INDIA in F1

Author: David Bodapati

  • 10 things for you before the Pirelli Riviera di Rimini Round: WorldSBK

    10 things you need to know before the Pirelli Riviera di Rimini Round
    Check out the top ten stats ahead of Round Nine

    1.  At Laguna Seca, Eugene Laverty (Milwaukee Aprilia) became the ninth different rider on the podium this year, and put an Aprilia back on the rostrum for the first time since the second Lausitzring race in 2016 (Alex de Angelis).

    2. Kawasaki recorded their 118th win in Laguna Seca’s Race 2, and in Misano they will have the first chance to equal Honda at the second all time spot (119 WorldSBKwins).

    3. There is only one rider in the current field who has qualified from pole at Misano: Tom Sykes, with six pole positions. He has recorded pole in all his last six race weekends here. He can become the first rider in history with seven poles at any given track. At the moment he shares the record with Troy Corser (six poles here in Misano) and with…himself, as he was on pole six times in Donington Park.

    4. This is the track in which a single manufacturer has won the highest number of races, as Ducati have won here 29 times. They also sit in second in the table, with 25 wins at Assen. The best number of victories for another manufacturer is 15 from Kawasaki at Donington.

    5. The podium placements from Ducati riders in Misano so far are 77, an all-time record for a single track. The Assen value for the Italian manufacturer is 73.

    6. Misano has hosted 50 WorldSBK races so far, and will equal Donington at 52 – third overall. Only Phillip Island (55) and Assen (54) have hosted more races.

    7. Troy Bayliss is the most successful rider around Misano, with six wins spanning from 2001 to 2007, all scored with Ducati. The second place rider with four wins is shared by Max Biaggi, and the current Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK pair: Jonathan Rea and Tom Sykes.

    8. There are only two riders with double digit podium figures here at Misano: Troy Corser (16) and Troy Bayliss (11). Jonathan Rea can join the party as he has stood on the podium eight times here.

    9. Nine years ago, Rea got his maiden WorldSBK win at this track. 61 more and three World Championships have since followed.

    10. Ruben Xaus is the only rider who has won around here after starting outside the top 10 grid spots. In 2003 he recorded the double starting both races from 12th on the grid.

  • Harith Noah claims Round 3 honours with double win

    Harith Noah claims Round 3 honours with double win

    Coimbatore, 2 July 2018: The third round of MRF MoGrip FMSCI National Supercross Championship 2018 at Coimbatore on first July

    Team TVS Racing’s Harith Noah stood firm to post a double win in the foreign open class, the technically demanding track is 700 meters long that includes 10 jumps, a tabletop and whoops.

    The 25-year-old from Kerala, the championship leader, did not enjoy a good start in the opening race. He was lying third but accelerated hard to finish on top much to the delight of a huge holiday crowd. In the second, he was wiser and raced to commanding win.

    Championship runner-up Jinnan CD from Angata Racing finished in the second and third places respectively in Moto1 and Moto2

    While in SX 2, Yash Pawar from Nashik to win and Pramod Joshua from Bangalore and Saijith ES from 13 Racing second and third places respectively

    The local class and Novice class also generated much interest. Jagdeesh Kumar from Coimbatore entertained the local audience with breath-taking jumps and emerge the best local rider

    While S. Asaruddin and Vikram Sekhar both from Coimbatore placing second and third respectively in local class

    Sachin from Bangalore won the Novice class, with Imran Pasha from TVS Racing and Coimbatore’s Stephen Raj placing second and third respectively

    In private expert Moto1 Suhail Ahamed first and Amal Verghese second in Moto2 Jagdeesh Kumar first and Asaruddin second and both motos Karthikeyan third

    Due to the focus that MRF, FMSCI, and GODSPEED Racing have invested into the growth of this sport in India, there has been a surge in participation and spectatorship in this National event. This event was organized by GODSPEED Racing headed by veteran Shyam Kothari.

    The three remaining rounds of the championship will be held at Jaipur (September 9), Nashik (November 25) and Indore (December 2)

    Results

    Class 1-SX 1 Foreign Open

    1. Harith Noah (TVS Racing)
    2. C.D Jinan (Angata Racing)
    3. Sajith E.S (13 Racing)

    Class 2 Novice

    1. Sachin D (Bangalore)
    2. Imran Pasha (TVS Racing)
    3. Stephen Raj (Coimbatore)

    Class 4 Locals

    1. Jagdeesh Kumar (Coimbatore)
    2. Asaruddin (Coimbatore)
    3. Vikram Sekhar (Coimbatore)

    Class 6 Private Indian Experts Moto 1

    1. Suhail Ahamed (Bangalore)
    2. Amal Verghese (Kerala)
    3. Karthikeyan (Coimbatore)

    Moto 2

    1. Jagdeesh Kumar (Coimbatore)
    2. Asaruddin (Coimbatore)
    3. Karthikeyan (Coimbatore)

    Class 7 SX-2 Foreign Open

    1. Yash Pawar (Nashik)
    2. Pramod Joshua (Bangalore)
    3. Sajith E.S(13 Racing)

    Class 3 Junior SX 1

    1. Prajwal V (Bangalore)
    2. Yuvraj Konde Deshmukh (Ajmera Racing)
    3. Sarthak Chavan (Pune).

    Class 9 Junior SX 2

    1. Ikshan Shanbhag (Satara)
    2. Sarthak Chavan (Pune)
    3. Jinendra Sangave (Ichal Karanji)

    Note: Updated from Archives and manually migrated on 29 Sept. 2021

  • Marquez wins a true clash of the titans at the ‘Cathedral’; tightest ever top-15 finish in MotoGP

    Marquez wins a true clash of the titans at the ‘Cathedral’; tightest ever top-15 finish in MotoGP

    The tightest ever top-15 in MotoGP history at the Assen on Sunday as Marquez wins as eight riders fight it out for the top spot. Photo: MotoGP

    Assen, 1 July 2018: Few races are written immediately into the history books as the flag flies at the finish line, but the 2018 Dutch GP will be one of them. It was Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) who emerged from the melee to take the win on the MotoGP World Championship’s 70th visit to the track, but the headlines were stolen somewhat as the TT Circuit Assen hosted a showcase of the best of MotoGP starring Marquez, Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP), teammate Maverick Viñales, Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team), teammate Jorge Lorenzo, Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol). And those on the podium at the end – Marquez, Rins and Viñales – fought to the top in the closest top fifteen of all time.Marquez took the holeshot from pole, with Crutchlow initially on his tail from second on the grid until Lorenzo sliced through from tenth to P2 after another awe-inspiring launch. The Italian and Catalan GP winner didn’t wait long to strike for the lead either, attacking Marquez and the two side-by-side in a war of wills until Lorenzo edged ahead. Marquez hit back a lap later at Turn 15 before Lorenzo repaid the favour once more. The duel was the first of many; an early taste of what was to come.

