INDIA in F1

Category: Moto GP

Moto GP, the Motorcycle World Championship

  • Lorenzo takes Misano pole again; sets record

    Five-time World Champion sets a new record to make it four Misano poles in five years as Marquez amps up the drama with a crash
    Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team) broke his own 2016 pole lap record at Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli in an adrenaline-fuelled qualifying on the Adriatic, searing around the venue in a 1:31.629 to lower his own fastest laptime and secure Ducati’s first pole at the venue since 2008. Jack Miller (Alma Pramac Racing) put in a stunner at his team’s home race to take second and qualify as top Independent Team rider, with Maverick Viñales (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) locking out the front row after a last lunge for the front.

    One key name missing from that trio? Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team), top qualifier this season so far, did not make it onto the front row – he crashed. Lorenzo’s ominous form was certainly a key headline but the drama for the Championship leader lit up the session. Crashing on his second run in a relatively fast lowside, the number 93 was straight to his feet without pause for thought and sprinting to get a lift back to the pits. Once back in the paddock on the back of a scooter, he hit the ground running again to run through his Repsol Honda garage from front to back, straight back on his other machine and heading back out. Could he do another ‘Texas 2015’ style pole dash?

    The first sector looked like it might it be possible as it lit up red, but the reigning Champion then lost some time and it wasn’t to be. So he’ll line up fifth – his worst qualifying in the premier class at the venue – and he’ll have some serious company in the form of Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team), who’s just alongside him in fourth.

    Behind Dovizioso and Marquez, Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) was sixth and completes the second row, suffering a low-drama crash near the end of the session. And the Brit broke some local hearts, with Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) pushed down to head up the third row.

    Rossi has had a weekend of ups and downs so far at his home venue, just making it into that all-important top ten on Friday and continuing to work hard on Saturday to get race ready. In qualifying the rider from Tavullia was hovering around the second row, before just losing out in that last minute shuffle. Row 3 is completed by last year’s podium finisher Danilo Petrucci (Alma Pramac Racing) and fellow Independent Team rider Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3).

    Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) was tenth fastest and top Hamamatsu machine after teammate Andrea Iannone just failed to make it through to Q2 – he starts P13 – with two-time Misano winner Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team) in P11. Franco Morbidelli (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) completes the top 12.

    Behind Iannone, wildcard compatriot Michele Pirro (Ducati Test Team) took P14 after a crash hampered his chances in Q1, and Alvaro Bautista (Angel Nieto Team) completed the top 15.

    So that’s it for the premier class on Saturday. A three-time winner on pole, a dark horse with nothing to lose alongside him and a man who hasn’t won for a year make for an incredible front row – with everything to play for. Marquez and Dovizioso lurk close behind too, and the ‘Doctor’ can never be counted out on race day – especially considering his incredible support around Misano. Who will emerge from the melee ahead? The lights go out at 14:00 (GMT +2).
    MotoGP™ Qualifying Results
    1 – Jorge Lorenzo (SPA) DUCATI 1’31.629
    –
    First Independent Team Rider:
    2 – Jack Miller (AUS) DUCATI +0.287
    –
    3 – Maverick Viñales (SPA) YAMAHA +0.321
    NEWS: in-season test dates confirmed

    The MotoGP™ class will test on the 6th May at the Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto after the Spanish GP, and the second test will be held at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya after the Grand Prix there, on the 17th June. The final official test for the premier class in 2019 will be held at the Automotodrom Brno, on the 5th August.

    The Moto3™ and Moto2™ classes, meanwhile, will test in Jerez and Barcelona on the Tuesdays after the premier class have tested, and they will test at the Red Bull Ring on the 12th August after the Austrian GP.

    A two-day Official Test for the premier class is also forecast for the 28th and 29th August. If the Kymiring is confirmed on the 2020 MotoGP™ calendar, that will be held in Finland. If not, this test will be at Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli.
  • British Grand Prix at Silverstone cancelled due to bad weather conditions: MotoGP

    British Grand Prix at Silverstone cancelled due to bad weather conditions: MotoGP

    Jorge Lorenzo before the British GP race was abandoned on Sunday. A MotoGP image

    Silverstone, 26 Aug 2018: The British Grand Prix, round 12 of the MotoGP World Championship, which was due to be held Sunday, was cancelled due to bad weather conditions at the Silverstone circuit. MotoGP will now head for the next round is the San Marino and Riviera di Rimini Grand Prix, which will be held at the Misano World Circuit ‘Marco Simoncelli’ from September 7 to 9.

    After it rained heavily on Saturday and track conditions caused delays, the decision was taken to change the schedule for Sunday and the MotoGP race was rescheduled for 5 pm (IST) (11:30 local time, GMT +1), with the hour chosen according to the latest weather reports available at that time.

    On Sunday, Warm Up sessions began at 9:00, with MotoGP out first, and the weather began to steadily worsen. By the time riders were on the grid awaiting lights out for the race at 11:30, they were worse still and the decision was taken to delay the start.

    That began a long day of delays, with conditions continually monitored, until a decision was reached: conditions were not safe to race in and the track surface was too dangerous in the rain.

    Managing Director of Silverstone, Stuart Pringle, apologised to the fans after the announcement – and says they will get in touch with each of them in the coming days to explain what action will be taken in the wake of the cancellation.

    Race Director Mike Webb: “It was obvious the track conditions weren’t safe. After a consultation with the riders, we delayed the start to see if conditions would improve. We have reached the point where even though the rain is getting less, the circuit is still not in a condition where we can safely run races. So, we’ve taken the very difficult and regrettable decision to cancel.

    “We’ve had a number of years here in very wet conditions recently with the old surface and been able to run races. This year, with the new surface, it’s the first time we’ve encountered quite so much standing water in critical places on the track. Yes, it’s a direct result of the track surface, I must say from the circuit point of view, the staff have done an unbelievable effort over the whole weekend, not just today, but an enormous effort to make the track safe. Until the last minute that was still working but unfortunately, we couldn’t battle nature.

    “The climate of the area means we’ve got to expect rain and the surface has to be able to handle it. They’ve done an enormous job over this weekend to try and improve things, which they have, but the nature of the surface means we’ve reached this point.”

    Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda #93)

    “It has been a long, unusual, tiring day that we hope won’t happen again. The Safety Commission analysed the situation and I think the Race Direction has to be thanked; they listened, and in the end, safety was everybody’s main consideration—one of us riders is in the hospital already. During the day, I watched the screen and saw all the fans in the grandstands patiently waiting; it would have been good to reward them, but in the end, sometimes we must keep a cool head and think.”

    Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team #99)
    “Yesterday’s weather forecast turned out to be right and it rained all day today. We only managed to do the warm-up in dry conditions and then it didn’t stop raining and the track was in a bad condition. This confirmed that the asphalt wasn’t draining well and as time went by the situation didn’t improve. When it was late, the riders met with the Race Direction and we decided to cancel the race because the track didn’t offer the right conditions to race in safety.”

    Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team #04)
    “It was a real pity not to be able to do the race because we were very competitive, especially in the dry. A weekend that was going well for us turned into an unacceptable situation, and so now it will be necessary to understand exactly what happened. We’ll talk about it in the Safety Commission at the next race, because to resurface a track and then find out it has more bumps than before, together with a problem of drainage, is just not good enough for a championship of this level.”

     

  • MotoGP Sunday guide for fans: GoPro British GP

    MotoGP
    •    Jorge Lorenzo starts from pole position for the second time this year and the 67th time in his Grand Prix career. This is Lorenzo’s second pole position since joining Ducati in 2017, equalling Andrea Iannone in fourth place in the list of Ducati riders with most pole positions in the premier class.

    •    This is the second pole position for Jorge Lorenzo at Silverstone, along with 2010. This is also the first pole position for a Ducati rider at the track.

    •    The winner last year at Silverstone, Andrea Dovizioso, starts from second on the grid for the second successive time. In addition, this is his third successive front-row start.

    •    With Jorge Lorenzo and Andrea Dovizioso, this is the first Ducati 1–2 in qualifying since the Italian GP back in 2006 with Sete Gibernau and Loris Capirossi, and the fourth overall in the MotoGP class.

    •    The highest-placed Yamaha and top Independent Team rider on the grid is Johann Zarco, which is his first front row start since he was on pole position at Le Mans earlier this season.

    •    Yamaha riders have not won since Assen last year with Valentino Rossi (21 successive races). The last time Yamaha had a winless streak of more than 21 races was the 22-race sequence including the 15 races of 1997 and the opening seven races of 1998.

    •    Cal Crutchlow heads the second row as the highest-placed Honda rider, which is his best qualifying result since he was second at the Dutch GP this season. This is the worst qualifying result for the Japanese manufacturer at Silverstone since the track came back on the calendar in 2010.

    •    Marc Márquez has qualified in fifth place on the grid, which is his worst qualifying result since he was sixth at Mugello earlier this year. He retired from the race last year at Silverstone after suffering from an engine problem while in third place.

    •    Danilo Petrucci, who stood on the podium for the first time in his Grand Prix career at Silverstone in 2015, completes the second row of the grid. This is the fourth successive time he has qualified on the first two rows on the grid.

    •    Heading the third row on the grid is Andrea Iannone, which is the best qualifying result for Suzuki at Silverstone since Maverick Viñales was third two years ago – the race in which Viñales went on to take his maiden victory and the first win for Suzuki since 2007. This is also his best qualifying result since he was fifth at Catalunya this year.

    •    Fourth-placed Ducati rider Jack Miller starts from ninth on the grid, which is his best qualifying result since he was seventh at Le Mans.

    •    Valentino Rossi has qualified in 12th on the grid, which is the fourth time this year he has failed to qualify on the first three rows. He’s finished on the podium over his last four visits to Silverstone.

    •    In Q2 for the first time since Australia last year, Bradley Smith has qualified in eighth position on the grid, which is the best qualifying result for KTM since Pol Espargaró was sixth fastest, also in Australia last year.

    •    Scott Redding has qualified in 14th place on the grid, which is his best qualifying result since joining Aprilia and his best result since Malaysia last year. Redding’s best result across the line at the British GP in the premier class is a sixth place finish in 2015.

    •    Tom Lüthi, who won the Moto2 race at Silverstone two years ago, starts from 15th on the grid, which is his best qualifying result since he stepped up to the MotoGP™ class this year.

    •    Loris Baz, who stands in for Pol Espargaró this weekend, has qualified in 18th place on the grid. Baz won in both 2012 and 2013 at Silverstone in WorldSBK and scored a point last year at the British GP in his best result in the premier class at this track.

    Moto2
    •    Francesco Bagnaia starts from pole position for the fourth time this year. On his three previous pole positions, he went on to win the race. Only Pol Espargaró, in 2012, has won from pole position at Silverstone in the Moto2 class.

    •    Remy Gardner has qualified in second place on the grid, which is his first front row on what is his 59th Grand Prix start. This equals the best qualifying result for a rider on a Tech 3 machine in the Moto2 class.

    •    Álex Márquez has qualified in third on the grid, which is his seventh front row start of the season. Márquez’ best result in the Moto2 class at Silverstone is a fourth place finish in his rookie season in 2015, equalling his best result at that time.

    •    Marcel Schrötter heads the second row, which is his best qualifying result since he was second at the Dutch GP earlier this year.

    •    Luca Marini, who has stood on the podium in the last three races, is in fifth place on the grid, which is the fifth time this year he has qualified on the first two rows.

    •    Fabio Quartararo completes the second row as the top Speed Up rider, and this is his best qualifying result in any class at Silverstone.

    •    Mattia Pasini, who started from pole position at Silverstone last year and crossed the line in second place, is seventh on the grid, which is his worst qualifying result since he was 11th in Assen earlier this season.

    •    Iker Lecuona, who made his first Grand Prix appearance at Silverstone two years ago, starts from eighth on the grid, which is his best qualifying result in Grand Prix racing.

    •    Second in the Championship, Miguel Oliveira, has qualified in 23rd on the grid, which is his worst qualifying result since he joined the Moto2 class in 2016.

    Moto3
    •    Jorge Martín has qualified on pole position for the seventh time this year and the 16th time overall. This is his 10th front-row start of the season; his worst qualifying result being ninth in Argentina earlier this year.

    •    This is the 10th pole position for a Honda rider so far this season. Only two riders have won from pole position at Silverstone in the Moto3 class since 2012: Maverick Viñales (2012) on an FTR-Honda, and Álex Rins (2014).

    •    Jaume Masia, who crashed out of the race at Silverstone last year, starts from second on the grid as the highest-placed KTM rider, which is his best qualifying result in what is his 16th Grand Prix race in the Moto3 class.

    •    Lorenzo Dalla Porta is third on the grid, which is his first front row start in what is his 48th race so far. Dalla Porta’s best result at Silverstone is an eighth place finish back in 2015 after qualifying in 27th.

    •    Heading the second row on the grid is Albert Arenas, who has failed to score points in his two previous visits to Silverstone.

    •    Fabio Di Giannantonio has qualified in fifth place on the grid, which is his best qualifying result since he was also fifth at Brno earlier this year. Di Giannantonio crossed the line in sixth place two years ago at the British GP, his best result at Silverstone.

    •    Tatsuki Suzuki start from sixth on the grid, which is his best position on the grid since he was third at Barcelona this year. He will be aiming to become the first Japanese rider to stand on the podium in the lightweight category since Tomoyoshi Koyama at the Sachsenring in 2010.

    •    Championship leader Marco Bezzecchi is eleventh on the grid, which is the sixth time this year he failed to qualify on the first two rows. Bezzecchi’s best result at Silverstone is 19th last year from 24th on the grid.

    •    Arón Canet, who won his most recent Moto3 race last year at the British GP after starting from 16th, starts from 11th, which is the first time he has failed to qualify on the first two rows since he was 28th at Le Mans earlier this year.

  • Lorenzo takes pole; it is a first Ducati 1-2 since 2006: MotoGP

    Lorenzo takes pole; it is a first Ducati 1-2 since 2006: MotoGP

    Lorenzo takes pole at Silverstone on Saturday, 25 Aug 2018. A Ducati team image

    Silverstone, 25 Aug 2018: It was a dramatic day at the GoPro British Grand Prix and after weather affected several sessions, the schedule for Sunday has been changed due to the forecast. The MotoGP race will begin at the earlier time of 11:30 (GMT +1), with Moto3 now planned for 13:00 but Moto2 remaining at 14:30.

    On Saturday as the grid headed out for a delayed Q2, however, it was Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team) who secured a sensational second pole position of the season at Silverstone, with teammate Andrea Dovizioso earning his third consecutive front row start in second on a track split between wet patches and a dry line elsewhere.  That makes it a first Ducati 1-2 since 2006, with the two Bologna bullets joined on the front row by Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) as the Frenchman returned to his early season qualifying form to impress.The start of the second qualifying session was delayed following an incident involving several riders in FP4, including Tito Rabat (Reale Avintia Racing), who was taken to hospital nearby and will take no further part in the weekend. Once the green flags flew once again, the stage was set for a very close showdown for pole.

    After graduating from Q1, Bradley Smith (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was the early pace-setter, before Jack Miller (Alma Pramac Racing) led Dovizioso and Pramac teammate Danilo Petrucci over the line to give the Desmosedicis a provisional front row lock out. But that was just the start of the constant chopping and changing for pole, with home hero Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol), Zarco and Dovizioso then setting the fastest times of the session in tandem.

    Not long after it was a case of deja vu for Miller as the Australian took the gamble to head out on slicks, just like he did in Argentina when it paid off for pole. This time, however, the cards – or the clock – didn’t deal him the same hand and at the front it remained a wet tyre dominated game as Lorenzo made his move to go provisional pole by 0.159, just pipping teammate Dovizioso. Ultimately that was all she wrote, and the two Ducatis stayed P1 and P2 as the chequered flag came out. There was a late change to who would join them on the front row though, with Zarco knocking Crutchlow out of third on his final lap – meaning the Brit starts P4 at his home GP.

    For Championship leader Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team), meanwhile, it was a tricky session. Managing to salvage P5 on his final lap – 0.928 behind the Ducati duo – the reigning Champion and former winner at the venue will be gunning for a good start from Row 2. Petrucci eventually claimed sixth to join the Hondas of Crutchlow and Marquez on the second row.

    Andrea Iannone (Team Suzuki Ecstar) spearheads the third row for Sunday’s showdown, ahead of a stunning showing from Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Q1 graduate Smith. The Brit took the Austrian factory’s best qualifying of the season in P8, just ahead of the gambling Miller. Smith’s fellow Q1 graduate Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) rounds out the top ten.

    After such a strong start to the weekend, Q2 didn’t go the way Maverick Viñales (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) and teammate Valentino Rossi would have envisioned. The Spaniard will start P11, with Rossi just behind after missing out on a final flying lap by a fraction of a second. It’s 12th for the ‘Doctor’, but he’ll have memories of his Austrian ride through the field fresh in his mind as he aims for a repeat.

    The shake-up on the grid sets us up for a classic on Sunday, with former winners at the venue scattered over the first few rows and everything to play for. What will the weather bring? Find out when the lights go out at 11:30 local time (GMT +1) for the GoPro British Grand Prix.

    MotoGP™ Qualifying Results
    1 – Jorge Lorenzo (SPA) DUCATI 2’10.155
    2 – Andrea Dovizioso (ITA) DUCATI +0.159
    –
    First Independent Team Rider:
    3 – Johann Zarco (FRA) YAMAHA +0.284

  • 18 corners, one winner: the behemoth of Silverstone beckons MotoGP stalwarts

    Silverstone, 20 Aug 2018: As the dust settles after the incredible duel in Austria in the MotoGP World Motorcycle Racing Championship, the stage is most definitely set for Silverstone. The venue that first hosted a showdown between then-reigning Champion Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team) and then-rookie challenger Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) in 2013, it could be another stunner at the GoPro British Grand Prix – with both men having incredible records at the track.

    That track is one of the longest on the calendar; an expansive ribbon of tarmac snaking its way over the former airfield and providing one of the challenges of the year. Flat, legendary and fast, Silverstone isn’t for the faint of heart – and that’s without considering the Great British weather. It could be sunny, but it’s hardly Philadelphia.

    That’s something that could play into the hands of some on the grid. After the duel that Lorenzo won in 2013 for his third premier class victory there, the 2014 re-run saw Marquez strike back – before the rain hit in 2015. Then it was Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) who took the top step – and Marquez crashed out. It’s a tough time for Yamaha of late and now their longest run without a win since the nineties, but Rossi tamed the rain to perfection three years ago. And the following season? Now-teammate Maverick Viñales took his first ever premier class win – so the circuit has some good memories for both, from both winning and subsequent podiums.

    In the great British summer of 2017 though, it was Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) who pitched it to perfection. And of all those who know they have pace at Silverstone, he’s the one who is looking to hit back quick – having won in style in Brno and then been unable to get in the fight in the latter stages in Austria, left to come home third. Also often a master of tricky conditions, ‘DesmoDovi’ will be aiming squarely for the front.

    Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) is another to watch, and the first of three lions racing on home turf. Crutchlow was on pole and a podium finisher in 2016, and took fourth last season from another front row start. Having already won a race this season, Crutchlow should be a serious threat at the front – and is another who can master difficult conditions. There’s a lot at stake, too, with only two points separating the fight for top Independent Team rider in the standings. It’s Danilo Petrucci (Alma Pramac Racing) who’s currently ahead on 105, with Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) on 104 and Crutchlow on 103. Probability says that will change once again in the British GP.

    Team Suzuki Ecstar, meanwhile, want to get back near the front after a spate of podiums earlier in the season – and Silverstone was the scene of their first win since 2007 when they were on top in 2016. That may have been with a different rider, but Alex Rins is a former winner at the venue too, in Moto3™. Scott Redding (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) is another former winner and one with a stunning record on home soil, and he’ll want to try and get in the fight with fellow Brit Bradley Smith (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing). KTM, after a run of bad luck, are also looking for a bit more in the UK. Will Pol Espargaro be back from injury? He hopes so, but if the 2013 Moto2™ World Champion can’t ride, someone has to – KTM have to field a replacement.

    That’s the cast for another stunning showdown at Silverstone. Will it be Lorenzo vs Marquez? MotoGP™ vs the rain? Dovizioso back on top? Tune in to find out, but don’t be late – the schedule is different for the GoPro British Grand Prix and the lights go out on Sunday at 13:00 local time (GMT +1).

    Championship Standings
    1 – Marc Marquez (SPA) HONDA 201 points
    2 – Valentino Rossi (ITA) YAMAHA 142
    3 – Jorge Lorenzo (SPA) DUCATI 130
    4 – Andrea Dovizioso (ITA) DUCATI 129
    5 – Maverick Viñales (SPA) YAMAHA 113

    eom/db

  • Jorge Lorenzo outwits Marc Marquez in a classic thriller: MotoGP

    Jorge Lorenzo outwits Marc Marquez in a classic thriller: MotoGP

    Lorenzo wins a thriller at Spielberg on Sunday. A MotoGP image

    Spielberg, 12 Aug 2018: Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team) and Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) put on a show to remember at the Red Bull Ring in the eyetime Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich, with the two dueling down to the wire in an instant classic and Lorenzo coming out on top for his third win of the season. Teammates in 2019, the five years in which Lorenzo and Marquez have shared the track have produced some legendary different battles at different circuits, but the number 93’s search for a win at Spielberg will have to continue. The man who beat him to the honour last season, Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team), completed the podium in third this time around.

