2019 MotoGP World Championship Predictions

At last, the 2019 MotoGP season kicks into high gear next weekend down in Qatar. The 19-race season stretches all the way until November, with events touching all corners of the globe. The time is now to lock in your 2019 Drivers Championship futures prop! Here are the drivers you need to back with some money!

Few sports are more heart-gripping than motorcycle racing. Just look at the 100-plus-mile-per-hour speeds, armored up bikes reminiscent of Batman, and yes, the scary crashes. All of this makes MotoGP 2019 a must-see and must-wager-on league.

Bovada has all the betting odds MotoGP up. Here's the five drivers currently with the best lines to win the 2019 Drivers Championship:

Marc Marquez (-154)
Andrea Dovizioso (+450)
Jorge Lorenzo (+575)
Maverick Vinales (+650)
Valentino Rossi (+900)

To no one's surprise, Marquez remains firmly entrenched as the favorite. The 26-year-old has taken the league by storm since entering in 2013. In that six-season span, Marques has won the world title every time but once (2015 being the exception, which was won by Lorenzo).

MotoGP Schedule

Start reserving your Sundays for MotoGP. All 19 races of the 2019 campaign are contested on the day. Here are some key dates on the MotoGP schedule to start marking on your calendar:

March 10 — Losail International Circuit in Qatar (season opener)
June 2 — Mugello Circuit in Italy
June 16 — Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya
June 30 — TT Circuit Assen (Dutch TT) in the Netherlands
October 27 — Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit in Australia
November 17 — Circuit Ricardo Tormo (season finale)

MotoGP Picks

Marc Marquez

Is it too early to start calling Marquez one of the all-time greats? You'd think so based off his age, but certainly not by his resume.

Taking into account his world titles in Moto2 and Moto3, the Spaniard is tied for seventh-most in sport history with seven championships. He's still a ways away from Giacomo Agostini (15) and Angel Nieto (13), but time is certainly on his side.

Betting on Marquez here is a given. The Honda rider almost feels unbeatable thanks to his no-fear attitude, break-neck speed, and gravity-defying saves, among others.

Then again, no one is ever unbeatable in sports. While Marquez should definitely command a large sum of money from you, don't bank it all on him. You have to protect yourself in case of unexpected events.

Plus, there are lingering issues with Marquez's left shoulder. If you've been following MotoGP news, Marquez had surgery on the shoulder this offseason after repeatedly injuring it during his 2018 title run. There's no telling whether Marquez will be at his best to start the 2019 campaign. In the chance that he doesn't return to 100-percent form, here's a good second betting option:

Jorge Lorenzo

Lorenzo is the last rider to win a world championship not named Marc Marquez, and he's our best bet to do it again. He has a lot in common with Marques — a knack for winning, from Spain, and now, a teammate at Repsol Honda.

Lorenzo ditched Ducati for Honda and one has to wonder how the Lorenzo-Marquez relationship will pan out. Our belief is the competition will actually bring out the best in Lorenzo. Iron sharpens iron as they say.

It wouldn't surprise us if Lorenzo gets off to a slow start as he adjusts to Honda. But as 2018 proved, Lorenzo gets better as the season ramps up. Don't be surprised if he steals a world title underneath his teammate's nose in 2019.

Check out some of the best sportsbooks to wager on MotoGP this season: