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Category: Moto GP
Moto GP, the Motorcycle World Championship
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As MotoGP returns to Red Bull Ring, can Spielberg serve up another thriller?
Spielberg, 7 Aug 2018: Only a few days after the Czech GP it’s already action stations for Austria as MotoGP returns to the Styrian Alps and the stunning Red Bull Ring – Spielberg. Altitude and acceleration are the buzzwords and Ducati are the reigning kings of the mountain. Winners in 2016 and 2017 at the track that plays into the hands of the Borgo Panigale factory’s machinery perfectly, the omens are good for Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) and teammate Jorge Lorenzo as they arrive in Austria in the wake of their 1-2 at Brno. ‘DesmoDovi’ won the duel for the win last season, and Lorenzo is now a serious threat on the other side of the garage. Can anyone depose the Ducatis from the top step?Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) is the man who came so close to ending their rule at the Red Bull Ring last season. The number 93 stayed with Dovizioso to the end and the two men staged the first of a series of duels: first came Spielberg, then came Motegi, then Qatar…but it wasn’t quite the same at Brno. Marquez was right on the tail of the red machines ahead of him, but the reigning Champion couldn’t make a move against Lorenzo stick. Revenge at the Red Bull Ring would be sweet – but would a bigger Championship lead be even sweeter? To get that it’s a Yamaha Marquez would likely need to beat: Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP).Yamaha remain on the hunt for that next win. Rossi put up a good fight at Brno until the final stages – nevertheless still able to beat Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) to the line – but Maverick Viñales (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) was involved in an early incident that sent him into the gravel, ending a run of 19 races in the points and meaning no rider has scored in every race this season. It also ruled him out of the Brno test, so can Yamaha field their A game in Austria and push forward at what’s traditionally a more difficult venue for the Iwata marque?
The fight for top Independent Team rider is hotting up now too: Crutchlow, Brno’s top Independent, is now only seven points off the lead of Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) in the chase for that title – and Danilo Petrucci (Alma Pramac Racing) is between the two. Will Ducati power and acceleration see him strike back? And what of the rookies? Hafizh Syahrin (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) remains ahead of Franco Morbidelli (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) by just two points, but that hangs in the balance every weekend.
Meanwhile, Team Suzuki Ecstar want more from Austria and Andrea Iannone is a former winner at the venue, but for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, despite good progress cutting the gap to the front, it’s not quite the fairytale return to their home venue in the hills they were planning. Test rider and oft-racing wildcard Mika Kallio is out after a crash in the German GP and the bad luck kept rolling in Brno: Pol Espargaro will now also be sidelined after his crash there. So for KTM, home hopes are pinned on Bradley Smith. The Brit was on good form in Czechia as he qualified P15, before he was involved in a multi-rider crash and wasn’t able to race to the end. A bounce back will be on the cards in Spielberg.
Last year, Crutchlow finished the Austrian GP in fifteenth just 28.096 seconds behind race winner Dovizioso – the closest premier class top 15 at the time. It’s now sixth on the list as competition continues to amaze but Brno is the closest top ten, and that incredibly tight finish to decide the podium? The third closest in the MotoGP™ era.
So how will Austria play out? The battle lines were drawn at Brno and Spielberg has been Ducati territory too. Will there be a new king of the Red Bull Ring? Find out on Sunday 12th August at 14:00 (GMT +2) for another shot of Austrian adrenaline.
Championship Standings
1 – Marc Marquez (SPA) HONDA 181 points
2 – Valentino Rossi (ITA) YAMAHA 132
3 – Andrea Dovizioso (ITA) DUCATI 113
4 – Maverick Viñales (SPA) YAMAHA 109
5 – Jorge Lorenzo (SPA) DUCATI 105. -
Dovizioso wins a thriller: A Michelin’s view as it battles the heat
Dovizioso wins at Brno. on Sunday. A Michelin image Brno (Czech Republic) 5 Aug 2018: Michelin faced excessive track temperatures all weekend at Brno during round 10 of the MotoGP™ World Championship before a cooling of the surface today saw the Monster Energy Grand Prix České Republiky produce another exciting race with Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) taking a stunning victory.