    It was Marquez who had the initial advantage as he bolted away into the distance over the first laps, putting the hammer down early and leaving the Ducati duo of Lorenzo and Dovizioso trailing him by half a second, a second, then seven tenths as the gap was a constant concertina but a sizeable one nonetheless. In clear air the number 93’s tactics seemed immediately clear, and the bigger focus over the first laps was on the two Ducati men locked together behind him – almost close enough to look like one bike at a passing glance.

    Dovizioso looked threatening and feinted a number of times but the Italian didn’t make a move. With the gap at the front staying constant and Marquez no longer gaining ground, the tide then began to turn as Lorenzo slowly reeled him in. By 11 laps to go the Ducatis were right back on the tail of the Honda but Lorenzo just ran it wide at Turn 3. Using the grunt of the Borgo Panigale machine, however, the number 99 recovered quickly to fire himself back into second and the lead trio remained in line, nothing between them… before Lorenzo decided to make his move.

    Right on Marquez’ tail over the line and passing the reigning Champion into Turn 1, Lorenzo pulled the pin and took over at the front as teammate Dovizioso ran wide and dropped off the lead duo. But that lead duo didn’t stay the same way around for long as they dueled it out, heading a bit wide at one point before Lorenzo was back ahead and the two regrouped.

    With 3 laps to go Lorenzo went wide at Turn 3 and Marquez went through, but of course the Ducati struck back – with a brutal move at Turn 9. On the penultimate lap Marquez again attacked at Turn 3, but Lorenzo led the two over the line to begin the final lap – and the gloves were most definitely off.

    Locked together, the big attack came again at Turn 3 as Marquez dived straight for the inside – but Lorenzo held his line and was able to regain the ground immediately on the exit. Pushing hard and the Repsol Honda in second squiggling around in the braking zones, Marquez looked threatening around the remainder of the final lap but the ‘Spartan’ was not for being caught – taking the victory in style and denying Marquez the chance at a final lunge.

    Behind ‘DesmoDovi’ in third, Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) put in an impressive performance to take fourth as top Independent Team rider to put his Spielberg demons to bed after two fifteenths over the past two years, with Danilo Petrucci (Alma Pramac Racing) also able to bounce back after a tough race at the venue last season to complete the top five. Petrucci now leads the Independent Team standings by a single point from Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3), with Crutchlow only another point back.

    Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) put in a stunning ride through the field, with the rider from Tavullia moving through from fourteenth on the grid to fight off Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team) in a high-calibre battle for sixth. Behind the two, Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) took eighth after mixing it at the front nearer the start, making for a solid result at a more difficult track for the Hamamatsu factory.

    Johann Zarco took ninth as he beat with Alvaro Bautista (Angel Nieto Team) to the line – with Tito Rabat (Reale Avintia Racing) for close company. The three took P9, P10 and P11 respectively.

    Maverick Viñales (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP), meanwhile, took P12 in a more difficult race after a difficult weekend, with Andrea Iannone (Team Suzuki Ecstar) in thirteenth following an early run off for the 2016 winner. Bradley Smith (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) took points for home factory KTM and put in a good race for fourteenth, with Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) completing the points as top rookie – just ahead of Hafizh Syahrin (Monster Yamaha Tech 3).

    Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team #99) – 1st
    “It was an incredible race, maybe one of the best of my career, quite simply spectacular! Winning with Ducati on this circuit, where I had never won before, after a close quarters battle with Marquez, has a really special taste. Before the race I had thought about which strategy to use, and I decided to do like Brno, administering the tyre wear well and then attacking in the final part of the race, especially because I was one of the few riders who had chosen ‘soft’ tyres and my riding style allowed me to conserve them until the end. When I found myself fighting against Marquez I knew that it was going to be difficult to pass him, so I decided to improvise by making the best use of the Desmosedici GP’s acceleration and it worked perfectly. Now we’re third in the championship standings, but above all I’m proud and very pleased with the way we’re working because the feeling with the bike is better and better all the time and I believe we can fight for the win in many other races. Now let’s just enjoy this moment with all the team and I’m also very happy for them.”

    Next up is Silverstone, the stage of the first serious showdown between Lorenzo and Marquez back in 2013. Will we see another repeat? Find out in two weeks as MotoGP™ heads to UK.

    MotoGP™ Race Results
    1 – Jorge Lorenzo (SPA) DUCATI 39’40.688
    2 – Marc Marquez (SPA) HONDA +0.130
    3 – Andrea Dovizioso (ITA) DUCATI +1.656
    –
    First Independent Team Rider
    4 – Cal Crutchlow (GBR) HONDA +9.434

     

  • Sunday guide for all three classes: MotoGP

    MotoGP
    Spielberg: Marc Márquez has qualified on pole position for the second successive time at the Austrian GP. The Red Bull Ring is the second circuit on the current MotoGP calendar – along with Buriram in Thailand, a track we’re yet to race at – where Marc Márquez has not won in the premier class.

    This is the 49th pole position for Marc Márquez on what is his 101st start in the premier class (48.5%), and the 77th of his Grand Prix career.

    Andrea Dovizioso starts from second on the grid, which is his first back-to-back front row starts since 2015 (France/Italy).

