Eric Uribe
The Qatar Grand Prix on March 6 officially kicked the new MotoGP season into high gear. From now till November, the world title race is on. It’s only right that we offer early 2022 MotoGP betting predictions, specifically on who’s winning the title (and who’s not). You’ll want to keep reading for free-of-cost betting advice.
After the results of Qatar, the betting odds in MotoGP have been reshuffled. Below you’ll find up-to-date betting lines from the most-used online sportsbooks. They have odds for every MotoGP rider to become world champion, but the five names we’ve highlighted below are favored the most in the grid:
2022 Qatar Grand Prix Recap
Let’s begin with a recap of the 2022 Qatar Grand Prix, shall we? The first race of the season is the only real thing we have to judge how 2022 could possibly shake out. You don’t want to read too much into a single competition, but still, one thing was apparent after the race in Qatar.
And that is the Ducati Desmosedici hype might be real after all. All preseason long, enthusiasts said Ducati would have the best and fastest bike in the entire grid. A Ducati rider did end up crossing first, but perhaps not the one you’d initially think of. The Qatar winner ended up being Enea Bastianini, who withstood a late rally from KTM’s Brad Binder near the finish line. It was the first MotoGP win of Bastianini’s career.
Aside from Bastianini, the race was less than stellar for Ducati. First, Jack Miller was forced to retire when his GP22 began malfunctioning. Then, Francesco Bagnaia crashed on lap 12. Both riders ended up with DNFs. Again, it’s early, but Ducati would’ve loved points from either two of its stars to help it in its hunt for a Constructors’ Championship.
2022 MotoGP Betting Strategy
The first rule of setting a MotoGP betting strategy? Evolve. The easiest way to lose betting in this sport is not adapting as the season wears on. MotoGP, perhaps more than any other motorsport, is wildly unpredictable from race to race. Whereas Formula 1 has two drivers winning the vast majority of the races, MotoGP is more of a free for all. In 2020, nine different riders won an event. That number was eight in 2020. Therefore, expect unpredictability in 2022 — and lots of it.
We’ll share two of our betting predictions below given the information we have (the first race, mainly, plus how last year ended). These predictions can change, but if you’re looking for advice to approaching the new MotoGP campaign, here it is:
Skip A Bet On Defending Champion
Simply put, Fabio Quartararo was sensational during 2021. He cruised to a world championship with two races to spare in a campaign that featured five wins and 10 podiums. Only 22 years old, it looked like Quartararo was about to become the face of sport. Five months after that title-clinching win, we’re not sure anymore.
It’s less about Quartararo himself and more about his Yamaha bike. It’s lacking the hype of Ducati and after the Qatar Grand Prix, it’s also lacking the performance. It’s a concern that Quartararo openly raised during the preseason to the media before starting the season rough in Qatar. First, Quartararo struggled in qualifying, finishing 11th in the grid. The actual race was barely better as the Frenchman placed ninth overall.
But it was Quartararo’s comments during the weekend that was most telling. After the qualifiers, the defending champion told reporters, “I am not super angry because I know I did my best and I cannot do much better.” Maybe we’re reading too much into the quote, but to us, it sounds like Quartararo is openly admitting this is his place on the grid this season thanks to the bike. At the very least, as a bettor, those aren’t the words you want your betting choice spewing this early in the season. It leaves us no choice but to avoid betting on Quartararo in 2022.
Marquez Is Indeed Back
After two-plus seasons of hardships, the six-time reigning MotoGP world champion is once again the consensus pick to win the title, according to top-rated MotoGP betting sites. Even a few months ago, that was not a thing. Marc Marquez’s 2022 season was in doubt due to an injury sustained at the end of the 2021 racing calendar. The injury was causing Marquez to “see double” but the Spaniard’s vision recovered quicker than expected.
Marquez finished sixth overall at the Qatar Grand Prix. But the caveat is he did this riding a completely-redone Honda bike. The new Honda is more rear-biased to fix issues with traction it suffered before. Marquez admitted he’s still adjusting to the new bike. Imagine the all-timer’s ability once he has more confidence in himself and the new bike? Watch out — which is why Marquez is a no-brainer bet for us to win the 2022 championship.
How To Bet On 2022 MotoGP Season
A record amount of MotoGP races will take place in 2022, barring any schedule changes. To bet on all the 2022 MotoGP races this season, visit one of the featured bookmakers below. Between huge sportsbook menus and lucrative sign-up bonuses, you can hardly go wrong with these bookies. Glance the table below to get started before the next MotoGP race, the Grand Prix, on March 20.