This weekend saw asphalt temperatures rise to above 50°C – which is the highest it has been for MotoGP at the 5,403m Brno circuit this century – and the MICHELIN Power Slick tyres had to contend with this as well as the complexities of this technically demanding circuit. With its heavy-braking downhill sections and hard acceleration zones, all of which were magnified with the extreme heat, the riders and teams worked unstintingly with their respective Michelin Technicians to get the optimum performance for their respective machines in preparation for the race.
Today saw a drop in temperature as the clouds cooled things down and the track thermometer read just 38°C and this change caused many teams to rethink their plans and alter the choice of tyres as the race approached. When the lights went out to signal the start of today’s main event, the front medium and hard compounds and the rear soft and hard versions were all that were favoured by the 25 riders that lined up on the grid for the 21-lap race.
Dovizioso was on pole, but he was beaten to the first corner by Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP), before the Ducati man regained the lead to head the field at the end of Lap 1 The initial stages of the race were a guarded affair as no rider wanted to show their hand and chose to preserve their Michelin tyres for the long race ahead. As the laps ticked by lap-times improved and a battle started to form at the front. Dovizioso and Rossi were joined by Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda), Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) and Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team). These five swapped places numerous times as the race drew to a close, with some impressive overtaking as the top riders in the world put their faith in the performance of the rubber and pushed their Michelin tyres to the limit. The latter part of the race gave the 84,678 fans at trackside, and the millions more watching on TV around the globe, huge excitement as Dovizioso, Lorenzo and Marquez fought for the podium positions. As the flag dropped Dovizioso took victory on his Ducati, Lorenzo followed him home with Marquez third, as this trio also set the three fastest laps of the race on the last circulation, demonstrating the durability of the MICHELIN Power Slicks over such a demanding race. Rossi finished in fourth, with Crutchlow taking fifth and the position of First Independent Rider. Danilo Petrucci (Alma Pramac Racing) was sixth, with Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) securing the seventh place. Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda) was eighth, Alvaro Bautista (Angel Nieto Team) on his 150th MotoGP start taking ninth and Alex Rins (Team SUZUKI ECSTAR) rounding out the top-ten.
Michelin will now remain at Brno for a one-day official test, before travelling straight to the Red Bull Ring at Spielberg in Austria for round 11 of the championship, which will be held next Sunday.
Andrea Dovizioso – Ducati Team:
“The front worked really well and I’m very happy with its performance today, especially on this track where there are a lot of bumps and it is normally very difficult. We are very focused on the rear because on our bike we are always trying to preserve the tyres for the end of the race. Overall this weekend it has been very good as we had an advantage with our bike with acceleration, so we always have a chance to fight right until the end. We are still trying to adapt the bike to the tyres and get the very best performance and that is something we will continue to work on.”
Piero Taramasso – Michelin Motorsport Two-Wheel Manager:
“This has been a real complex weekend for us. We did not anticipate the extreme track temperatures we would face and the working range that the tyres would have to contend with. Due to how we have progressed during our three seasons in MotoGP the operating windows are now much larger and this was highlighted as every rear compound was a raceable option today. The durability of the tyres was a very important issue, but we knew that the tyres could withstand the 21 tough laps around here no matter what the temperature and that was proved as Jorge, Marc and Andrea set the three fastest laps respectively on the very last lap. This has been a very positive weekend for Michelin and we will now stay for the test where we have a new tyre to evaluate, before we head to Austria and another tough examination at a very unique track.”
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MotoGP Sunday guide: Monster Energy Grand Prix České republiky
MotoGP™
Andrea Dovizioso starts his 100th Grand Prix race with Ducati from pole position. This is his 6th pole position in the premier class, his first since Sepang back in 2016 and his first in dry weather conditions since Qatar in 2015.Andrea Dovizioso’s pole position is his fifth with Ducati and the 39th for the Italian manufacturer in the MotoGP™ class since 2002. From his five previous appearances on a Ducati at Brno, Dovizioso has never finished higher than sixth.
Valentino Rossi, who won his first ever Grand Prix race in Brno back in 1996, starts from second on the grid, which is his best qualifying result since he was on pole position at his home round in Mugello earlier this year.
Valentino Rossi (1 x 125cc, 1 x 250cc, 1 x 500cc and 4 x MotoGP™) is the most successful rider of the current grid at the Brno circuit with 7 wins. He will be aiming to finish inside the top ten to become the first rider in history to reach the milestone of 6000 points scored in Grand Prix racing.
Yamaha riders have not won since Assen last year with Valentino Rossi (19 successive races). The last time Yamaha had a winless streak of more than 19 races was the 22-race sequence including the 15 races of 1997 and the opening seven races of 1998.
The winner last year at the Czech GP, Marc Márquez completes the front row of the grid. It’s the 78th time he has qualified inside the top three on what is his 100th Grand Prix race in the premier class.
Heading the second row on the grid is Jorge Lorenzo who will be aiming to win for the third time at the Czech GP in the premier class after 2010 and 2015, which was also the last victory for a Yamaha rider at this track.
Cal Crutchlow, who won his first Grand Prix race in 2016 at Brno from tenth on the grid, has qualified in fifth as the highest-placed Independent Team rider, which is his best qualifying result since he was second at the Dutch TT earlier this year.
Danilo Petrucci starts from sixth, which is the sixth time this year he has qualified on the first two rows on the grid.
Johann Zarco, who won the Moto2™ race at the Czech GP in 2015, heads the third row on the grid as the third Independent Team rider, which is his best qualifying result since he was on pole at the French GP earlier this year.
Andrea Iannone has qualified in eighth for the second successive time, which is the best qualifying result for Suzuki at Brno since Aleix Espargaró was fourth in 2016. He will be aiming to become the first Suzuki rider to stand on the podium at the track since Loris Capirossi back in 2008.
Dani Pedrosa, who won in both 2012 and 2014 in MotoGP™ at the Brno circuit, starts from tenth on the grid for the second successive time.
Maverick Viñales, who crossed the line in third last year in Brno, has qualified in 12th, equalling his worst qualifying result this year so far along with Qatar.
Alvaro Bautista, who makes his 150th Grand Prix start in the premier class, starts from 14th on the grid. He will be aiming for top five finish in back-to-back races for the first time since 2013.
Moto2™
Luca Marini starts from pole position for the first time – his third successive front row start – on what is the 46th Grand Prix race of his Grand Prix career, 22 years later after his half-brother Valentino Rossi won his first race at this same track.Luca Marini became the ninth Italian rider to start from pole position since the introduction of the Moto2™ class back in 2010.
Álex Márquez has qualified in second on the grid, which is his sixth front row of the year and the first since the Catalunya GP. He will be aiming to win for the first time since Japan last season.
Mattia Pasini completes the front row, which is his first back-to-back front row start since last year. He started from pole position last year in Brno, but he crashed out on the first lap of the restarted race.
Heading the second row on the grid is Miguel Oliveira as the highest-placed KTM rider, equalling his best qualifying result from Qatar this year.
Marcel Schrötter has qualified in fifth for his 149th Grand Prix race, which is his best qualifying result since he was second in Assen earlier this year. He will be aiming to stand on the podium for the first time of his career.
Championship leader Francesco Bagnaia starts from sixth on the grid, which is his worst qualifying result since he was the 15th fastest qualifier in Argentina earlier this year.
The winner of the German GP, Brad Binder, has qualified seventh on the grid, which is his best qualifying result since fifth in Barcelona this year.
Moto3™
Jakub Kornfeil has qualified on pole position for the first time in what is 155th Grand Prix race, becoming the first Czech rider to qualify on pole position since Lukas Pesek in San Marino in 2007. This is the fourth overall pole position of a Czech rider in Grand Prix racing (Since pole positions are officially recorded in 1974).This is the first pole position for a KTM rider since Nicolò Bulega in Japan last year and the first in dry weather conditions since Gabriel Rodrigo in Austria also last year.
Third at the Sachsenring before the summer break, John McPhee has qualified in second on the grid, which is his best qualifying result since he was on pole in Mugello last year. The Scotsman won his only Grand Prix race so far in Brno two years ago.
Marcos Ramírez has qualified in third place on the grid, which is his second successive front row start. He will be aiming to stand on the podium for the third time of 2018.
Heading the second row is Philipp Öttl, which is his best qualifying result since he was second in Jerez earlier this year on his way to win his first Grand Prix race.
With Kornfeil, McPhee, Ramírez and Öttl, this is the first time that four KTM riders have qualified within the top four since Japan back in 2013 when Friday free practice sessions were cancelled due to the weather.