    Andrea Dovizioso has qualified 0.002 seconds behind Marc Márquez, which is the closest 1–2 in a MotoGP™ qualifying session since the German GP in 2003 when Jeremy McWilliams qualified 0.002 seconds behind Max Biaggi.

    Jorge Lorenzo starts from third on the grid for his fourth front row start of 2018 – one more than his whole 2017 season.

    The highest-placed Independent Team rider on the grid is Danilo Petrucci in fourth, which is his best qualifying result since he was second in Germany this year. Petrucci qualified fifth last year at the Red Bull Ring, but he had to retire from the race.

    With Dovizioso, Lorenzo, and Petrucci, this is the first time there have been three Ducati riders within the top four on the grid in the MotoGP class.

    Cal Crutchlow, who finished 15th at the Red Bull Ring in both 2016 and 2017, has qualified in fifth on the grid for the second successive time.

    Johann Zarco, who won the Moto2™ race at the Austrian GP in 2016, starts from sixth on the grid as the third Independent Team rider but top Yamaha rider. This is his best qualifying result since he was on pole at the French GP this year.

    Yamaha riders have not won since Assen last year with Valentino Rossi (20 successive races). The last time Yamaha had a winless streak of more than 20 races was the 22-race sequence including the 15 races of 1997 and the opening seven races of 1998.

    Tito Rabat heads the third row on the grid as the fourth Ducati rider, which is his best qualifying result since he was the fourth fastest qualifier at the Argentina GP earlier this year.

    Andrea Iannone, who won his only premier class race so far at the Austrian GP in 2016 from pole position, has qualified in eighth for the third successive time.

    Dani Pedrosa, who crossed the line in third place last year at the Red Bull Ring, starts from ninth on the grid, which is his best qualifying result since he was second at the Spanish GP in Jerez earlier this year.

    Maverick Viñales has qualified in 11th on the grid as the second Yamaha rider, which is his second successive fourth row start.

    After going to Q1 for the first time since Phillip Island last year, Valentino Rossi missed Q2 for the first time since the Catalan GP last year and qualified in 14th. This is Rossi’s worst qualifying since he was 15th at Phillip Island in 2016 and his worst in dry-weather conditions since he was also 14th at Indianapolis back in 2011.

    Moto2
    Francesco Bagnaia starts from pole position for the third time this year. On his two previous pole positions, he went on to win the race. This is the 26th pole position for an Italian rider in the Moto2 class. In addition, this is the fourth successive pole position for an Italian rider, which is the first time this happens since last year.

    Champion leader Miguel Oliveira starts from second on the grid, which is his first front row start since Malaysia last year and his sixth in the Moto2 class. He crashed out of the race in Austria last year at Turn 8 after battling for second place.

    Fabio Quartararo has qualified in third on the grid, which is his third front-row start in the Moto2 class and his best qualifying result since he was on pole in Barcelona earlier this year.

    With Bagnaia, Oliveira and Quartararo, this is the first time since Australia last year that there are bikes from three different chassis manufacturers on the front row.

    Jorge Navarro heads the second row, equalling his best qualifying result since he moved up to the intermediate class, the other P4 coming in Jerez earlier this year.

    Álex Márquez has qualified in fifth place on the grid, which is the ninth time this year he has qualified on the first two rows on the grid.

    Mattia Pasini, who started from pole position at the Red Bull Ring last year, is sixth on the grid, which is his worst qualifying result since he was 11th in Assen earlier this season.

    Leader of the Rookie of the Year classification, Joan Mir, who won the Moto3 races in both 2016 and 2017, has qualified 20th, which is his worst qualifying result since he was 24th at the Qatar GP this year.

    Moto3
    Marco Bezzecchi has qualified on pole position for the first time on what is the 33rdstart of his Grand Prix career, becoming the seventh different Italian rider to do so since the introduction of the Moto3 class in 2012. On his two visits to the Red Bull Ring, Bezzecchi failed to score any points, crashing out of the race in both 2016 and 2017.

    This is the first back-to-back pole position for KTM in the Moto3 class since Gabriel Rodrigo was on pole position at both Czech and Austrian GPs last year, and the third successive pole position for the Austrian manufacturer at their home track.

    Jorge Martín, who undergone surgery on his left radius after a crash during practice at the Czech GP, starts from second on the grid as the highest-placed Honda rider. This is his ninth front row start since the opening race of the season in Qatar. He finished third last year at the Red Bull Ring after qualifying in 13th place.

    Albert Arenas completes the front row of the grid, which is his first front-row start on what is his 35th Grand Prix race in the Moto3 class.

    Heading the second row on the grid is Arón Canet, who qualified in third place last year in Austria. This is the sixth successive time this year he has qualified on the first two rows on the grid. He finished fifth last year in Austria, his best result at this track.

    Tony Arbolino starts from fifth on the grid, which is his best qualifying result since he was on pole position in Argentina earlier this year.

    Gabriel Rodrigo, who qualified on pole position last year in Austria, has qualified in sixth on the grid, which is his best qualifying result since he was third in Argentina this year.

    Second across the line in Austria last year – his best result at that time – from eighth on the grid, Philipp Öttl has once again qualified in eighth place on what is his 98th Grand Prix race.

  • Marc Marquez holds off the Ducatis to take pole by just 0.002; Dovi P2: MotoGP

    Marc Marquez holds off the Ducatis to take pole by just 0.002; Dovi P2: MotoGP

    Marc Marquez takes pole at Spielberg on Saturday. A MotoGP image

    Spielberg, 11 Aug 2018: It was a breathless fight to the wire for pole position at the eyetime Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich, with the battle boiling down to a three-way scrap between Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) vs the Ducati Team riders of Andrea Dovizioso and Jorge Lorenzo. The red sectors came thick and fast for both Borgo Panigale machines but in the end it was Marquez’ benchmark 1:23.241 left at the top of the timesheets as a target, with neither of the red machines able to quite push him off pole. Dovizioso came incredibly close – just 0.002 back, making the closest margin since Germany 2003 – but the Italian will line up second, with Lorenzo completing that front row and just over a tenth off. That makes a tantalising top three just a week after the trio battled it out at Brno, with many expecting a spectacular repeat on Sunday at the Red Bull Ring.

    Just behind them is top Independent Team rider Danilo Petrucci (Alma Pramac Racing), who will be hoping he can get in the mix on race day with his Ducati GP18 after also showing good pace on Friday, with Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) starting alongside him. Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) completes that second row, meaning the top three in the fight for top Independent start very close together, and it’s just seven points cover them in the standings. Zarco is also top Yamaha.

    Tito Rabat (Reale Avintia Racing) kept his good form to take seventh after also having gained automatic graduation to Q2, with Andrea Iannone (Team Suzuki Ecstar) taking the middle of a third row at a more difficult track for the Hamamatsu factory. Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team), on the podium last year in third, took P9 ahead of the second Suzuki of Alex Rins. Rins was one of the riders who moved through from Q1 after having not got into the top ten in FP1 before the rain-interrupted further practice, along with Alvaro Bautista (Angel Nieto Team), who took P12.

    Between the two men starts Maverick Viñales. The Movistar Yamaha MotoGP rider was only able to take eleventh at a tough track for the Iwata marque, and the result comes a week after the Spaniard started twelfth in Brno. His teammate, meanwhile, also had a tough qualifying session – and Valentino Rossi will be starting in P14. Just pipped to the top ten in FP1 by Viñales and with FP2 and FP3 affected by the weather, the Italian headed for Q1 and wasn’t quite able to move through. Moving through, though, will be something both Yamahas will be dead set on when the lights go out – with a good start crucial.

    Just ahead of Rossi, Bradley Smith (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) flies the flag for KTM after a very positive day for the Austrian factory. With his teammates sidelined through injury, the Brit did the home team proud to only just miss out on Q2 and outqualify a difficult day for the ‘Doctor’. Behind Smith in P13 and Rossi in P14, Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) completes the top 15.

    Ready for race day? It’s got some serious potential and is sure to be another classic. Come back on Sunday for the race at 14:00 (GMT +2).
     MotoGP™ Qualifying Results
    1 – Marc Marquez (SPA) HONDA 1’23.241
    2- Andrea Dovizioso (ITA) DUCATI +0.002
    3 – Jorge Lorenzo (SPA) DUCATI +0.135First Independent Team Rider:
    4 – Danilo Petrucci (ITA) DUCATI +0.262
  • Dovizioso fastest on Friday but 93 hits back in wet…: MotoGP Free Practice

    Dovizioso fastest on Friday but 93 hits back in wet…: MotoGP Free Practice

    Andrea Dovizioso fastest on Friday at Spielberg. A MotoGP image

    Spielberg, 10 Aug 2018: Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) was the fastest man on Friday at the eyetime Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich and the only rider into the 1:23 bracket in FP1, moving two tenths clear of teammate Jorge Lorenzo. And just behind the two at the top, the Ducati attack continued – with top Independent Team rider Danilo Petrucci (Alma Pramac Racing) locking out the top three on the combined timesheets and pipping reigning Champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) to the honour.

    FP1 saw some big-time attacks as doubts about the weather forecast continued, and they were proved right as the dry and pleasant conditions of FP1 were a distant memory come FP2. A downpour delayed the session and conditions remained very wet when action continued, with Scott Redding (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) looking like he was going to end FP2 on top. But Marquez struck back and the Brit was relegated to second…ahead of the familiar trio of Petrucci, Lorenzo and Dovizioso, who also showed great pace in the wet.

    Overall, however, it’s Andrea Iannone (Team Suzuki Ecstar) who completes the top five from his FP1 time, ahead of Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team) and fellow Honda rider Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol). Tito Rabat (Real Avintia Racing) took P8 on yet another Borgo Panigale machine as Ducati dominated the top ten – with Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) the top Yamaha in P9.

    It was a more difficult morning for Movistar Yamaha MotoGP, although Maverick Viñales ended the day in P10 and Valentino Rossi in P11. For Viñales the day began much further down the timesheets, but for Rossi it began almost off them. An early technical problem for the ‘Doctor’ saw him forced to pull over and then head out on his second bike, costing him some time. Right at the end of FP1 Viñales pipped him to provisional graduation to Q2, leaving Rossi at risk of not making it through if the rain pays another visit to Spielberg in FP3…Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) was P12 overall and fastest Aprilia in the dry, ahead of Alvaro Bautista (Angel Nieto Team), Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and KTM’s lone home team representative Bradley Smith (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), who was P6 in the wet to impress, too.

    ends

  • `Every race is different’…but will that prove true at the Red Bull Ring?

    `Every race is different’…but will that prove true at the Red Bull Ring?

