*DOTD = Data of the Day*
Photos sourced from MotoGP.com
Thursday’s DOTDs are a great time to flashback to historical analysis around all the talented teams and riders in the paddock. And while fans patiently await July 19th to see their all-time favorite riders line up on the grid at Jerez, we can’t forget the young rookies who will be running with the bulls in 2020. Iker Lecuona, Brad Binder and Alex Marquez are joining the series at a pivotal time as younger riders are seen consistently challenging the more seasoned MotoGP legends.
An unfortunate start to their debut season, this year’s rookies will experience a sprint through the championship as the world tour has been cut short due to COVID-19 restrictions. The Grand Prix Scout team is eager to deliver in-season analysis around these young racers but for now, let’s revisit a post Mugello GP analytical piece examining the 2019 MotoGP rookies….
Let’s Talk Rookies
Three out of the four rookies finished the race at Mugello and two of these riders collected championship points. Below we have provided quick stats for each rookie that completed the race. Rankings are specifically for these three and do not reflect their standing compared to the entire group.
| Rider & Team | Starting Grid Position | Final Position | Speed Index Ranking | Consistency Index Ranking | Predator & Prey Index Ranking |
| Fabio Quartararo | P2 | P10 | 2nd | 3rd | 1st |
| Joan Mir | P20 | P12 | 1st | 1st | 2nd |
| Miguel Oliveira | P22 | P16 | 3rd | 2nd | 3rd |
Although Oliveira had a poor qualifying which resulted in a start from the back of the grid, he maintained a strong consistency index which enabled him to hold his position. A rookie with strong consistency reflects a mature riding style which is crucial for greener riders. Speed will come with time but a leg up on consistency will ultimately divide the leaders from the followers.
Similar to Oliveira, Mir held a strong consistency but was able to match that with a superior speed index. Having the resources and support from the factory Suzuki team, Mir has an advantage but must focus in on areas of improvement. A stronger qualifying paired with this speed index would have enabled Mir to move higher up in rankings and easily fall within the top 10.
With an incredible qualifying, Yamaha rider Fabio Quartararo had a huge advantage over his rookie opponents. Starting with an 18+ position lead, Fabio was able to bank on a strong starting position off the grid. Fast times with poor consistency is what we saw from the young rookie all weekend. One fast time can place you high on the grid, but if Fabio can’t study the more seasoned riders, he will not learn how to maintain and defend his position.