Hold onto your hats! The first round of the 2023 MotoGP™ eSport’s Global Series gets underway this week on Friday 25th August at 16.00 CET.
Eleven gamers representing one of MotoGP™’s current teams will go head-to-head over four rounds to determine the winner of this year’s series.
And 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 (generally held over half race distance), as well as two longer-length races.
The Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello is the venue for the first Sprint in Global Series history, before the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli host race one and two respectively.
To build up the excitement to the first Global Series round of 2023, here are guides for all three circuits in Round 1.
Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello
As well as boasting one of the longest start-finish straights on the entire calendar, the track is a series of high-speed chicanes. When the undulations are taken into account, it provides a truly unique challenge that tests games skills and bravery in equal measure.
When approaching from such high speed, braking for San Donato (turn one) gains added importance. Gamers should ensure their machines are pointing straight when going over the left kink after the exit of pit lane. Moving to the left of the track before turn one is crucial to ensure you scrub off enough speed to make the apex.
The next section requires precise braking and a smooth turning transition to make sure the gamer approaches Casanova Savelli (turns six and seven) with sufficient speed. The Arrabbiata corners (turns eight and nine) are next up, which don’t require much heavy braking. Rather maintaining speed and gentle acceleration is critical.
Gamers approach Scarperia (turn ten) in fifth gear but its downhill nature requires a change back to second gear. After accelerating out of Palagio (turn eleven), the long Correntaio (turn twelve) hairpin requires smooth braking and patience before getting back on the gas. The players should still be accelerating as they enter the Biondetti chicane (turns 13 and 14).
A quick gear change to fourth before switching from left to right should ensure the bike is well placed before the run to Bucine (turn 15).
Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya
The Circuit de Catalunya opened on the doorstep of Barcelona in September 1991 and welcomed its first international event that same month, hosting the Spanish F1 Grand Prix. It went on to host the European Motorcycle Grand Prix and in 1995 became home to the Gran Premio de Catalunya.
Considered to be one of the best designed circuits of the recent era, the Circuito de Catalunya won the much coveted IRTA ‘Best Grand Prix’ trophy for 2001 and has a general admission capacity of 104,000 spectators.
Like Mugello, it requires a combination of late braking ability, and agility, which allows you to corner at high speed. Turns one and four require gamers to brake from high speed to first gear, trail braking toward the apex. In between, the glorious turn three will test your throttle control to the max.
Exiting the uphill Turn seven is cruical to drive well up the hill, while hitting the apex through turn nine will also set up a good run onto the back straight. Throttle control is once again the name of the game in the track’s crucial final sector, as you gradually build up speed through turns twelve, 13 and 14. Take them in second, third and fourth gear respectively to ensure the best possible drive onto the start-finish straight.
Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli
The track itself used to run anti-clockwise. But updates ahead of the circuit’s return to the calendar in 2007 saw it change direction. Tight and twisty, this will test your ability to master your braking and hold tight lines. Precision at this one is absolutely key.
It all starts with a short run to turn one before which you click sixth gear. Go back to second for the first right, before downshifting another gear into turn two. Then it’s through the gears to fourth as you accelerate through turn three. Then it’s back to first for the tight turn four right.
Click second then third as you go through turns five and six – a tight right-left flick – before accelerating down to turn eight, necessitating five downshifts, from sixth to first. Take care through turns nine and ten, when braking with angle, to not tuck the front. Hit the apex and then accelerate onto the back straight, upshifting from first to sixth.
Take turn eleven close to flat, just feathering the throttle, and then drop down to fourth for turn twelve and then down to second for 13, first for 14. Then it’s back on the gas, accelerating hard. Take turn 15 in fourth before braking early for 16, back to third gear, and ride to the line.
Fans can watch on motogp.com and esport.motogp.com, on selected TV broadcasters, and across social media platforms including YouTube (via the MotoGP™ and MotoGP™ eSport channels), MotoGP™ eSport Twitter, Instagram, Facebook (via MotoGP™ and MotoGP™ eSport pages) and Twitch via MotoGP™ and MotoGP™ eSport.
Who will stake their early claim to be the 2023 MotoGP™ eSport Champion? Tune in on Friday the 25th August at 16.00 (GMT+2) to find out!