Fabio Di Giannantonio has qualified fifth as the highest-placed Honda rider, which is his best qualifying result since he was third in Jerez earlier this year. He will be aiming to win for the first time on what is his 47th Grand Prix race in the Moto3™ class.
Nakarin Atiratphuvapat starts from eighth on the grid, which is his best qualifying result since he was the fourth fastest qualifier last year in Assen in wet weather conditions.
Second in the Championship behind injured Jorge Martín, Marco Bezzecchi has qualified in 14th, which is his worst qualifying result since he was 28th last year in Valencia.
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Marquez, Rossi, Viñales and more sit down before the second half – and Zarco & co head for the surf
BRNO (Czech Republic) 3 Aug 2018: The second half of the season is ready to kick off at the Automotodrom Brno for the Monster Energy Grand Prix České republiky, but before track action on Friday it was time to talk…and surf?
First on the Thursday agenda it was a chance for some of the paddock to go JetSurfing – fast becoming a Brno classic of sorts. This time it was the turn of Redox Pruestel GP’s Jakub Kornfeil – a former World Champion in the discipline – to take on Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3), Joan Mir (EG 0,0 Marc VDS), Marcel Schrotter (Dynavolt Intact GP), Fabio Quartararo (Boost-Speed Up Racing) and John McPhee (CIP – Green Power) on a Brno layout on the water.
Then it was time for the traditional pre-event Press Conference, with Championship leader Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) – who’s starting his 100th MotoGP™ race – joined by closest challenger Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP), his teammate Maverick Viñales, Alma Pramac Racing’s Danilo Petrucci and Angel Nieto Team riders Alvaro Bautista and Karel Abraham, local hero. As is to be expected after the break, talk centered on the second half of the season just before kick off.
“Summer break has been good like always,” begins Marquez. “Time to relax and analyse the first part of the season, which has been good but there are a few mistakes we can improve. Now it’s time to get back to the office and find that same mentality again because it was the right one. I hope we can start in a good way, get the feeling and achieve the same results.”
Those same results have given him a 46-point lead, but as well as wanting to keep them coming, Marquez reiterated the importance of keeping his mentality.
“It’s good we start the second half on top with the advantage but the season is long and we need to keep the same mentality, they’re improving every race. We need the same speed and concentration, there will be some circuits that are more difficult but we’ll try to manage it – what we did in the first half.”
‘They’ is referring to the Movistar Yamaha MotoGP team of Rossi and Viñales, who sit second and third in the standings. For his part, Rossi debriefed the first part of the season and spoke of the work that remains ahead – as well as recognising the great memories that Brno brings, having staged – amongst others – the rider from Tavullia’s first ever GP win, in 1996 in the 125 World Championship.
“I’m happy in some ways,” says Rossi of the season so far. “Five times on the podium in nine races isn’t bad, and second in the Championship is quite good. But the problem is that I wasn’t strong enough in the first half to try to win. The disadvantage to Marc is already big so we need to work. In the first half of the season the entire team have been able to improve the balance and we’re a bit more competitive but we still need to understand the way to go faster.
And for Monday’s test? “We have something but not a lot, they are still working a lot at Yamaha but maybe we need a bit more time. We have something for Monday but we have to concentrate on the weekend. Last year it was a good weekend apart from the final result because I was strong in qualifying and the race but with the flag to flag I stopped a lap late and lost the chance at the podium. But I can fight, this track is fantastic with great memories in my career.”
Teammate Viñales agrees there’s work to do, but he also agrees there has been progress. In addition, the Spaniard says he thinks both he and Rossi are riding the Yamaha at the maximum.
“It’s important to understand the bike, race by race I feel better every time. And I can start pushing on the limit. There’s a lot to still improve but we have a good bike and if we manage it we can be very competitive.
“We’re riding our bike at the best level, we just need to make another step. I’m very happy with the last two races and in the box, and we need to continue like that.”
For Danilo Petrucci it’s a bit different coming into Brno – with a lot less experience of the track in the dry. And this season is also different in a good way, and his best so far.
“I had no expectations at the beginning of the Championship, I just always hope the next one is the best one,” says the Italian, before looking back a little. “In Assen we lost some points, the only 0 of my season at the moment. At the Sachsenring I recovered some points but I lost the podium with two laps to go…and it’s the second time that’s happened this year. It’s not a good feeling! But we’ve showed our speed and that’s good. We have to continue and to finish the Championship in the top five and be top Independent Team rider could be good. We’re close to Zarco.
