The MotoGP™ eSport Championship will be decided by the finest of margins as just one point separates two of the favourites for the 2023 crown after a dramatic Round 2 of the Global Series.
The headlines will be about triple Champion Trast73 (Monster Energy Yamaha) and reigning Champion 26_adriaan (Repsol Honda Team), who have amassed 91 and 90 points respectively from the first two rounds of the Global Series, and faced off in an epic Race 1 at the Mobility Resort Motegi.
But Round 2 of the Global Series delivered on other fronts as well. For the second time in two rounds, the Sprint served up some epic racing, with the top five covered by less than one second at the flag. And Global Series rookie davideturrisi06 (Pramac Racing) scored a brilliant victory in Race 2, once again showing the established names they will not have it all their own way this year.
The action-packed Round 2 was one of three virtual events in this year’s Global Series, before the fourth and final round will be held live at Ubeat Live Barcelona, a gaming conference with world renown, on 11th November, where the 2023 MotoGP™ eSport will be crowned!
Each round will pack a greater punch than before. To mirror the changes to MotoGP™ in 2023, gamers will compete in a Sprint race during each round, as well as two longer-length races.
The Sachsenring was the venue for the second Sprint of the year, before the Mobility Resort Motegi hosted race one in wet conditions, and the Mandalika International Street Circuit race two. In an hour-long show MotoGP™´s Kiko Giles and Jack Gorst were on presenting and commentary duties.
The second Sprint of the year was an epic, as the two Montenegro brothers - LCR Honda CASTROL eSports Team’s Cristianmm17 and 26_adriaan – battled it out for victory, with the former edging it by just 0.2s! They weren’t alone, however, as danielealoè26 (Ducati Lenovo eSport Team), trast73 and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jack Hammer4658 all finished just behind after three laps, with 0.768s covering the quintet at the flag.
Race 1 from the Mobility Resort Motegi was held in wet conditions and was a real battle of the titans. Trast73 enjoyed a clean opening and built up an early advantage. But soon 26_adriaan was hunting him down and the pair started the last lap together. Three-time champ Trast73 used every bit of experience to hold his adversary at bay to win by 1.4s, with Jack Hammer4658 in third.
Race 2 at the Mandalika International Street Circuit then turned the formbook on its head. davideturrisi06 grabbed the early advantage and led confidently to claim a maiden win in the Global Series. Jack Hammer4658 took a second podium of the day, with 26_adriaan just holding off Cristianmm17 and danielealoè26 for third at the flag.
As a result of this early action trast73 (91 points) holds onto his lead in the standings, but only just. adriaan_26 (90 points) is just one point behind. This isn’t just a two-horse race. Jack Hammer4658 (75 points) and Cristianmm17 (65 points) are still in the mix.
Check out the full standings HERE! And there isn’t long to wait until action resumes! We’ll be back for Round 3 on 6th October!