    Rossi then made his first attack of the race at the final chicane, a first rehearsal, and set off after Lorenzo – with the Spaniard then suffering a moment soon after and Rossi smashing into the rear of the Ducati, unable to avoid him. But both stayed on and both stayed ahead, with Marquez, Dovizioso, Rins, Crutchlow and Viñales forming a train of riders fighting at the front.

    Marquez took Rossi, Viñales took Crutchlow, Dovizioso took Rossi, Dovizioso took Marquez, Marquez struck back, Rins took Rossi and then Dovizioso…but Lorenzo held firm at the front. With eight riders within a second, from Lorenzo down to Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) at the back of the train, the touch paper was well and truly lit on an absolute classic.

    The war continued before another bout of bigger drama with 15 laps to go as Rins attacked Marquez and the two were only a hair’s breadth apart – minimal contact, but the reigning Champion suffered a big moment as he got back on the gas. That dropped him back off the lead, with Lorenzo chased by Rins and Dovizioso.

    The Italian dueled his teammate for the lead soon after and Lorenzo began to drop back slightly, with Viñales then taking the lead for the first time with eight to go. Next time around Marquez had sliced back through into the lead before the next lap saw both almost throw it all away as they dueled and both headed wide. Then Rossi took over – another stunner from the ‘Doctor’ at the final chicane – but ‘DesmoDovi’ took him back.

    Four wide at times, Marquez then made his way back into P1…and that was all she wrote, for the lead at least. After one of the closest, most spectacular races in the history of the world’s oldest motorsport Championship, the reigning Champion was able to pull clear to take a stunning fourth win of the year – and increase his points lead.

    The battle behind wasn’t over, however, and Viñales had pushed through to second before the last lap attack from Rins – with the Suzuki rider taking his second ever premier class rostrum. Viñales was forced to settle for third but back on the podium for the first time since Texas…and the fight for fourth showed why Rossi had been rehearsing.

    The ‘Doctor’ left it late but lunged up the inside of Dovizioso into the famous Geert Timmer chicane on the final lap, and he was ahead – but ‘DesmoDovi’ took him back on the exit, getting such a good exit that the number 04 was almost on a par with Viñales over the line.

    Marquez, Rins, Viñales, Dovizioso, and Rossi were followed home by Crutchlow and Lorenzo, with Zarco, Alvaro Bautista (Angel Nieto Team) and Jack Miller (Alma Pramac Racing) completing the top ten in one of the greatest races contested on two wheels.

    Sadly, that’s now it from the TT Circuit Assen for another year. Can anything top the Dutch GP? After one of the best races of all time, the first to try will be the German Grand Prix at the Sachsenring on the 15th July…and then, there are 10 more chances to showcase more of the stunning class of 2018.

    MotoGP Results
    1 – Marc Márquez (SPA) Honda 41’13.863
    2 – Alex Rins (SPA) Suzuki +2.269
    3 – Maverick Viñales (SPA) Yamaha +2.308
    First Independent Team Rider:
    P6- Cal Crutchlow (GBR) Honda +3.876
  • Max Verstappen wins Austrian Grand Prix as Mercedes suffer double DNF

    Max Verstappen wins Austrian Grand Prix as Mercedes suffer double DNF

    Max Verstappen after winning the Austrian GP on Sunday. An FIA image

    Spielberg, 1 July 2018: Max Verstappen took the fourth win of his career at the Austrian Grand Prix ahead of Ferrari’s Kimi Räikkönen and Sebastian Vettel, as Mercedes suffered its first double-DNF in over two years.

    When the light went out for the start, Räikkönen made a superb getaway and slotted between the two slower Mercedes of Hamilton and Bottas.

    The inside line belonged to Hamilton, however, and he emerged in the lead with Räikkönen second ahead of Bottas. The Ferrari driver then tried to attack Hamilton around the outside of Turn 3 but he went wide and that allowed Bottas to retake second place, and Verstappen then slotted into third as Räikkönen struggled for pain after his off.

    Behind them Ricciardo, who was celebrating his 29th birthday, had passed Haas’ Romain Grosjean to take fifth place behind Räikkönen and Vettel was also soon past the Frenchman to sit sixth.

    Hamilton quickly began to pull away from the field, and by lap 10 he had a two second cushion over Bottas, with the Finn a further two seconds clear of Verstappen.

    The Dutchman was given a boost, however, when midway through lap 14, Bottas slowed dramatically on the run down to Turn 4 and pulled off track with a gearbox failure.

    With a Virtual Safety Car called as Bottas’ car was recovered Red Bull chose to seize the initiative and pitted both Verstappen and Ricciardo at the end of lap 16. Ferrari chose the same tactic, with the result that when the quartet rejoined the action the order remained static, with second-placed Verstappen ahead of Räikkönen and with fourth-placed Ricciardo ahead of Vettel. Hamilton, who has stayed out on track, now led Verstappen by 13 seconds.

    On lap 20, after harrying the Ferrari driver since the start, Ricciardo finally found a way past Räikkönen. The Finn made a mistake, locking up into Turn 3, and after running wide Ricciardo tucked in behind the Ferrari and with greater pace powered past into Turn 4 to steal third place.

    Shortly afterwards, Hamilton was told that his team had missed the VSC opportunity and that he needed to find eight seconds on track to avoid losing out when he made his pit stop. The incredulous Briton responded that he had no time left in his starting supersofts and so on lap 26 the pitted for soft tyres. When he resumed he’d dropped to fourth place and Max Verstappen now led a Red Bull one-two ahead of Räikkönen.

    However, as the race hit half distance, Räikkönen radioed his team to say he could a large blister on Ricciardo’s rear left tyre and the problem was soon confirmed by Ricciardo, whose pace began to flag. By lap 37 he was 6.2 seconds behind his race-leading team-mate and Räikkönen and Hamilton were smelling blood.

    Räikkönen was the first to pounce, and on lap 39 he closed hard on Ricciardo on the run to Turn 3. He tucked in behind the Red Bull and breezed past on the straight to Turn 4.

    Behind him, it was Vettel who made the next move and on the following lap, as Ricciardo pitted to shed his damaged soft tyres, Vettel launched an attack on Hamilton.

    The German dived down the inside of the championship leader as they powered through Turn 2 and hugging the edge of the track he held firm in Turn 3 to steal third place.

    Verstappen now led Räikkönen by seven seconds, with Vettel a further 2.4s behind. Hamilton was now third, 0.8s behind the German with Ricciardo, on fresh supersoft tyres, 19 second behind.

