Moto2 the path to MotoGP

All the riders except Miller raced in Moto2. I was wondering how they gauge whether rider performance in Moto2 equates to being selected to race in MotoGP so had a look at the stats.

Of the 4 MotoGP riders who are MotoGP world champions;
Quartararo 10th 2018
Bagnaia 1st 2018
Mir 6th 2018
M Marquez 1st 2012
While winning Moto2 is a predictor of performing in MotoGP where does Mir and Quartararo fit in?

Miller is missing from Moto2 as Honda did an experiment of taking a rider direct from Moto3 and no one else has tried that since

Aleix Espargaro's best Moto2 result is 12th however that was after he lost is Pramac MotoGP seat, prior to that he was in 250cc

Moto2 champions since M Marquez's Moto2 championship that aren't currently in MotoGP are;
R Gardner 2021
T Rabat 2014
P Espargaró 2013

The data suggests that world class talent will always rise to the top; however, if teams can scout a rider before he reaches peak performance, they can sign him for cheap, and develop his skillset in GP rather than in the lower classes.

Personally, I'm skeptical of using the lower classes as feeders. Talent is talent. It would be cool if MotoGP had invitational tryouts, but I guess they are too scared to provide riders with first hand knowledge of how their bikes work.

I think a lot of it is timing... what seats are available, and which riders are available at a particular time.

mylexicon said:

The data suggests that world class talent will always rise to the top; however, if teams can scout a rider before he reaches peak performance, they can sign him for cheap, and develop his skillset in GP rather than in the lower classes.

Personally, I'm skeptical of using the lower classes as feeders. Talent is talent. It would be cool if MotoGP had invitational tryouts, but I guess they are too scared to provide riders with first hand knowledge of how their bikes work.

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As I've said before, I am not privy to what all goes into selecting a rider for MotoGP. That said, I cannot for the life of me, understand why anyone who is even remotely part of MotoGP would think Darryn Binder was a good selection straight from Moto3.

mylexicon said:

The data suggests that world class talent will always rise to the top; however, if teams can scout a rider before he reaches peak performance, they can sign him for cheap, and develop his skillset in GP rather than in the lower classes.

Personally, I'm skeptical of using the lower classes as feeders. Talent is talent. It would be cool if MotoGP had invitational tryouts, but I guess they are too scared to provide riders with first hand knowledge of how their bikes work.

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Yeh they seem to of lost interest in promoting from WSBK

Since Triumph became the Moto2 supplier the Moto2 bikes have gotten closer to the MotoGP bikes, in particular the electronics are a cutdown version of the MotoGP electronics which perhaps makes Moto2 riders even more attractive

Hollywood said:

I think a lot of it is timing... what seats are available, and which riders are available at a particular time.

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Good point. There seems to be a preference to take other MotoGP teams handoffs rather than bringing in someone from Moto2

I believe the main thing that makes a rider succeed in MotoGP, regardless of which bikes they rode before, is how they deal with the power of a MotoGP bike. Some, like Quarataro, adapt easily. Sure sliding around a Moto2 bike gets you a lot of experience but adapting to the horsepower is the main thing.

Mick Doohan and Nick Hayden came from Superbike, which hasn’t been a great predictor of champions.

As has been said, a championship in Moto2 doesn’t really mean squat. Zarco has 2.

Bern1 said:

I believe the main thing that makes a rider succeed in MotoGP, regardless of which bikes they rode before, is how they deal with the power of a MotoGP bike. Some, like Quarataro, adapt easily. Sure sliding around a Moto2 bike gets you a lot of experience but adapting to the horsepower is the main thing.

Mick Doohan and Nick Hayden came from Superbike, which hasn’t been a great predictor of champions.

As has been said, a championship in Moto2 doesn’t really mean squat. Zarco has 2.

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The smaller classes are like under 18's and under 16's sports. You can be the best in your age bracket but then when you step up to the big time, suddenly you're competing against everyone who was also the best in their age bracket.

How did Quartararo get picked to go to MotoGP when he only did 10th in Moto2? Clearly it was an excellent decision to select him

mikesbytes said:

How did Quartararo get picked to go to MotoGP when he only did 10th in Moto2? Clearly it was an excellent decision to select him

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I had a quick look at this.
Others above him were either sticking around moto2 for a chance to win a championship, had a contract with Pramac (Pecco) or tech3 KTM (Oliveria) or factory Suzuki (Mir), those that didn't have either of those were older and had been in the class for years without doing much that Fabio who was still quite young hadn't already done. A Marquez was another who finished above Fabio that year but was obviously never going to get a ride from Yamaha.

The SRT Yamaha was a brand new team IIRC and the other rides may have looked on paper like the safer bet.

p4p1 said:

I had a quick look at this.
Others above him were either sticking around moto2 for a chance to win a championship, had a contract with Pramac (Pecco) or tech3 KTM (Oliveria) or factory Suzuki (Mir), those that didn't have either of those were older and had been in the class for years without doing much that Fabio who was still quite young hadn't already done. A Marquez was another who finished above Fabio that year but was obviously never going to get a ride from Yamaha.

The SRT Yamaha was a brand new team IIRC and the other rides may have looked on paper like the safer bet.

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Sounds like there was no one else left worth taking in Moto2. However as we know the gamble paid off with 7 podiums at SRT vs 2 in Moto2 the previous year.