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Category: Moto GP

Moto GP, the Motorcycle World Championship

  • The time has come: Moto3 leads the troops out
    The lightweight class get ready to race in 2019 – and they’re up first

    Doha, 6 March 2019: The time has come and it will, by virtue of schedule, be the Moto3 class heading out to race first in the VisitQatar Grand Prix. And what better way to begin than the ever impressive and incredibly close kings of slipstreaming? Just like any other race weekend, the points on offer are the same 25 but the stakes seem that much higher when it’s the season opener…so who will take those first spoils?

    In the veteran camp there are a good few names that immediately stick out. Romano Fenati (Snipers Team) returns and he’s a former podium finisher at Losail, as are Aron Canet (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team), John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing) and Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Leopard Racing). Niccolo Antonelli (SIC58 Squadra Corse) won the 2016 edition, and the likes of Ayumu Sasaki (Petronas Sprinta Racing), Andrea Migno (Angel Nieto Team) and Marcos Ramirez (Leopard Racing) have all had solid top ten showings there. What of the riders like Tony Arbolino (Snipers Team), gaining some serious traction in testing? Will he be able to turn his Qatar GP form around? And then there’s veteran Gabriel Rodrigo (Kömmerling Gresini Moto3), who broke his collarbone in testing and remains a question mark…

    Then there are the rookies. Losail has made many an impression for a good few new names on Entry Lists throughout the years, and 2019 could be no different. After taking victory in Valencia last season as a wildcard to become the youngest ever Grand Prix winner, Turkish newcomer Can Öncü needs no introduction, and neither does Celestino Vietti (Sky Racing Team VR46) after appearing with a bang on the podium in Australia last year. In addition, Red Bull KTM Ajo rider Öncü knows the track from his time in the Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup, as does Ai Ogura (Honda Team Asia) – could that be an advantage over the likes of Raul Fernandez (Angel Nieto Team), Ricardo Rossi (Kömmerling Gresini Moto3), Tom Booth-Amos (CIP – Green Power) and Filip Salac (Redox PrüstelGP)? In this race at least, they also have to contend with Ryusei Yamanaka at Estrella Galicia 0,0 as the Japanese rider moves up from their junior team to sit in for Sergio Garcia. The Spaniard isn’t injured, however, he’s just too young and has to wait until after his 16th birthday and therefore the Argentina GP to head out on track to race. Only the reigning Red Bull Rookies MotoGP Cup or FIM CEV Repsol Moto3™Junior World Champion can compete at 15. For Yamanaka then, the stakes are high. But aren’t they for everyone?

    The time has come to find out and the lights go out for the first Moto3™ race of the season on Sunday 10th March at 16:00 (GMT +3).

  • Lowes retains his roll in Moto2, Fenati takes the spoils in Moto3: Qatar Test concludes

    Qatar, 3 March 2019:
    Federal Oil Gresini Moto2’s Sam Lowes has thrown down the gauntlet ahead of the opening race weekend of the season after ending the Moto2™ and Moto3™ Qatar Test quickest, his 1:58.439 on the final day enough to beat second place Tom Lüthi (Dynavolt Intact GP) by 0.224 seconds. The entire top ten on the combined standings set their quickest laps on Day 3 at Losail International Circuit, with Lowes’ time quick enough to put him on pole for the MotoGP™ race that took place at the venue in 2004!

    The aforementioned Lüthi was the British rider’s closest rival, with Remy Gardner (ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team) continuing his impressive preseason speed with third, 0.316 off P1. Fourth went the way of Augusto Fernandez (Flexbox HP 40), his 1:58.775 leaving him just 0.002 two from Gardner, with Marcel Schrötter (Dynavolt Intact GP) just another 0.030 back in fifth.

    EG 0,0 Marc VDS’ Xavi Vierge ends the three-day test just ahead of Jorge Navarro (+Ego Speed Up) and Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) as the three Spaniards occupy sixth, seventh and eighth respectively. Ninth goes to Luca Marini (Sky Racing Team VR46), his 1:58.980 putting him 0.541 off Lowes, with Day 1’s fastest rider Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) completing the top ten.
    Fenati was once again the quickest man in the lightweight class
    In Moto3™, Romano Fenati (Snipers Team) ended the test at the top of the timesheets after going quickest on the final day, setting a best time of 2:05.285 to head teammate Tony Arbolino by 0.230. With many focusing on a fast lap – and some on trying to get a tow – it was a frantic final day of action.

    All of the lightweight class riders, except the injured Gabriel Rodrigo (Kömmerling Gresini Moto3), went quicker on the third and final day of testing at Losail International Circuit. But it was the Snipers Team duo who locked out the top two positions at the end of play, just like they have done on the previous two days. Their closest challenger was Aron Canet (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team), with 0.368 splitting him from Fenati in third.