    It now became a race of tyre management. At two-thirds distance Hamilton reported that he was suffering from the problem as Ricciardo, a seriously degrading rear left tyre and on lap 52 he told his team he did not feel the rubbers would last to the end of the race. He pitted and took on supersoft tyres.

    When Hamilton rejoined he found himself behind Ricciardo, but any hopes the Red Bull driver had of holding fourth place until the end evaporated on lap 53. Entering Turn 10 a puff of smoke burst from the rear of Ricciardo’s car and by Turn 1 he was on the radio saying he’d lost gear sync. He pulled over at Turn 1 and retired from the race.

    With 10 laps remaining Verstappen led Räikkönen by 3.7s with Vettel a further 2.4s back in third. Hamilton was fourth, 21.7s behind the German, while Haas’ Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen held fifth and sixth places respectively. Force India’s Sergio Perez was seventh ahead of team-mate Esteban Ocon and Toro Rosso’s Pierre Gasly. The final points position was occupied by Sauber’s Charles Leclerc.

    There were more twists to come, however, and on lap 64 Hamilton suddenly slowed dramatically. “I’ve lost power,” he said simply before being told to stop his car at Turn 4. Hamilton’s exit made it Mercedes’ first double DNF since the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix.

    With five laps left Verstappen was just 2.8s ahead of Räikkönen and the Finn was behind told to he was free to push as hard as he liked. Verstappen, though, had managed the race perfectly and he crossed the line to take his fourth career win and his first since Mexico last year with 1.5s in hand over the Finn.

    Vettel held third ahead Grosjean, with Magnussen fifth on a good day for Haas. Ocon took sixth ahead of team-mate Perez, while Fernando Alonso enjoyed a good afternoon, making the most of a late-race charge to claim eighth place ahead of Leclerc and Ericsson.

    2018 Formula 1 Austrian Grand Prix – Race
    1 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing
    2 Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari 1.504
    3 Sebastian Vettel Ferrari 3.181
    4 Romain Grosjean Haas 1 lap
    5 Kevin Magnussen Haas 1 lap
    6 Esteban Ocon Force India 1 lap
    7 Sergio Perez Force India 1 lap
    8 Fernando Alonso McLaren 1 lap
    9 Charles Leclerc Sauber 1 lap
    10 Marcus Ericsson Sauber 1 lap
    11 Pierre Gasly Toro Rosso 1 lap
    12 Carlos Sainz Renault 1 lap
    13 Lance Stroll Williams 2 laps
    14 Sergey Sirotkin Williams 2 laps
    15 Stoffel Vandoorne McLaren 6 laps
    16 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 9 laps
    17 Brendon Hartley Toro Rosso 17 laps
    18 Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull Racing 18 laps
    19 Valtteri Bottas Mercedes 58 laps
    20 Nico Hulkenberg Renault 60 laps.

  • It is amazing to win here with a Red Bull at the Red Bull Ring: Verstappen

    It is amazing to win here with a Red Bull at the Red Bull Ring: Verstappen

    Max Verstappen (Black suit) along with Kimi Raikkonen (left) and Sebastian Vettel on the podium at the Red Bull ring on Sunday. An FIA image

    Spielberg, 1 July 2018: Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing notched up his fourth Formula One win and after the race, the top three drivers attended the mandatory post-race press conference here on Sunday. Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel made it a double podium for Ferrari.

     

    Track Interviews (Conducted by Mark Webber)

    Q: Max Verstappen, your fourth Grand Prix victory. It felt like your first win, with Kimi Räikkönen closing you down, maximum pressure. A Red Bull victory here on the Red Bull Ring. Massive amounts of Dutch fans, it must feel amazing?

    Max Verstappen: Yeah, it was amazing. It was very hard to manage the tyres as well. We really had to look after them, a little blistering, but we managed to hang on until the end. Of course, it’s amazing to win here with a Red Bull at the Red Bull Ring and also so many Dutch fans around here. It’s incredible.

    Q: So what does this mean for the future, mate. You’ve got Silverstone around the corner, in terms of it being a back-to-back, we’ve got this tripleheader, you’ve had this great run of results off the back of a tough Monte Carlo, so now you’re on fire buddy?

    MV: Yeah, I needed to catch up with the points. Today was definitely a very good day for me and I just hope we can continue like this.

    Q: Well done Max. Kimi, very solid second place there, buddy. It was a very interesting Grand Prix with tyres, I think there were a few unknowns, a lot of people weren’t sure what was happening. Double Mercedes retirement which was very interesting. Unbelievable start – if it had been Barcelona or Monza you would have led into Turn 1, right?

    Kimi RÄIKKÖNEN: Yeah, I had to back off a little bit because we were squeezed together and my decision was already gone there – I was scared that we hit. After that, a bit running wide and that and lost some places. But the car came good but we just run out of the laps and I think we took it easily too long. It’s a shame. We had a great car today and in some points it was a little bit difficult but I think it was a good result for the team.

    Q: Well done, Kimi. Sebastian, together with Max here. He did a pretty good job didn’t he? 

    Sebastian VETTEL: I told him, very good race, very consistent, no mistakes. We were chasing him down at the end but couldn’t quite make it.

    Q: So tell us about your race Sebastian? It was a difficult qualifying, after a good start. Tough first corner, got pushed out and then you had to come back from there. One point in the championship, a very interesting day for the silver cars, so not a bad day at the office for you?

    SV: No. Obviously it would have been nice to start further up. I tried to get some back at the start, in Turn 1, but it didn’t quite work. I was left with no place to go and then lost momentum. And then it was the same thing a little bit in Turn 3. I had to fight with the Renaults and the Haas in the beginning of the race and I lost a little bit of ground. Obviously we lost a little bit of time at the stop. So for us it was pretty much damage limitation but I think the pace was very good, the tyre management was good, so a positive day, it could have been better but a well deserved win for Max.

    Q: (Christian Menath – Motorsport-magazin.com) Question for Seb. I think you said on the pit radio, when you came behind Lewis, after his stop, that they should have informed you a bit earlier that he’s stopping because you had something in your pocket still. Can you describe the situation?

    SV: I was aware that we were fighting him but I was of the opinion that we were ahead, and I didn’t expect it to be that close and to be on the back-foot, so I think, if I look back, and I was thinking about it in the race as well, I was told enough. So, I can’t blame the team. Yeah. I thought I was taking it a little bit easy in the beginning because I was anyways a bit further back. There was no point. I didn’t understand in the beginning obviously the necessity to close as soon as possible. So maybe it’s also a bit my fault. But I think I had a bit of pace in hand – but, you know, I looked down, I saw the pitboard as well and there was 55 laps from the time the VSC… well, it doesn’t really come it, but was turned off… so yeah, I tried to save tyres and make sure we make it to the end, not knowing what happens because the first stint was not easy – but yeah, I thought we could have done, I could have done a bit better with a bit more information – but nothing dramatic. I think overall the pace was really good. I mean, I was obviously losing a lot with the pitstop, the double-stop that we did, which was the right call – but I probably had to come back from the longest way. I think the speed was good so I’m happy with the race but obviously it could have been better today. So I’m not entirely happy.

