MotoGP — 2021, a tight season

At the Doha GP, second meeting of the season, fabio quartararo won with a rather comfortable lead of 1.457 seconds over his compatriot Johann Zarco. If this GP will forever be engraved in the annals as the first French double in the premier category, it will also be remembered for its closest Top 15 in history with 8.929 seconds between the Niçois and Miguel Oliveira, 15th. 

Of the 918 500cc races/MotoGP contested to date, we had to wait until the 911th to achieve the first Top 15 in less than 10 seconds. This new record shattered the one established two years previously on the same Losail route (15.093 seconds). 

But even better, with 5.382 seconds between the Niçois and Aleix Espargaro, 10th, it is also the tightest Top 10. Note that this gap is also the smallest for an Aprilia rider with the winner since the advent of MotoGP in 2002 to replace the 500cc. For comparison, it's almost half as much as the Brazilian GPs of F1 2019 (Top 10 in 11.931 seconds) or from Azerbaijan this year (9.576 seconds)

At mid-season, no less than four MotoGP races entered the rankings of the ten closest Top 15s in history: Doha (lead), Qatar (fifth), Jerez (seventh) and Germany (10th). . 

These small differences are linked to several factors, including that of the electronics which aim to help with steering (control of traction and wheelies, engine braking management, etc.). Since 2016, MotoGPs have had a common box and software. The objective: to limit development costs. This solution has thus made it possible in a few seasons to reduce the gap between manufacturers.

Obviously, it is always the rider who makes the difference at the helm of his machine, but the level has increased with six factories capable of climbing to the highest step of the podium. So far, all of them, with the exception of Suzuki and Aprilia, have managed to win at least once this year. If an Aprilia or Suzuki representative were to win, it would also be unheard of in the history of the premier category for more than four manufacturers to triumph in the same season...