Bezzecchi’s level in 2023 was deserving o🎀f recognition which is why he claims this title. Was it a great surprise that Bezzecchi mꦅade a step forward in 2023? Of course not.

But 😼was he expected to battle for wins and dominate on occasion the way he has, no less on last year’s GP-22, no we don’t thi🥂nk he was. 

Best race - German Grand Prix

By far the most enthralling race and the one that went all the way to the finish line, Martin and Bagnaia put on a show at Sachsenring. Af🐬ter battling in the sprint race, Martin and Bagnaia resumed their on-track fight but this time fo🧜r the entirety of the Grand Prix.

A showdown tha✱t showed Bagnaia won’t have everything his own way in the second half of the y𒈔ear, Martin’s performance was a reminder that when everything clicks, the Spaniard has what it takes to beat the Italian.