    Q: (Daniel Horvath – Motorspormania.hu) Max, congratulations, you’ve got almost 20,000 Dutch supporters here in Austria. Do you have any special message to your fans who stayed in the Max Verstappen village during the weekend?

    MV: Yes, of course…

    SV: You have a village here?

    MV: Yeah! On the other side…

    SV: You need to pay tax here then…

    MV: No, we skip that bit. Yeah, it’s great to see. I mean of course we’re not playing in the World Cup so it’s a bit easier for them to come over here, but in general, great support. I mean the whole weekend. It was amazing to see so much orange. And then if you win the race and see all the fans lining up there. Yeah, it’s incredible. And this is in Austria, which is still 10, 11 hours away from Holland. So, yeah, amazing that they all came over here.

    Q: (Jaap de Groot – De Telegraaf) Max, before the Max it looked like you had to overtake a lot of odds but during the race, the advantages occurred and you took them to the maximum. According to that, do you feel that this was your perfect race. And also explain how you underwent the process I just explained, getting all the advantages.

    MV: Yeah, so I think it was a bit unexpected, especially after our Friday pace and in the long runs. I think in the first stint we could actually keep up quite well – and then yeah, I just tried to do my own race. I saw Valtteri disappearing with a problem, and then I think we made the right call when the virtual safety car came out, that we pitted. The team, again, great call on that, and then yeah, virtually I was in the lead, and I just tried to do my own pace. Initially from behind there was no pressure. I think I could build up a gap, and yeah, at one point, when Lewis pitted and Kimi started to put Daniel under pressure, and he started to struggle with his tyres, and then once I think Kimi was in second, and I tried to manage the gap – but at one point, yeah, I could see my tyres also opening up a bit on the rears and the fronts, so, yeah, I just had to drive around the issue and luckily I could manage it until the end of the race.

    Q: (Scott Mitchell – Autosport) Max and Kimi; although the race was 71 laps long, it was effectively decided by the move at turn seven on a frenetic opening lap. Can I just get your respective thoughts on the move – we don’t normally see overtaking there? It looked like a little bit of wheel-banging as well.

    KR: I think there was a lot happening on the first lap. I think a little bit sideways into… or lost the line a little bit into six and then Max… obviously we were pretty close to each other, I think the car in front of me, the Mercedes, disturbed a bit… like the downforce and then obviously it got the run and I tried to hang on on the outside but I got a little bit sideways because I guess we touched a little bit and lost a place but I think we got the best out of it and not taking each out and still fighting in that kind of corner that is fast speed and not very easy to stay next to each other when you try. That’s what happens sometimes. Not ideal for me but it was still fair enough.

    MV: Yeah, it was hard racing but good racing. I think Kimi is experienced enough to handle the situation well. We had a little touch but I think it’s also good for the sport.

    Q: (Heikki Kulta – Turun Sanomat) Kimi, it seems to me that this one race every week really suits you fine. Can you improve as much as you did from France to Silverstone in one week also?

    KR: I don’t know. Obviously Silverstone is a lot different circuit, layout and I think if you purely take it it wouldn’t probably be the best place last year so maybe there for us but I think I’m looking forward and I think we have certain things that we are trying and probably will help there. Obviously it depends a lot on the conditions there but I think the last two weekends have been quite similar so I will keep pushing and trying and try to do better all the time and obviously try to do better than today in the next races but there could be a slightly better end result but I think as a team we got solid points and we go to the next race.

    Q: (Livio Oricchio – Globoesporte.com) Max, you had the first six races of this season very difficult and then from Canada it started to change…

    MV: No, Barcelona already.

    Q: (Livio Oricchio – Globoesporte.com) … so tell us about how it works inside you, coming from one extreme to the other one, what you are living now?

    MV: I think it’s just racing, you know? Sometimes you have difficult moments and then you try to work hard and you keep working hard even when it’s difficult and you overcome the situation. Yeah, it’s as simple as that. It’s racing.

    Q: (Peter Vamosi – Racingline.hu) Sebastian, you are the only driver on the internet who has not a social media account, Twitter, Facebook, whatever. Even Kimi has Instagram now this year and he’s doing very well. Why are you not present on the internet?

    SV: I rather spend my time on something useful. It’s a shame that I lost Kimi. It was nice to be alongside. I don’t know what happened. I don’t blame anybody, people are free to do what they want. It’s just not my thing, I don’t have the need to share. If there’s anybody who has a question, obviously ask but I don’t find great motivation in telling people where I go, what I do. I find it’s quite boring so yeah, it’s not my thing.

    Q: (Rik Spekenbrink – AD Sportwereld) Max, could you hear the Dutch fans on the final lap and secondly, how would you rate this win among the others?

    MV: No, I couldn’t hear them, I think I was…

    SV: Say yes.

    MV: Nah. You always have to be honest.

    SV: You have to say yes though.

    MV: No. OK, Sebastian says yes.

    SV: I heard them!

    MV: But I could see some orange smoke, I could see them cheering so I think that’s good enough. Special moment. And I think this was one of the nicest victories but I keep saying that so I think at the moment they are all nice. But maybe hopefully, at one point, you just say yeah, it’s just another one. But at the moment I’m really happy with it.

    Q: (Scott Mitchell – Autosport) Max, we heard how emotional your celebrations were with the team over the radio after the race. Can you just explain when you thought that it was actually possible for you to win the race, when you felt under control, and how much does this win mean to you?

    MV: Yeah, it was difficult to tell because Kimi was catching, Sebastian was catching and you were not sure maybe they had another half a second in them at the end of the race, so it was just difficult to say. I think with three or four laps to go I was more comfortable and it was not going to happen but still, maybe from one to the other lap my blister opens up even more and then you’re really in trouble. Probably three laps. My fourth victory, I think it’s a good one, very unexpected one so I think they are always good.

    ends

  • Markelov dominates in Spielberg Sprint Race; secures third win of 2018; Arjun Maini 10th: F2

    Markelov dominates in Spielberg Sprint Race; secures third win of 2018; Arjun Maini 10th: F2

    Artem Markelov wins sprint race at Spielberg on Sunday. An FIA F2 image

    Spielberg, 1 July 2018: Artem Markelov produced a display of dominance in the FIA Formula 2 Championship Sprint Race at Spielberg, Austria, leading every lap en route to a third victory of the year; the Russian Time driver crossed the finish line 5.6s clear of ART Grand Prix’s George Russell. Finishing second, Russell assumed the championship lead, as Sergio Sette Camara took third place.