“I don’t know what to expect from this track because for the last two years it’s been half wet and half dry, but I think the target is just to constantly be with the top guys and try to score points.”
Next up was Alvaro Bautista, who had a very tough start to the year – but is now on a top ten roll and took his best result of the season so far just before the summer break with a top five in Germany. He explained their struggles.
“In winter we started to work with a setup other Ducati riders used last season but for me it was no good,” says the Spaniard. “So in Jerez we decided to radically change the set up. I started to feel better and race y by race we’ve made small adjustments and I feel much better with the bike, although we’ve not reached our full level yet.”
There could be more to come, then. And his teammate Karel Abraham will be hoping for a little more this weekend after a difficult year – but he’s got the thrill of racing at home to buoy spirits.
“I’m a bit confused,” says Abraham of their season, “because last year everything went so well and we were scoring points in almost every Grand Prix, even some top tens. Then this year it’s the other way around and I don’t feel comfortable and we’re not scoring. It feels like there’s some gap we can’t breach at the moment. It’s always nice to have fans and ride at home, so hopefully that helps a bit and I’m looking forward to it. But the technical side is the technical side and it could be tough…”
The competition will certainly prove so in Brno, with more races this season having broken the record for closest finishes and the Championship a long, long way from over. How will the second half go? Find out when track action starts on Friday 3rd August, before the race on Sunday at 14:00 (GMT +2).
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Marquez takes ninth Sachsenring win in style; Rossi storms to 2nd from P6: MotoGP Round 9
Marc Marquez after winning the German GP at Sachsenring on Sunday. A MotoGP image Chemnitz (Germany), 15 July 2018: A tactical masterclass saw the reigning World Champion Marc Marquez, the number 93, to be able to pull clear to take an incredible ninth German GP win in a row – from his ninth pole in the MotoGP World Championship Round 9 at Sachsenring, 8 km from here on Sunday.
Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) has re-written another piece of history in the Pramac Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland, storming from a ninth pole in a row to take his ninth win in a row across all classes. Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoG) took second and maintains his second place in the standings after an impressive bounce back after a tough Friday at the track, with the podium completed by teammate Maverick Viñales.
At lights out it was Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team) who got the holeshot from pole, moving from third into the lead as Danilo Petrucci (Alma Pramac Racing) slotted into second – with Marquez shuffled back into third. Rossi made a good start from sixth to move into fourth ahead of teammate Viñales, with Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) the key man to lose out from fifth.
Once at the front, Lorenzo set about putting the hammer down, making it the sixth race in succession the Mallorcan has led. It didn’t take too long for Marquez to make his way through to be the man behind his compatriot, however, and a game of cat and mouse began at the front as Marquez reeled in the rhythm ahead of him.
Meanwhile, Rossi attacked Petrucci for third and moved through, as Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) then crashed out at Turn 12, the Brit’s say in the podium fight over early. Lorenzo was holding firm at the front, but Marquez then chose his moment and struck – taking over in the lead and leaving Lorenzo to be reeled in by Rossi.
That the Italian did, and the rider from Tavullia got his own hammer down once past to try and claw back some time to Marquez, but it wasn’t to be. The number 93 pulled the pin with perfect timing, with enough grip left to see him make a gap and keep it until crossing the line for the stunning ninth win in a row at the Sachsenring – and all from pole.
Rossi was then safe in second for another podium finish, but teammate Viñales left it late to complete the rostrum. First Petrucci was the man pushing to pass a Lorenzo struggling with grip, before Viñales arrived on the scene and attacked the Mallorcan and then the Italian to take third and a second successive podium.
That made Petrucci top Independent Team rider in a well-fought fourth, just ahead of Alvaro Bautista (Angel Nieto Team)’s stunning ride to fifth. Bautista was the fastest man on track for a good number of laps and kept that incredible form to the end, the final man able to muscle past Lorenzo by the flag.
Lorenzo took P6 ahead of a tough day for teammate Andrea Dovizioso, with Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team) putting in a solid ride to eighth. Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) improved from his worst qualifying of the season so far to take ninth despite the difficult weekend, with an incredible ride from Bradley Smith (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) putting the Brit in the tenth to take KTM’s first top ten of the season.