    Fourth fastest was Leopard Racing’s Lorenzo Dalla Porta, the only other rider within half a second of Fenati, with Niccolo Antonelli (SIC58 Squadra Corse) completing a top five covered by 0.507 seconds.

    John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing) ended the test in sixth place with a best time of 2:05.899, the British rider sitting 0.131 ahead of seventh-placed Marcos Ramirez (Leopard Racing). Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse) was eighth, just ahead of Sky Racing Team VR46 duo Dennis Foggia and rookie Celestino Vietti – it was ninth and tenth on the timesheets for the Italians respectively.
  • Lowes leads Gardner, Martin in Moto2, Fenati fights back in Moto3: Doha Test Day 2

    Lowes leads Gardner, Martin in Moto2, Fenati fights back in Moto3: Doha Test Day 2

    The penultimate day of preseason testing goes down in Doha
    Doha, 2 March 2019:
    Lowes tops test at Doha on Day Two, 2 March 2019. A MotoGP image

    Sam Lowes (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) topped the timesheets on Day 2 of the official Moto2™ and Moto3™ Qatar Test after the British rider set a 1:58.824 to go fastes. He and second placed Remy Gardner (ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team) were the only two riders to dip below the 1:59 bracket. Gardner finished 0.055 off Lowes as conditions improved on Saturday after a blustery start to the test on Friday. Reigning Moto3™ World Champion and rookie Jorge Martin (Red Bull KTM Ajo) set the third fastest time on Day 2, his 1:59.039 put him 0.215 off Lowes’ benchmark.

    Fourth was Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS), 0.295 from P1 and 0.049 ahead of his teammate Xavi Vierge, the Spaniard rounding out the top five. Sixth went the way of Sky Racing Team VR46’s Luca Marini, the Italian 0.463 off Lowes, with Jorge Navarro (+Ego Speed Up) seventh.

    Eighth and ninth on Saturday was Dynavolt Intact GP pairing Marcel Schrötter and Tom Lüthi, the duo 0.546 and 0.562 off respectively, while rookie Fabio Di Giannantonio (+Ego Speed Up) completed the top ten – 0.583 was the gap from the Italian to Lowes.

    Marco Bezzecchi (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) and Xavi Cardelus (Angel Nieto Team) crashed on Day 2 – riders ok.
    Fenati turned the tables on Saturday to head the timesheets

    In Moto3™, Romano Fenati (Snipers Team) went quickest after setting the best time of 2:05.989, 0.126 faster than teammate Tony Arbolino to turn the tables on Day 2. After the wind caused difficulties on Day 1 at Losail International Circuit, conditions improved for Day 2 as the two Italian riders topped the timesheets again. Their closest challenger on the second day came in the form of Aron Canet (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team), who finished 0.148 from Fenati on board his KTM.

    Lorenzo Dalla Porta’s (Leopard Racing) 2:06.339 put him fourth on the timesheets, 0.350 back from Fenati, while Kaito Toba (Honda Team Asia) continues to go well at the Qatar Test – the Japanese rider slotted into P5 at the end of Day 2 with a 2:06.437. Darryn Binder (CIP – Green Power) sits sixth, with Marcos Ramirez (Leopard Racing) and BOE Skull Rider Mugen Racing’s Kazuki Masaki seventh and eighth respectively.

    After a promising preseason, Gabriel Rodrigo’s (Kömmerling Gresini Moto3) Qatar GP looks to be in serious doubt after the Argentine rider fractured his collarbone in a crash on Day 2. Rodrigo was ninth on the timesheets before the incident, with Niccolo Antonelli (SIC58 Squadra Corse) completing the top ten – 0.794 back from Fenati. Filip Salac (Redox PrüstelGP) and Ramirez also crashed during the day – riders ok.

    The intermediate and lightweight classes will be back on track on Sunday for their LAST day of preseason, keep up to date with Live Timing and results on motogp.com.
  • Viñales, Quartararo and Marquez on top with Rossi, Lorenzo, for close company: Qatar Test

    Viñales, Quartararo and Marquez on top with Rossi, Lorenzo, for close company: Qatar Test

    Vinales tops final day of the test on 25 Feb 2019. A MotoGP image

    Losail, 25 Feb 2019: Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) leaves Losail International Circuit after the Qatar Test having topped two of the three days, the first and final, and on Monday it was with a 1:54.208 to end the test 0.233 clear. The top spot was again under threat from an incredible performance from rookie Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) in second, however, with reigning Champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) completing the top three. And, after a tougher Day 2 for Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP), the ‘Doctor’ was back inside the top four just behind Marquez, with Jorge Lorenzo (Repsol Honda Team) another resurgent runner as he completed the top five.

    So it’s Yamaha who leave Qatar on top despite a windier Day 3, with Viñales putting in 50 laps on Monday and Rossi 38. The Italian was pretty positive and said it came from putting “everything together”, but the Spaniard did still insist they need to improve and one of the big things he pointed out was edge grip, where he said the Yamaha is lacking a little compared to other manufacturers. Quartararo, meanwhile, did 48 laps and showed his Day 2 showing was far from a fluke, with teammate Franco Morbidelli shooting up the timesheets to sixth on Monday too. That makes good reading for both the Iwata marque and the new Petronas Yamaha SRT team, with all Yamahas in the top six.

    Repsol Honda were the only other team and manufacturer to mix it with them on Monday, although both machines took tumbles – riders ok. Marc Marquez was third with a 1:54.613 and did 53 laps, again showing the capacity to put more mileage on his shoulder, and teammate Jorge Lorenzo took P5 just 0.040 off Marquez and 0.002 off Rossi. After two much tougher days on the timesheets hovering outside the top 15 as he both changes bike and comes back from a scaphoid broken only a month ago, the five-time World Champion catapulted himself up to a 1:54.653 on Day 3.

    Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu), meanwhile, also had a solid final day as he finished the Qatar Test in eighth despite a crash, and the Japanese rider concludes testing with a sheet of consistent top tens. He did 50 laps with a best of 1:54.789, with teammate Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) down in P17 after 39 laps.

    Another big headline on the last day of preseason came from the consistently impressive Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), who was a stunning seventh on a best effort of 1:54.770. The Spaniard put in 37 laps as the Austrian factory continue working on the details, and the second quickest KTM was actually Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Tech3) on Monday as the Portuguese rookie was within around a second of Espargaro. Johann Zarco (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was a little further down the timesheets on Monday in P22.

    Danilo Petrucci (Mission Winnow Ducati Team), meanwhile, retained his stronghold on the timesheets amongst the Borgo Panigale machines. The Italian was ninth on Day 3 after another 43 laps, with teammate Andrea Dovizioso down in P15 after 50 but they focused on long runs and race setup. The engine and fairing and bigger decisions were already made before the end of action. Jack Miller (Alma Pramac Racing) improved to tenth on his final of 57 laps, and his teammate, rookie Francesco Bagnaia, wasn’t far off in P13 – just two tenths in arrears. He was closely followed by Reale Avintia Racing’s Tito Rabat.

    Between that Ducati invasion were nestled both of the Team Suzuki Ecstar machines. Although third overall from his Day 2 laptime, Alex Rins ended Monday in P11 on a 1:54.852 after 41 laps and rookie teammate Joan Mir was the second quickest rookie in P12. The gap between the two Hamamatsu factory machines was only a tenth and a half…

    Aprilia, meanwhile, were happy with their improvements and although Andrea Iannone (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) was P16 and Aleix Espargaro P19, they were focusing more on longer runs, for Espargaro especially – and overall across the test Espargaro was P14. The Noale factory were also happy with the adaptation shown by Iannone after the Italian had to sit out much of Sepang with illness, which is a big positive after a difficult recent run.

    That’s it from Qatar and preseason is officially over – now all that remains is to race. With fifteen riders ending the test within a second, KTM in the top ten, the likes of Quartararo looking incredibly fast…what will the VisitQatar Grand Prix bring? Find out from the 8th to 10th March.
  • Viñales and Rins face off: MotoGP Test Day 1

    Viñales and Rins face off: MotoGP Test Day 1

    Two Spaniards a tenth apart at the top, ahead of Dovi and Petrucci
    40 and going strong:: Rossi heads out under the lights at Qatar on Saturday. A MotoGP image

    Qatar, 23 Feb 2019: Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy MotoGP) topped the first day of the Qatar Test, putting in a 1:55.051 to head the grid after a late charge for supremacy. It was close though, with the Suzuki of Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) just 0.108 back – and the two set those laps close together on track. As always when action returns to Qatar, track conditions need to improve throughout the day and it was therefore fairly late on that a lot of the action took place – and the latter part of the day when Viñales blasted to the top.

    That 1:55.051 to put Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP on top was one of 50 laps completed by Viñales on Day 1, and the signs look good for the factory – with teammate Valentino Rossi not far back as he completed the top five after 47 laps. Team Director Massimo Meregalli confirmed the engine had already been decided and that focus was first on comparing data with that from Sepang. Aero, however, remains up in the air – with more to try for the Iwata marque at Losail.

    Petronas Yamaha SRT, meanwhile, had more positives – first for rookie Fabio Quartararo. Quickest debutant by a stretch on Saturday, the Frenchman was a stunning seventh overall and less than two tenths off Rossi after 49 laps. Franco Morbidelli was a little further down after the first session, ending the day seven tenths further back in P14.