     Indian Racer Arjun Maini of Trident finished 10th.
    In cool, sunny conditions, Markelov led the field away at the start from teammate Tadasuke Makino, quickly leaving the Japanese driver in his wake and under attack from Sette Camara. Meanwhile, Russell – seeking to double up on victories over the Red Bull Ring weekend – quickly dispatched championship rival Lando Norris on the first lap, and then chased after Antonio Fuoco on the following lap to ease past the Charouz Racing System racer.
    Makino, weathering the storm from Sette Camara, started to nibble into Markelov’s lead as Russell continued his progress through the pack – clearing Alexander Albon as Fuoco followed him through. Setting a quick lap to catch Sette Camara, Russell thrust his way past the Brazilian to make the step up into the top three by lap 4. Norris was next to try and pass Albon, but the Carlin driver wasn’t able to make the same progress as Russell and remained glued to the DAMS driver’s gearbox.
    As Markelov stepped up the pace at the front of the field, Makino dropped back into the clutches of Russell, who made light work of the Honda development driver. Russell looked to wind Markelov in, but the Russian had already started to open up a strong lead, building a 2.8s buffer by the end of the ninth lap to give himself some breathing space. Meanwhile, the battle for third started to heat up, with Fuoco now on Sette Camara’s tail – but was unable to capitalise on a chance to overtake him into turn 4.
    Further down the field, Albon found himself conducting a large train of cars, which continued to grow throughout the race as the drivers sought to keep each other within touching distance. Conversely, Markelov continued to extend his advantage over Russell, sitting three-and-a-half seconds ahead by the race’s midpoint, with Makino holding onto third from Sette Camara – now free of the chasing Fuoco.
    Sette Camara then squeezed past Makino to take control of third, leaving him to fight against Fuoco. The Italian attempted a move around the outside of turn 4, but Makino held his nerve and held on, before having to concede defeat a lap later. As tyre degradation started to bite, the closely-collected pack behind Albon began to fight for the lower reaches of the points, Norris making a long-awaited pass on the Thai driver – who promptly reclaimed fifth two laps later as the McLaren reserve driver began to struggle.
    Checking out, Markelov continued to build his advantage over Russell, entering the final five laps with a five-second lead. Although Russell attempted to eat into his lead, Markelov flexed his muscles and kept the British driver in the shade, taking a superbly-managed victory for his third visit to the top step in 2018. Russell finished second, adding to an impressive haul of points across the weekend to take control of the championship lead from Norris, as Sette Camara completed the top three.
    Fuoco, losing time at the end of the race, narrowly finished ahead of Albon – who also cleared Makino as the Japanese driver took sixth. Santino Ferrucci took seventh after a late fight with Nicholas Latifi and Nirei Fukuzumi, as the BWT Arden driver narrowly missed out on the final point.
    As F2 has reached the halfway point of the season, Russell will go into next weekend’s round at Silverstone with 132 points – a 10-point lead over Norris – as Markelov leaps up to third in the championship with 94 points. Carlin continue to lead the teams’ title with 208 points, with ART Grand Prix second on 181. Charouz Racing System move up to third with 126 points – three more than fourth-placed DAMS.
    2018 FIA Formula 2 Championship Round 6 – Spielberg, Austria – Sprint Race Provisional Results
    Driver
    Team
    1
    Artem Markelov
    RUSSIAN TIME
    2
    George Russell
    ART Grand Prix
    3
    Sergio Sette Camara
    Carlin
    4
    Antonio Fuoco
    Charouz Racing System
    5
    Alexander Albon
    DAMS
    6
    Tadasuke Makino
    RUSSIAN TIME
    7
    Santino Ferrucci
    Trident
    8
    Nicholas Latifi
    DAMS
    9
    Nirei Fukuzumi
    BWT Arden
    10
    Arjun Maini
    Trident
    11
    Lando Norris
    Carlin
    12
    Maximilian Gunther
    BWT Arden
    13
    Luca Ghiotto
    Campos Vexatec Racing
    14
    Nyck de Vries
    PERTAMINA PREMA Theodore Racing
    15
    Ralph Boschung
    MP Motorsport
    16
    Roberto Merhi
    MP Motorsport
    17
    Roy Nissany
    Campos Vexatec Racing
    18
    Jack Aitken
    ART Grand Prix
    –
    Louis Deletraz
    Charouz Racing System
    –
    Sean Gelael
    PERTAMINA PREMA Theodore Racing

  • Assen Sunday guide for MotoGP

    Assen, 1 July 2018: Marc Márquez has qualified on pole position for the first time in the premier class at Assen. This is the 75th pole position in his Grand Prix career and the 47th in the MotoGP class on what is his 98th start. However, he will start from pole position for the first time this year as he set the pole in Texas but started from Row 2 due to a penalty.

    Over the last seven years, only Casey Stoner (2012) and Valentino Rossi (2015) have won the MotoGP™ race at the Dutch TT from pole position.

    Cal Crutchlow starts from second on the grid and is top Independent team rider, which is his second front row start this year after he qualified on pole position in Jerez.

    Third, on the grid, which is his second front row start of 2018, Valentino Rossi is the most successful rider across all classes on the grid at Assen with ten wins: 1 x 125cc, 1 x 250cc, and 8 x MotoGP. Nine of these came from the first two rows on the grid.

    Yamaha hasn’t won since Valentino Rossi (17 successive races) took victory at Assen last season, which is the longest sequence without a win since the 18 races that included the last two races of 2002 and the 16 races of 2003.

    Heading the second row on the grid as the highest-placed Ducati rider is Andrea Dovizioso, who will be aiming to become the second Ducati rider to win at the Dutch TT in the premier class, along with Casey Stoner (2008).

    Álex Rins starts from fifth place on the grid, equalling his best qualifying result in the MotoGP™ class from Argentina earlier this year. This is the best qualifying result for a Suzuki rider at this track since Aleix Espargaró was second in 2015.

    Maverick Viñales, who crashed out of the race last year in Assen on the twelfth lap at the last chicane, completes the second row. Viñales has had just one podium finish in his last nine starts.

    Aleix Espargaró has qualified seventh, which is his best qualifying result since he was also seventh in Argentina earlier this year.

    After passing through Q1 for the third first time since Aragón last year, Johann Zarco, who was on pole for the first time in the premier class last year at Assen, has qualified in eighth place – the third successive time he’s failed to qualify on the first two rows.

    Andrea Iannone completed the third row of the grid, which is his worst qualifying result since he was 12th in Argentine earlier this year.

