2022 crash report: the findings
Which corner saw the most crashes this season, and which class had the highest tally? That and more right here
As we do at the end of every season, we’re taking a closer look at the ever-interesting MotoGP™ crash report. See below for some of the crash stats from a compelling year of Grand Prix racing:
Marc Marquez walks away from huge Turn 7 highside
1,106 crashes in total
The recently published report shows us there were 1,106 crashes in total. In the last 12 years, the only campaign that has witnessed a larger number of crashes was the 2017 season – in that year, the total was 1,126. In the MotoGP™ class this season 335 crashes occurred, making it an average of 16.7 crashes per Grand Prix.
The Moto2™ class was the one we saw the most crashes in with a total of 428 across the 20 rounds. This reflects an average of 21.4 crashes per Grand Prix, while in Moto3™, there were fewer crashes than we’ve seen in recent years – 343 altogether, 17.5 per GP. One fact that rings true across the three classes is this: the session with the most crashes was the race. 346 crashes were seen in total.
Riders with the most crashes
MotoGP™ rookie Darryn Binder notched up the most crashes across the three classes in 2022, as the South African slid down the road 27 times. Fellow rookie Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) wasn’t far behind, the Italian going down 23 times, while Honda’s Pol Espargaro and Alex Marquez both crashed 21 times last season. At the other end of the table, Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) crashed jus twice all season – impressive from the number 12.
In the Moto2™ class, Keminth Kubo led the rankings with 25 crashes, while Niccolo Antonelli tallied 22 and Aron Canet (Flexbox HP40) and Jake Dixon (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team) both crashed 20 times. Eventual World Champion and new Tech3 GASGAS Factory Racing recruit, Augusto Fernandez, accumulated a total of 13 crashes on his way to glory. In Moto3™, Elia Bartolini (22 crashes), Kaito Toba (20) and Lorenzo Fellon (16) made up the top three fallers, while new lightweight class King, Izan Guevara, crashed just five times.
From Portimao to the Sachsenring
When having a closer look at the specific circuits, the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve played host to the most crashes of the venues we raced at last season. 105 crashes were seen at the Portuguese GP, with Le Mans (87) and Misano (71) the second and third most crashed at Grands Prix in 2022.
In terms of specific corners, Le Mans’ Turn 3 left-hander normally tops the crash tally table. Not this year! Turn 1 at the Sachsenring was the most crashed at corner with a total of 21 riders going down at the tight right-hander – including MotoGP™ World Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team). Turn 7 at Le Mans (20) and Turn 4 at Misano (17) make it inside the top three.