    Alex Rins put in a similar lap count: 48. The Spaniard showed more good form for Hamamatsu factory Suzuki after threatening the top on the first days of the Sepang test too, and this time rookie teammate Joan Mir began the test further up the timesheets as he ended the day in P11. Suzuki had a new exhaust on show and Team Manager Davide Brivio confirmed that the chassis is defined, the engine spec is decided and said that focus was now on fine tuning and the details – including some final aero checks and work on the suspension and settings.

    So behind the duo at the top, who came next? Both Mission Winnow Ducatis, with Andrea Dovizioso leading teammate Danilo Petrucci by a mere 0.044 – although they were half a second back. Both put in less laps than some of their competitors, with Dovi doing 29 and Petrucci 37. The latter was only just ahead of Rossi, but 0.010 can make the difference in MotoGP™. Team Manager Davide Tardozzi says, like many up and down pitlane, focus is now on the details – but the Borgo Panigale factory plan to make their final aero decision on Sunday.

    Tito Rabat (Reale Avintia Racing) kept the good news rolling for Ducati machinery as he ended the day in P6 after 44 laps, happy there’s more room to improve, too, but Alma Pramac Racing, who starred in the Sepang test, were a little further back on Day 1 in Qatar. Francesco Bagnaia was P15 after a 1:56.738, with teammate Jack Miller in P19. Miller said, however, he spent the session doing six to eight lap runs, testing different parts – and lacking the time to be able to put in a tyre to push for a hot lap.

    Another surprise on Saturday came from the fastest Honda: Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu). The Japanese rider showed more top pace and put in 45 laps. Teammate Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) spent some time testing parts for HRC and finished the session in P18. Reigning Champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team), whose shoulder remains less than 100% after surgery, ended the day in tenth and, like in Sepang, put in only 34 laps. But he was positive and said he’s now back to riding in his more natural style, and he had his first crash of the season with no consequence. On the other side of the garage, the return of Jorge Lorenzo saw the ‘Spartan’ struggle in braking as he comes back from a broken scaphoid, and he focused on continuing to understand the bike. Despite not so many laps and not too many new things to try as yet, the five-time World Champion did mention his desire to modify the seat in an effort to make his new machine a little more ergonomic. Repsol Honda Team Manager Alberto Puig said work on engine and aero is continuing until the last moment for the team – because every possibility is something worth trying – and a new exhaust was one thing spotted.

    Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) impressed on Day 1. The Spaniard, who took the Austrian factory’s first premier class podium at Valencia last season, was the trailblazer once again as he finished up Saturday’s action in P9 after 47 laps. Teammate Johann Zarco put in 53 laps and was P16, around eight tenths back, and he was just 0.121 ahead of rookie KTM rider Miguel Oliveira on the Red Bull KTM Tech3. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager Mike Leitner specified they’re working on confirming chassis and aerodynamic modifications, and said the goal was to first finish off the test program from Sepang and then find a base setting for the race – as you’d expect. He also added that the items on the agenda are now less, something that speaks of the scale of KTM’s development program given the amount of track time already gone in preseason.

    Aprilia, meanwhile, slotted into P12 and P13 with Aleix Espargaro and Andrea Iannone respectively – despite crashes for both. Espargaro did 34 laps and confirmed the bike is a definite improvement on last year’s, and Iannone catapulted himself up the timesheets after struggling with illness and missing much of the Sepang test. The Italian managed 30 laps and was only 0.089 off Espargaro by the end of the day. One key thing the Noale factory were spotted trying was an aero fairing.

    That’s it from Day 1 and it was ruled by Viñales and Rins – what will Day 2 bring? Find out from 16:00 local time (GMT+3) on Sunday with more laps in the desert at Losail International Circuit.
  • Qatar MotoGP Test: the final countdown begins

    Qatar MotoGP Test: the final countdown begins

     

    It’s just over two weeks until the season starts and Losail hosts the second and final preseason test
    Image courtesy MotoGP

    Losail, 22 Feb 2019: Sepang certainly gave us a tantalising first glimpse of the season ahead, and now it’s time to up the ante even further as Losail International Circuit in Qatar welcomes MotoGP™ for the second and final preseason test of 2019. Final decisions on engines, aero fairings and more await – and there’s the chance to compare data from Malaysia, as well as set up for the VisitQatar Grand Prix. It’s three full days on track, but plenty to get done.