    The winner of the last two races, Jorge Lorenzo starts from tenth and will be aiming to become the second Ducati rider to win three races in a row, along with Casey Stoner.

    Danilo Petrucci, who was on the podium for the third time in the premier class last year at the Dutch TT, has qualified in 11th on the grid, which is his worst qualifying result since he was 18th at Argentina this year.

    Álvaro Bautista has qualified 12th, which is his best qualifying result since he was ninth in Aragón last year.

    Moto2
    Francesco Bagnaia, who took his first GP victory at Assen in Moto3 two years ago, has qualified on pole position for the second time in Moto2 after Le Mans earlier this year, and the third time overall on what is his 95th Grand Prix start.

    In second place on the grid is Marcel Schrötter, which is the third successive front row start of the season. He will be aiming to stand on the podium for the first time of his Grand Prix career.

    Luca Marini is on the front row for the first time of his Grand Prix career. Over his last two visits to Assen, Marini has always failed to score any points, crashing out of the race in both 2016 and 2017.

    Álex Márquez, who won the Moto3™ race in 2014 at Assen, heads the second row of the grid. His best result across the line at the Dutch TT in the Moto2™ class is a sixth-place finish last year.

    In fifth place on the grid is Xavi Vierge, which is his best qualifying result since he was second at Le Mans earlier this year.

    Sam Lowes, who is one of only two riders to have stood on the podium in Moto2™ at Assen along with Dominique Aegerter, starts from sixth on the grid – his best qualifying result since he was second in Austin this season.

    Barcelona winner Fabio Quartartaro starts from seventh and will be aiming to become the second French rider to win back-to-back races in the Moto2™ class, along with Johann Zarco, and the third rider to win with Speed Up at Assen along with Andrea Iannone (2010) and Anthony West (2014).

    Moto3
    Jorge Martín has qualified on pole position for the fifth time this year and the 14thtime in the Moto3 class, becoming the rider with most pole positions in the class ahead of Alex Rins, who has 13.

    Enea Bastianini starts from second on the grid, which is his third front row start at the Dutch TT in the Moto3 class. Over the last four years, he has managed to score points only once at Assen, crossing the line in sixth in 2015.

    Nicolò Bulega completes the front row of the grid as the highest placed KTM rider, which is his best dry-weather qualifying result since he was also third last year in Germany. This is also his third successive front row start at Assen. He will be aiming for a first podium finish since he was third in Japan two years ago.

    No Moto3 rider has won at the Dutch TT after qualifying on pole since the introduction of the category in 2012. Alex Márquez, in 2014, is the only rider to win in the class at the Dutch TT after qualifying on the front row.

    Heading the second row is Arón Canet, which is the third successive time he has qualified on the first two rows on the grid. Canet, who took victory last year, is the only rider currently competing in Moto3™ to have won at the Dutch TT.

    Lorenzo Dalla Porta has qualified in fifth place on the grid, which is his best qualifying result since he was fourth at Sepang back in 2016 and his best qualifying result in dry-weather conditions on what is his 44th Grand Prix start.

    John McPhee, who crossed the line in third place last year – his most recent podium – starts from sixth on the grid, which is his best result since he was third at Argentina earlier this year.

    Championship leader Marco Bezzecchi has qualified in ninth place on the grid, which is the third time this year he has failed to qualify on the first two rows on the grid.

  • Bottas takes pole ahead of Hamilton and Vettel

    Bottas takes pole ahead of Hamilton and Vettel

    Bottas after taking Austrian GP pole. An FIA image.

    Spielberg, 30 June 2018: Valtteri Bottas edged out teammate Lewis Hamilton by just under two-hundredths of a second to take his second consecutive Austrian GP pole position and the fifth pole of his career in a tight qualifying session at the at the Red Bull Ring in the Austrian Grand Prix, the ninth round of the Formula One World Championship here on Saturday. Sebastian Vettel was third for Ferrari ahead of teammate Kimi Räikkönen.

    The first qualifying session (Q1) saw Mercedes quickly to the fore with Hamilton and Bottas trading times on ultrasoft tyres before Hamilton settled into P1 with a time of 1:04.080, just under a tenth of a second ahead of his team-mate. Kimi Räikkönen was third ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen on supersoft tyres. Vettel also opened his session with runs on supersoft tyres to sit in fifth place ahead of the final runs with a time of 1:04.347.

    In the final runs Mercedes, Ferrari, and Red Bull opted to remains in their garages, which allowed Haas’ Romain Grosjean to jump ahead of Verstappen and Vettel, and that left the action to focus on the drop zone where Williams’ Lance Stroll made a last-minute escape, vaulting from P17 to P15 with a lap of 1:05.264. That put him 0.007s ahead of McLaren’s Stoffel Vandoorne. The Belgian dropped to 16th and out of the session ahead of Force India’s Sergio Perez, Williams’ Sergey Sirotkin, Toro Rosso’s Brendon Hartley, and Sauber’s Marcus Ericsson.

    In the second session Mercedes’ drivers went out on supersoft tyres and Bottas became the first man to dip below the 1m04s mark with a lap of 1:03.756 that put him into P1.

    He was soon quickly usurped by Hamilton, however, with the championship leader taking P1 with a time of 1:03.577.

    This time Ferrari opted to run on ultrasoft tyres and Vettel took P3 ahead of Räikkönen. Verstappen was fifth, also on supersofts, but it was a trickier opening run for team-mate Ricciardo. He was only 11th after his first flier and second run on the red-banded Pirellis. A second lap boosted him to P9 but with just over three-tenths of a second separating him from P11 man Nico Hulkenberg the Australian would need to run again.

    He opted for another go on the spersoft tyres and this time he found time, posting a lap of 1:04.403 that was good enough for P8 over four tenths clear of Force India’s Esteban Ocon who was eliminated in P11 ahead of Toro Rosso’s Pierre Gasly, Sauber’s Charles Leclerc, McLaren’s Fernando Alonso and Stroll.

    Leclerc also faces a five-place grid drop for tomorrow’s race following a post-FP3 gearbox change.

    At the top of the order, Hamilton was displaced in the final runs by Vettel, who set a time of 1:03.544 on ultrasoft tyres. Second-placed Hamilton was followed by Bottas, Raikkonen, and Verstappen. Haas’s good form continued with Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen sixth and seventh ahead of Ricciardo and the Renaults of Carlos Sainz and Nico Hulkenberg.

    In the first runs of Q3 Valtteri claimed provisional pole with a time of 1:03.264 as mistakes from both Hamilton and Vettel compromised their laps. Behind him, Hamilton sat second ahead of Räikkönen with hard-charging Romain Grosjean slotting into an impressive fourth for Haas as Vettel languished in seventh behind the Red Bulls of Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo.