    Riders pose for a photo during the Press Conference ahead of the MotoGP race on Sunday at the Red Bull Ring. A MotoGP image

    Spielberg, 9 Aug 2018: Ahead of the eyetime Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich, the 11th round of the MotoGP World Motorcycle Racing Championship, it was pre-event Press Conference time after a quick turnaround from the Czech GP and Championship leader Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) was joined by Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP), Brno winner Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) and teammate Jorge Lorenzo, Bradley Smith (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Moto2 Championship leader Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Ajo) as they geared up for another weekend of action.

    Lorenzo

    Marquez was the first to talk, and the weekend began to take shape as another possible Ducati vs Marquez showdown: “One of the main goals in Brno we achieved: try to increase the lead in the Championship and we did it. I was happy, right after the race I was a bit bitter because of both Ducatis but then I analysed the race in the motorhome. It was a great race and a great result for us, then the Monday test was very busy with a lot of things to try. Some of them we will introduce here step by step because we found some interesting things. Both Ducati riders, like we saw in Brno, are on a really high level so we’ll try and find the best way to fight with them until the end. It will be tough, but you have to start the weekend positively, we’ll try to be there and find the step. The main aim is to be on the podium. If we can fight for victory we’ll try but you don’t know before you try the tyres and asphalt and everything.”

    Rossi, meanwhile, will be wringing the neck of the weekend to get the most out of what could be a tougher track. “It’s always a difficult track, especially last year I didn’t enjoy it a lot because it was one of the most difficult races for me. I’ve never been on the podium here although in 2016 it wasn’t bad, me and Jorge were strong and not so far from the podium but it wasn’t enough. We have to try to do everything at the maximum and look after the details to be as strong as possible. On paper maybe it’s not the best track for us so we’ll have to suffer a bit. I wanted to be on the podium in Brno but the other three were faster, but then it wasn’t a bad race because I wasn’t so far. On Monday we worked a lot but didn’t find anything better so I think our level will be like in Brno. And the weather forecast isn’t fantastic, we’ll have to be ready for all conditions!”

    Andrea Dovizioso

    Then the man on the roll, however, is Dovizioso: the 2017 Austrian GP winner after the stunning duel with Marquez and the winner last time out as we arrive back at the venue. “After the victory in Brno, you arrive at the next round with good confidence and even more to this track because on paper our bike works well here. But last year it wasn’t easy! We struggled but then in the race, our speed was really good and I was able to fight with Marc. But I expect this season our competitors will be stronger because they’ve increased their power and aero – maybe they will be closer. Marc last year already arrived at the end with me. So I don’t think it will be easy but Brno was important for us. The victory comes from hard work, we changed a few things from me and the bike and I think we have a small margin to improve so let’s see how this weekend will go – and the weather.”

    The weather – as also pointed out by Marquez and Rossi – could be an interesting factor. And so could a Lorenzo so close to being back on top in Brno.

    “The improvement compared to the first races has been huge,” said five-time World Champion Lorenzo. “We were a bit unlucky in Qatar, even if I would probably have finished fifth or fourth but I had to crash. It was difficult for me, then new pieces arrived and at Mugello, I got my first victory and from then on we could see a different Jorge riding, especially over race distance. It was a great race last time out and in the test we improved some more details, I’ve been more competitive especially on older tyres so I think we arrive in the best way possible to Austria.”

    Best way possible? The number 99 says he hopes to fight for the win.

    “Every race is different and in every race, you have to see how the performance of each rider is. But obviously, this track is where you are on the throttle the most, for our bike it should be good. We have great acceleration, great top speed, power, stability in braking so it should be a good track. But like Andrea said Honda improved the power of their engine and it should be close. But I think we’ll have a chance to fight for the win.”

    Next, the spotlight was turned on KTM, the home manufacturer. After a bad run of luck of late that sees Pol Espargaro and Mika Kallio side-lined, Bradley Smith faces down the weekend alone in the premier class.

    “It’s a big disappointment not to have my other team members here and I wish a speedy recovery to Pol and Mika. In another way, it’s a positive for me in that everyone in the garage is focused on me, and I’m all ok after the crash, fortunately. Lucky to walk away uninjured and ready for this weekend, and the expectation of all the KTM fans and our bosses.”

    In terms of development, for Smith, it’s feeling positive in terms of input and they’re just missing another step to break into the top ten. “I feel like I’m steering the bike in a good direction at the moment and the factory is working very hard to bridge the gap. We seem to be stuck in around P12 or 13 and we want to be more inside the top ten and we want to see better results later in the year.”

    Although Smith is the sole Austrian machine on the MotoGP™ grid, there are plenty KTMs throughout the field for the fans to cheer – and that includes Miguel Oliveira, the points leader and Brno winner in the intermediate class. He’s exactly where he wants to be.

    “The race in Brno was quite exciting, a lot of overtaking…and I feel good to be coming to the home GP of the team in the lead. It means we’re going in a good direction. Usually, my second halves of seasons are quite strong so I hope I can stay in the lead until the end of the year.”

    In terms of improvements? Qualifying. Which was something they managed at Brno. “Qualifying is one of the biggest points we need to improve at the moment. We know our bike is competitive overall race distance but qualifying is kind of an issue for us. In Brno it went well so I hope now we’ve changed strategy and we can qualify a bit more in front so I don’t have to pass 10 riders in half a lap! That would make my life easier for sure.”

    It was a spectacular weekend of action in Czechia and now Austria steps up to try and repeat the feat. Watch track action from Friday morning as FP1s begin from 9:00 (GMT +2), before the lights go out at the Red Bull Ring on Sunday.