    One of the biggest talking points ahead of the test and, undoubtedly after, is the return to action of Jorge Lorenzo (Repsol Honda Team). After breaking his scaphoid near the end of the winter break, the Spaniard was forced to sit out Sepang and lose valuable time on the Honda, but now he’ll be able to get another three days of familiarisation under his belt as he joins new teammate Marc Marquez on track. Marquez himself is also a talking point but this season not just for win rate – the reigning Champion put in a much lower lap load in Malaysia than he often has at testing in the past, and although he was pretty quick, he said his shoulder is still not 100% and he’s not riding in his usual style. How much further along will the seven-time World Champion be in his recovery by the Qatar Test and, after that, the race weekend?

    Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) was actually the fastest Honda at Sepang. The Brit, despite also still being on a road to recovery after breaking his ankle at Phillip Island last season, impressed on his return and managed a solid 60+ laps on the final day. He’s another who will be expecting improvements in his condition for the Qatar Test. His teammate Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) also had a positive Malaysia and, after topping the Jerez test at the end of last season, was a consistent presence in the top ten. Now on the bike that Marquez rode to the 2018 crown, the season is looking bright for the sophomore and he’ll be one to watch.

    It wasn’t actually reigning Champions Honda who stole the headlines at Sepang, however – it was Borgo Panigale’s Italian armada. Ducati machinery locked out the fastest four in Malaysia and Mission Winnow Ducati Team’s new arrival Danilo Petrucci was the man on top. Qatar will be another chance for him to evaluate an aero fairing he crashed on as well as everything else, but it will also be a chance for teammate Andrea Dovizioso to turn the tables. The 2018 Qatar GP winner was the fourth quickest and seemed happy, now we’ll see if Italian machinery can repeat the feat at Losail…

    The two riders who split those two factory machines in Malaysia were Alma Pramac Racing’s Francesco Bagnaia and Jack Miller, in second and third respectively. ‘Pecco’ Bagnaia laid an early claim on the title of Rookie of the Year with his stunning lap, just 0.063 off Petrucci, but he says he needs to focus on longer runs now and be able to run with the pack for more laps. Miller was happy enough after Sepang despite a crash each day, and his pace was impressive too. Will the Australian show the same form at Losail? And can the likes of Tito Rabat (Reale Avintia Racing), coming back from a broken leg, keep his impressive pace from Malaysia at another venue?

    And then there’s Yamaha. Monster Energy MotoGP’s Maverick Viñales and Valentino Rossi were both pretty positive in Sepang, but the former a little more so than the latter. Viñales praised better consistency in the data from the 2019 M1, as well as improvements in acceleration they’ve managed to find. Rossi said it was more mixed, but the mood was definitely an upturn – with the ‘Doctor’ citing specifically the good atmosphere and methodology for the Iwata marque. Team Director Massimo Meregalli also had a positive addition, stating both riders were choosing similar directions in development.

    For new kids on the block Petronas Yamaha SRT, it was also a positive test. They’re on 2019 machinery and Franco Morbidelli has hit the ground running after his switch of manufacturer, with Fabio Quartararo also showing some good rookie pace. Will we see them take another step forward in Qatar after another three days of track time?

    At Team Suzuki Ecstar, there also seems to be a lot of positivity. Alex Rins was a constant threat on the timesheets on the first two days in Malaysia and the Hamamatsu factory have been working hard to build on their stellar 2018. And rookie Joan Mir, after two more anonymous days at least in terms of laptime, moved up the timesheets a little on Day 3 – but is he showing his hand? Or will that only come when testing’s over and the race weekend begins?

    For Aprilia there were some good positives from Malaysia too, at least from some of the garage. Aleix Espargaro was seventh overall and on a track with a very long main straight, and Romano Albesiano, now heading up the technical side, said another positive was the reliability the Noale factory had had throughout the test. For newcomer Andrea Iannone it was more difficult however, as an infection requiring antibiotics kept him out of action for much of it. The Italian will want to try and make up for lost time at Qatar. Test rider Bradley Smith is also down to wildcard at the first race of the season, so the track time beforehand is important for both development and set up for the Brit.

    KTM, meanwhile, continue their mammoth project of testing and development. New arrival Johann Zarco (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) made some solid steps in Sepang and got more on a par with Pol Espargaro, and Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Tech3) started to really impress. The Portuguese rookie wasn’t far off the two factory guys…

    Three days, a new venue and lots left to test and learn ahead of the season, the Qatar Test will give us a lot more answers but undoubtedly another few exciting questions ahead of the first race weekend of the year. Are Repsol Honda ready despite their injuries? Can the rookies run with the pack? Will Suzuki and Yamaha prove key threats for the win this year? From the 23rd to 25th February, we’ll start finding a few more answers at the Qatar Test.
  • #Rossi40: As Valentino Rossi celebrates his 40th birthday, MotoGP presents 23 seasons in review

    #Rossi40: As Valentino Rossi celebrates his 40th birthday, MotoGP presents 23 seasons in review

    A MotoGP image

    Celebrate the Doctor’s 40th birthday by re-watching his greatest moments in 23 years of motorbike racing

     

    Hamilton, Maradona, Federer, Iniesta and more wish Rossi ‘buon compleanno’

    Some of the biggest stars from Italy and around the world send their birthday wishes to the Doctor

     

  • Maverick Vinales obliterates the opposition on Day 2: Sepang MotoGP Test

    Maverick Vinales obliterates the opposition on Day 2: Sepang MotoGP Test

    Maverick Vinales tops on Day2 at Sepang test. A MotoGP image

    Sepang, 7 Feb 2019: Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) got within just 0.067 of Jorge Lorenzo’s fastest ever lap of Sepang on Day 2 of testing, with the 1:58.830 set by Lorenzo last season – although not an official lap record – now surely under threat on Day 3. Viñales had been hovering in third for much of the latter part of the day and left his vie at record-breaking late as the final few minutes saw time attacks light up the timesheets. More than three tenths up before the final sector, the Spaniard eventually crossed the line 0.527 ahead of nearest rival Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar), setting both a supreme lap and a serious benchmark.

    That built on a positive first day on the timesheets for Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP and Valentino Rossi in sixth added to the good vibes. The veteran Italian did 51 laps and was only two tenths off second, although the distance to his teammate stretched out from there. The Iwata marque confirmed they have a busy agenda, with different winglets and chassis items on the menu. Happy with progress since November, Team Director Massimo Meregalli says the biggest focus from Sepang is the last part of the corner and specifically, acceleration.

    Petronas Yamaha SRT’s Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli ended the day in P14 and P15 respectively – and the Frenchman had a 2019 bike as he made that key step forward. They both did 58 laps.

    Alex Rins was the man who lost his top spot to Viñales after seeming set to end the day fastest, but the Spaniard’s 1:59.424 was nevertheless an incredible laptime and he did 61 laps on Thursday. Team Manager Davide Brivio said it’s going well and they have different swingarms, new aerodynamics with both riders and some different combinations; engine mapping, clutch, “things like that” – as well as an exhaust to try on Day 2. The Italian said their focus is fitting together the “puzzle” correctly for the first race, and the timesheets seem to bode well for Rins despite the Hamamatsu factory losing their concessions in 2019. Rookie teammate Joan Mir ended the day in P21 after 64 laps.

    Andrea Dovizioso clocks 4th fastest time on Day 2. A Ducati image

    On Rins’ tail was the fastest Ducati on Day 2 and once again it was an Independent Team rider – this time Jack Miller (Alma Pramac Racing). The Australian was a late mover like those above him and was only a tenth off Rins by the end of play, putting in 49 laps. Just behind him came Andrea Dovizioso, who was the fastest Mission Winnow Ducati and looked set to top the day’s action until the late flurry of fast laps saw him pushed down to fourth. Initially the number 04 was working on frames, and Team Manager Davide Tardozzi confirmed that teammate Danilo Petrucci was focused on finding a better connection between the throttle and the rear tyre – working on the electronics and engine. Roles were then reversed, and Tardozzi also confirmed the Borgo Panigale factory also had some work on aero planned. That’s expected tomorrow. Today, it was two red machines in tandem as the two were on track together on some longer runs in the afternoon, with Petrucci saying he has “more to learn” than his teammate and ending the day in ninth. Tito Rabat (Reale Avintia Racing) pipped him on his GP18 to end Thursday in P7, with Francesco Bagnaia fastest rookie in P12 for Alma Pramac Racing.

    Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) put in a good showing on Thursday to take fifth overall and end the day as fastest Honda. The Brit is returning from a badly broken ankle sustained at Phillip Island last season but managed 53 laps to end the session within just 0.004 of Dovizioso. He also suffered a crash; Rider OK.

    Next up for Honda was eighth placed Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team), who downed tools early once again and put in 37 laps on Day 2 – although some of those were a longer run in the afternoon. The team confirmed they’re on schedule despite the lighter lap load for the reigning Champion, too – with Marquez routinely having done over 90 laps per test day last season – and were working on the new bike, new engine and electronics, with a lot to get through including some different fairings. Crutchlow’s teammate Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) took P10 after 60 laps, with Stefan Bradl (Honda Test Team) taking P16 after 59 laps.

    Red Bull KTM Factory Racing saw some tables turned on Day 2 as Johann Zarco ended the day as fastest Austrian machine for the first time since his switch to the marque. He said he outstripped his expected progress for the day and it made him smile to dip below the 2 minute mark for the first time, and he ended the day in P11 after 58 laps. Teammate Pol Espargaro was P17 and just over three tenths off the Frenchman. KTM test rider Mika Kallio was a couple of places back, and just pipped Red Bull KTM Tech 3 rookie Miguel Oliveira. Malaysian Hafizh Syahrin had a tougher day, outside the top twenty.