    In the final runs it looked like Hamilton and Vettel would put heavy pressure on Bottas as they both began their runs well, but the Finn was untouchable and he found just enough time to set a time of 1:03.130 to take a second consecutive Austrian Grand Prix pole position 0.019s clear of Hamilton and three tenths up on Vettel.

    Räikkönen qualified in fourth place, while Verstappen’s final lap was good enough to push Grosjean to sixth, with Ricciardo seventh. Kevin Magnussen was eighth on a good afternoon for Haas, with the Renault’s of Sainz and Hulkenberg in ninth and tenth respectively.

    Formula 1 Austrian Grand Prix – Qualifying
    1 Valtteri Bottas Mercedes 1:03.130
    2 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1:03.149 0.019
    3 Sebastian Vettel Ferrari 1:03.464 0.334
    4 Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari 1:03.660 0.530
    5 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing 1:03.840 0.710
    6 Romain Grosjean Haas Racing 1:03.892 0.762
    7 Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull Racing 1:03.996 0.866
    8 Kevin Magnussen Haas 1:04.051 0.921
    9 Carlos Sainz Renault 1:04.725 1.595
    10 Nico Hulkenberg Renault 1:05.019 1.889
    11 Esteban Ocon Force India 1:04.845 1.715
    12 Pierre Gasly Toro Rosso 1:04.874 1.744
    13 Charles Leclerc Sauber 1:04.979 1.849
    14 Fernando Alonso McLaren 1:05.058 1.928
    15 Lance Stroll Williams 1:05.286 2.156
    16 Stoffel Vandoorne McLaren 1:05.271 2.141
    17 Sergio Perez Force India 1:05.279 2.149
    18 Sergey Sirotkin Williams 1:05.322 2.192
    19 Brendon Hartley Toro Rosso 1:05.366 2.236
    20 Marcus Ericsson Sauber 1:05.479 2.349.

  • No need to be a hero on Turn 1, I just need a good start, says Bottas after taking pole

    Assen, 30 June 2018: Valtteri Bottas put his Mercedes on pole ahead of reigning world champion and teammate Lewis Hamilton and title-contender Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari will start in P2. After the qualifying session the top three drivers attended the mandatory FIA press conference.

    Transcript: Track Interviews conducted by Mark Webber

    Q: Sebastian it was a tough first lap for you. You’re on the second row. How did it go for you?

    Sebastian Vettel: Yeah, as you said, it’s not easy to put it together. I had a mistake on the first lap. I know I need to put a banker in to make safe that I qualify in a proper position, so I think there was a little bit left but arguably not enough to really pip Valtteri for pole, so well done to him, I think he put two very good laps in. And yeah, I think we have a good chance from P3 tomorrow.

    Q: Good luck buddy. Over to Lewis – that looked like a bit of a recovery job too. Turn 2 on the first lap looked like a bit of a moment and then a stunning second lap and it was really tight with Valtteri. Good recovery, mate. 

    Lewis Hamilton: Yeah, not too bad I’m happy with it. Valtteri did a stunning lap on the first run and I had a bit of a mistake and that kind of ended the run. But I’m really happy with the second one and this is a great result for the team and Valtteri deserved today.

    Q: Have a good one tomorrow, mate. And Valtteri, well done, listen to the fans here, they’re pretty pumped up for you buddy. Your first lap was sensational, your second lap to find another tenth at that level. You can see what it means to these two guys. It was an incredible combination of those two laps. I know how hard that is. Run us through your session buddy?

    Valtteri Bottas: Yeah, the whole weekend we have been making good progress with the set-up. We had the new bits this weekend for the car. There’s been some work to get the car well balanced with those and finally we did and the car felt so good. In the last run I knew that there was a tenth or so I could improve from the first run and I managed to find it. Apparently I needed it!

    Q: You looked at one with the car, there’s no question about it. For tomorrow’s race, I mean I don’t want a start like you did last year – that looked a bit tricky in terms of almost jumping the start. So you’re on pole, you’ve got to get a beautiful start again and try to control the grand prix from there I imagination?

    VB: Yeah, you just need a good clean start, nothing amazing, no need to be a hero in Turn 1, and then go for it. I can guarantee I’m more hungry for the win than anyone on the grid, so I’m really ready for it.

    PRESS CONFERENCE

    Q: Valtteri, your first pole position of the season and you pulled out a great first lap in Q3. How good was that to set up your final attempt to secure pole?

    VB: Yeah, thank you. For sure, here it’s a short circuit and that’s why we normally see quite small gaps. It’s actually not an easy circuit to get everything right, even though there’s only seven proper corners for us, but it’s quite easy to make a mistake, so getting that first run, a nice lap on that one, it helps. I could kind of build on that for the second run and improve on it.

    Q: Congratulations. Lewis, you said on the grid yourself that you made a bit of an error, I think at Turn 3 on your first run in Q3, so how much margin did you have to leave on your second lap to get a time in?

    LH: Well, firstly congratulations to Valtteri, he did a fantastic job and ultimately he deserved the pole today. It had gone relatively well through the weekend, the pace was good, it was quite good throughout qualifying, it was obviously very close between us all. Right at the end I think I made a mistake on the first run and when you don’t have your first lap as a banker, you’re kind of building from scratch for the second one, so it always helps when you get a good first lap in because then you can try to improve on it the next time. But the next one was really good and obviously it was quite close between us, which I’m happy about and it’s still a one-two for the team and lots to play for tomorrow.

    Q: Seb, we saw yesterday two one-two results for Mercedes in those practice sessions but then you were quickest in FP3 and in Q2, so do you think the margin to the front two in qualifying today is representative of Ferrari’s pace?

    SV: I think so. Well, I think there was a little bit more in me, I mean I had a tough start in Q3 with an error, then it’s not that easy to recover because I knew I need to put a good lap in, otherwise I’ll start quite far back. Yeah, I don’t think it was enough pace in hand to be a threat today. I think we need to make sure we improve from where we are. It seems that in quali at least we are a little bit behind right now. I think the tracks we went to the last two weeks are quite different, so we need to make sure we keep pushing. For tomorrow though, I believe the car is stronger in relative pace for the race, so it should be a close fight. We’re starting again on different tyre compounds, so let’s see what we can do.

    QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR

    Q: Sebastian, during qualifying there was a small incident with Carlos Sainz Jr’s Renault. Could you just talk us through that from your point of view please.

    SV: yeah, I mean I passed him on my fast lap in Turn seven/eight and then I was looking down and in the main straight I didn’t see him. I was turning into Turn One, trying again because I was thinking that he must be there somewhere. I don’t know if he was pitting or starting his lap – but as it turned out, obviously, he was trying to go for a fast lap, I couldn’t see him. I wasn’t told on the radio, so I can only apologise to him. Obviously, there was no intention. I was looking down the straight and then I turned around, Turn One, I was done with my lap and just wanted to make sure – and then when I was looking, there was again nothing to see after Turn One, which obviously, which was clear because in the replay I saw then that he was side-by-side. So, that’s it.