    Aprilia Racing Team Gresini, meanwhile, had a race simulation fairly early on Day 2 for Aleix Espargaro as Andrea Iannone remained focused on adaptation. Bike balance, electronics and torque control were a focus for the Noale factory. Espargaro ended the day in P13 after 54 laps, Iannone in P18 after 39. Romano Albesiano, Technical Manager, also confirmed that it’s not just the immediate future the marque are working towards, with plans made to make some big changes in testing in order to set up some more radical development later in the season.

  • Marquez returns from injury to top Day 1 at Sepang: MotoGP test

    Marquez returns from injury to top Day 1 at Sepang: MotoGP test

    Marc Marquez tops Sepang Test on Day 1. A MotoGP image

    Sepang, 6 Feb 2019: Despite still suffering the effects of surgery on his left shoulder during the winter break, Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) has topped the timesheets on Day 1 at the Sepang Test with a 1:59.621, 0.259 faster than Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) in second and 0.316 quicker than third place Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) as 2019 revs back into life. Marquez completed 29 laps on Day 1 before stopping in the early afternoon to give his left shoulder a rest ahead of the next two days, with the reigning World Champion heading for more physio in the afternoon. Teammate Jorge Lorenzo sits out the test due to injury (check slip and fall injuries lawyer here), but there were three Hondas in the top ten as Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu), fastest in Jerez, took seventh and Stefan Bradl (Honda Test Team) ended Day 1 in P9, just under six tenths off Marquez. For such injury cases, hire experienced attorneys for head injury claims and other injury claims, here!

    LCR Honda Castrol rider Cal Crutchlow, meanwhile, returned from his ankle injury sustained at Phillip Island with a solid 51 laps on Wednesday, ending his first time back on a bike in P14 with a 2:00.681.

    Alex Rins was one of the big headlines of the day, able to put in a substantial 61 laps on board his 2019 GSX-RR and was fastest for some time until deposed by Marquez. He remained second after his earlier fast lap, however, and was the lead Hamamatsu machine by quite a stretch. Rookie teammate Joan Mir ended the day in P23, just behind veteran French test rider Sylvain Guintoli.

    There were positive signs from Yamaha on the timesheets. Maverick Viñales ended the day in P3 after 63 laps with a best of 1:59.937, with teammate Valentino Rossi in P6 after 56 laps and just over a tenth off Viñales. The Iwata marque are focusing on final decisions for their 2019 engine, the electronics and some chassis elements – and say comparing their times to competitors’ is a key point of interest after an intense winter of work.

    New team on the block Petronas Yamaha SRT, meanwhile, had Franco Morbidelli just outside the top ten in P12 after 60 laps – only eight tenths off the top – with rookie teammate Fabio Quartararo a further half a second in arrears in P18 on tight timesheets.

    Just behind Viñales, meanwhile, was the first of the Borgo Panigale machines – but it was Reale Avintia Racing’s Tito Rabat who took that honour. Less than half a tenth off Viñales and the last man under the two-minute barrier, the Spaniard impressed on his first day back on a MotoGP™ machine at fuller strength, having missed much of the latter part of last season following his crash at Silverstone. Just behind him came the first of the Mission Winnow Ducati machines in the form of new arrival Danilo Petrucci, with the Italian just 0.003 ahead of Rossi after 54 laps. 2017 and 2018 runner up Andrea Dovizioso, meanwhile, ended Day 1 of 2019 in P8 with a 2:00.197.

    Jack Miller wasn’t far off the second factory machine despite a small crash either, with the Aussie taking P11 – three tenths off ‘DesmoDovi’ and lead Alma Pramac Racing machine. Rookie teammate Francesco Bagnaia – reigning Moto2™ Champion – made for close company too, impressing in P15 as the fastest debutant.

    Completing the top ten was an impressive day’s work for Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), who put in a fitting 44 laps with a best of 2:00.313 despite a crash at the end. The Spaniard took the honours of lead Austrian machine by sixth tenths, although the second KTM on the timesheets was an equally stunning performance: rookie Miguel Oliveira of Red Bull KTM Tech 3, despite a brief technical issue. The Portuguese rider finished the day in P16 and only just off fastest newcomer Bagnaia, making a big impression on Day 1 after more difficult tests at Valencia and Jerez. Experienced test rider Mika Kallio was in P19, just ahead of Espargaro’s new teammate Johann Zarco as the Frenchman continued his adaptation in P20.

    Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) was the fastest Noale machine in P13 and said the 2019 bike is a definite improvement, with the Spaniard putting in 55 laps to end the first day of the season just ahead of Crutchlow. New teammate Andrea Iannone was down in P21 and suffered a crash, ending the day 1.6 seconds off Marquez as he continues to get used to his new machinery.

  • Three days of Sepang test to begin on Wednesday: MotoGP class of 2019, ready to rumble

    Sepang, 5 Feb 2019: After a shakedown test for factories with concessions, test riders and a few other bikes sharing the track, it’s now time for the proper season to begin. Sepang International Circuit remains the host, and the whole class of 2019 is now ready to rumble and head out on track for three days of Official Test.

    So who’s that? There are a few key changes in 2019. Perhaps the biggest is one that won’t be out on track in Malaysia, however, as Jorge Lorenzo sits out the test due to injury. That leaves Repsol Honda teammate and reigning Champion Marc Marquez the only rider in orange, and he’ll be an interesting one to watch as he himself also continues his recovery from injury – although he has, at least, been out on a mini bike. After a winter away, how will the Champion feel back on a bike? Marquez will undoubtedly be the focus of many a Sepang spotlight.

    That’s an even bigger question for Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol), as the Brit has been off a motorcycle since his crash during the Australian Grand Prix weekend. Breaking his ankle badly and taking some serious time to recover, the three-time Grand Prix winner has had a long winter – but he’ll be back out now, working for his own season and Honda. Stefan Bradl (Honda Test Team) will be another out there working for the Japanese factory, and one more Honda will be in action: Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu). The Japanese rider topped the Jerez Test and will want to translate that pace into some impressive lap times around Sepang, too.

    The newly-named Mission Winnow Ducati squad will be an interesting duo. Andrea Dovizioso has become a mainstay of the podium, the top step and the top echelons of the Championship, and it was a Ducati who did the fastest lap at the test last season – although not his. Now it’s a different benchmark sharing the red garage, with Danilo Petrucci moving up to the factory team and the Borgo Panigale duo eager to keep showing the incredible form that has characterized the last two seasons. How will Petrucci settle in?

    Alma Pramac Racing’s two Ducati machines will be out on track as well, with Jack Miller now the experienced rider in the squad and aiming for another step forward this year. That’s as Francesco Bagnaia joins him in the team, and the hotly-tipped rookie and reigning Moto2™ Champion will be one to watch. Reale Avintia Racing’s Tito Rabat will be back at fuller strength after his injury last season, and Karel Abraham moves to the team to join the Spaniard – on a GP18, moving two iterations forward in one leap.

    Meanwhile, at Yamaha, the test will be crucial. After problems throughout much of last season and some key issues identified, the Iwata marque has been all hands on deck over winter and the Sepang Test will give some indications as to the progress made. A veritable armada of Yamaha riders will be on track, too – Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) and teammate Maverick Viñales top the bill, but there’s also test riders Jonas Folger, Katsuyuki Nakasuga and Kohta Nozane expected to take part.

    In addition, Petronas Yamaha SRT joins the fold. The new team have Yamaha machinery and the tantalising line up of Franco Morbidelli and rookie Fabio Quartararo, with a lot of interest focused on both men. The new team and the test rider count also means the Iwata marque outnumber any other manufacturer at the first test of the season.

    Team Suzuki Ecstar field Alex Rins, another man aiming for a consistent challenge at the front this season, and another hotly-tipped rookie in Joan Mir. They also have a test rider present in the form of Sylvain Guintoli, with both the veteran Frenchman and Rins, now a sophomore, adding some continuity to the Hamamatsu factory’s programme as Mir settles into life in the premier class. Suzuki no longer have concessions, however, after an impressive season last year…could that play a role in their 2019? After some more difficult directional decisions for 2017, the factory want to make sure they have another stellar campaign.

    Red Bull KTM Factory Racing arrive with big designs on the season ahead, too. After a final round that saw incredible success for the Austrian factory in all three classes, and injury struggles largely behind them, there’s a lot of expectation around the newest factory on the block. For one, Johann Zarco is a man in the spotlight, as is new teammate Pol Espargaro after taking their first ever podium in Valencia. Test rider Mika Kallio is back from injury, the only bad news for KTM is the continuing recovery of new signing Dani Pedrosa. But they also have two more machines out on track – Hafizh Syahrin and Miguel Oliveira of Red Bull KTM Tech 3, a sophomore and a rookie but two riders who are both new to the machine.

    Finally, Aprilia Racing Team Gresini have some exciting additions for 2019. Andrea Iannone joins the Noale factory alongside Aleix Espargaro, and the Italian squad now have test rider Bradley Smith’s experience to call on as they continue developing the RS-GP. All three will be on track at Sepang, and they’ll be aiming to gather important information to help guide their season after some struggles in 2018.