    Q: Congratulations Valtteri. Do you think you need the same kind of mega-start like last year to win the race as well?

    VB: I think it’s a relatively short run into Turn One so I think you need a normal start. Of course, you always try to get a good one – but I think to actually lose a position here or to gain, there needs to be quite a big difference with the starts. So, I’m aiming for a good start.

    Q: Question for Seb. You mentioned that you have to catch up now because you have had two different tracks where you’ve been behind in qualifying. Do you have an idea where you lose the time? Is it cornering, long corners, braking, wherever?

    SV: I think here’s very close anyway, so it’s not, y’know, that many corners. I think from what you’ve seen, we’re losing a little bit in sector one, and then mostly though in sector three, in which I think Mercedes is very competitive, very quick in the second turn – which I always mix up. Lauda? Berger? Berger? Lauda? I don’t know – Turn Seven. And then up the straight, so they appear to be able to carry more speed through there and then up the hill. I think that’s one of our main losses. I think the last two corners are not too bad but I think it’s the very high-speed Seven and Turn Nine, so the first one, the second last corner. It’s close. We’re not talking about much but obviously enough to get ahead.

    Q: Sebastian, do you believe that Mercedes have made a great step forward with the new spec of the car, and on a more regular circuit like Silverstone for example, will we see this step forward by Mercedes even better? And will it mean that Ferrari must increase the development of their car from now?

    SV: Well, obviously they have the exact numbers of what they expected and what was delivered. They obviously had some new parts here again, I think, so for us it was largely the same as last weekend but for sure, we are having our own schedule in terms of new bits and I think we are pushing as hard as we can but as I said, we also need to make sure that what we bring to the car is making it faster so it’s a constant challenge. For now, I think, the last two qualifying sessions Mercedes seemed to have the edge a little bit. It can turn around, the next two, who knows, so I think we need to look at ourselves? There’s always something you can learn from other people and what they put on the car, but that’s not just for Mercedes, that’s for all the teams. As I said, for tomorrow I’m less… not worried anyways, but less of the opinion that we are behind. I think we are more of a match in race pace, so let’s see what the day brings tomorrow.

    Q: Valtteri, you talked through the importance of the banker first lap but just how good was the second lap for you and also how important was it to bounce back today like this after the latest bit of bad luck last weekend?

    VB: Yeah, I think the first lap was really good but I think there was a tiny bit of track improvement for the second run. It’s always difficult to say how much but I think the second lap was very similar to the first one. I think I improved one tenth or so but yeah, I had some good laps in qualifying three so really enjoyed it and the car really allowed me to push. We’ve found a very good balance with the car so enjoyed it… and what was the second question?

    Q: About the bad luck last week…

    VB: Well yeah, for sure it’s nice to have a very good result but it’s only qualifying, the race is tomorrow but for sure we need to enjoy today a little bit but it’s tomorrow what counts.

    Q: Lewis, how difficult is it to start on the front row when your teammate is in front of you?

    LH: Obviously when you’re on the front row and you’re on your own and when you’re first you’ve got a clear view but it’s no different to being third or fourth, it’s the same.

    Q: I think part of that question was relating to compared to maybe a rival team’s driver alongside you on the front row compared to Valtteri?

    LH: No different. There’s no difference. Still racing.

     

  • Marquez takes pole; Rossi to start on front row

    Marquez takes pole; Rossi to start on front row

    Marquez (centre) takes Assen pole. A MotoGP image

    Assen, 30 June 2018: It’s reigning Champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) who will be starting from pole at the Motul TT Assen – his first at the venue in the premier class, only second of the 2018 season and 75th overall – but the pack were incredibly close together after qualifying at the ‘Cathedral’ delivered an absolute classic in the 8th round of the MotoGP World Championship here on Saturday.

    The top ten are within 0.376 seconds and the biggest gap between any two riders is just 0.063, setting the scene for a stunning race day once again. Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) who starts second and as top Independent Team rider, with the 10-time winner at the venue Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) completing the front row.

    The mad dash for pole was true to its name as the final 30 seconds saw everything shuffle and shuffle again, with Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team) and Andrea Iannone (Team Suzuki Ecstar) initially seeming to have the advantage before that final lap for the majority of those in the session – and the emergence of Marquez at the top. But it’s just 0.041 back to Crutchlow and 0.059 back to Rossi, with Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) heading the second row despite only being 0.079 off pole.

    The Italian is joined on Row 2 by the first of the Q1 graduates as Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) impressed on his first run and his second to secure P5 as top Hamamatsu factory machine. Friday’s fastest Maverick Viñales (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) starts sixth and still within two-tenths of pole, with the Spaniard hoping for a better launch off the line than in Barcelona.

    Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) continued his solid weekend as he converted automatic entry to Q2 into seventh on the grid – as well as making it five manufacturers in the top seven. Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3), who topped Q1 after a stunning final dash, starts from the middle of the third row – just getting the better of Iannone, who lost out in the last few seconds.

    That was also true of Italian and Catalan GP winner Jorge Lorenzo, who starts tenth after having been the early pacesetter. Less than four-tenths off, the ‘Spartan’ will be looking for a lot more on Sunday and keen to make another lightning launch off the line.

    Danilo Petrucci (Alma Pramac Racing) and Alvaro Bautista (Angel Nieto Team) took P11 and P12, with Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) taking top rookie honours in P13. Both he and fellow debutant Haifzh Syahrin (Monster Yamaha Tech 3), who starts fifteenth, will be looking to gain some ground in the fight for Rookie of the Year – with current leader Franco Morbidelli (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) missing the race and declared unfit after suffering a small fracture in his left hand.

    Jack Miller (Alma Pramac Racing) and Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team) will be two men keen to blast past that rookie battle as early as possible in the race – starting P16 and P18 respectively after a tough weekend for both so far.

    That’s a wrap on Saturday for the premier class – can Marquez extend his lead from pole? Can Rossi repeat the feat from third? Or can a darker horse a little future back get into that incredible fight, and take it down to the wire at the awesome Geert Timmer chicane…

    The lights go out at 14:00 (GMT+2). Moto3 starts at 2.30 pm IST and MotoGP is at 5.30pm Indian Time live on Sony Ten TV.

    MotoGP™ Qualifying Results
    1 – Marc Marquez (SPA) HONDA 1’32.791
    –
    First Independent Team Rider:
    2 – Cal Crutchlow (GBR) HONDA +0.041
    –
    3 – Valentino Rossi (ITA) YAMAHA +0.059