Hafizh Syahrin (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) was top rookie in eleventh and takes over at the top of the Rookie of the Year standings, ahead of Andrea Iannone (Team Suzuki Ecstar), who was caught in an early incident that saw Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) make contact with Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and both go down; also affecting Iannone and Jack Miller (Alma Pramac Racing). Miller finished P14, with Tito Rabat (Reale Avintia Racing) between him and Iannone. Scott Redding (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) completed the points.
Now summer awaits but it’s not too long until we’re back at Brno for the Czech GP – where the second half of the Championship will hit top gear straightaway as the pressure starts to ramp up towards the season finale…
MotoGP™ Race Results
1 – Marc Marquez (SPA) HONDA 41’05.019
2 – Valentino Rossi (ITA) YAMAHA +2.196
3 – Maverick Viñales (SPA) YAMAHA +2.776
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First Independent Team Rider
4 – Danilo Petrucci (ITA) DUCATI +3.376eom/db -
Brilliant Binder takes maiden Moto2 win
Moto2 podium on Sunday. A MotoGP image The South African took an immaculate victory as the Championship takes another twist in an unpredictable race
Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) claimed the first South African intermediate class win since 1980 at the Pramac Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland after a sublime ride, beating Joan Mir (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) to victory as the Spaniard claimed his best Moto2™ result in second, with Luca Marini (Sky Racing Team VR46) claiming his first Grand Prix podium in third.
The opening stages of the Moto2™ race where chaotic. First, Miguel Oliveria (Red Bull KTM Ajo) had a moment on the last corner of the opening lap, luckily staying on after getting out of shape – making contact with the helpless Xavi Vierge (Dynavolt Intact GP) as he tried to pass. Then a lap later, Mattia Pasini (Italtrans Racing Team) crashed out of P2 at the same corner, with Championship leader Francesco Bagnaia (SKY Racing Team VR46) having to take avoiding action, running into the gravel and dropping down to 26th. The drama wasn’t over, with Lorenzo Baldassarri (Pons HP40) highsiding out of contention at T2 on lap three, leaving Marini, Mir and Binder at the front.
The Italian held station at the front, before Mir went up the inside at Turn 1 to take the lead of the race. Five laps later, Binder then made his move, first getting past Marini at Turn 1 before slicing his way through on race leader Mir at the bottom of the Ralf Waldmann corner. The South African wasn’t able to create a gap, but his lap 10 move proved to be the race-winning overtake, with Binder looking like he was on rails around the Sachsenring as he eventually claimed victory by 0.779 seconds, with 0.154 splitting Mir and Marini in P2 and P3.
Further back, Oliveira had re-grouped and got himself up to fourth after passing Sam Lowes (Swiss Innovative Investors) and home rider Marcel Schroetter (Dynavolt Intact GP). The Portuguese rider couldn’t bridge the gap to the front three though and settled for P4, with Lowes getting the better of Schroetter on the last lap to claim his best result of the season in fifth – the German sixth at his home Grand Prix.
After his tangle with Oliveira, Vierge crossed the line P7, with Simone Corsi (Tasca Racing Scuderia Moto2), Fabio Quartararo (MB Conveyors – Speed Up Racing) and Jorge Navarro (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) rounding out the top 10.
Remy Gardner (Tech 3 Racing) produced a gritty ride as he continues his return from two broken legs, with Bagnaia brilliantly salvaging P12 – his Championship lead now cut to seven points though. 13th was Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) after his heavy Saturday crash, with Dominique Aegerter 14th (Kiefer Racing) and Augusto Fernandez (Pons HP40) earning another point scoring ride in 15th.
So, it was a magnificent maiden Moto2™ victory for Binder, while the Championship pendulum swings again with Oliveira cutting the gap to Bagnaia as the paddock heads for the summer break.
Moto2™ Race Results
1 – Brad Binder (RSA) KTM 39’46.3067
2 – Joan Mir (SPA) KALEX +0.779
3 – Luca Marini (ITA) KALEX +0.933 -
Pramac Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland Sunday Guide
Sachsenring, 15 July 2018:
MotoGP
Marc Márquez starts from pole for the ninth successive year at the Sachsenring, including six successive years in the premier class. He is aiming to take his ninth successive win at this track, the sixth in MotoGP, and equal his record at any one track in the premier class from Austin earlier this year.This is the 48th pole position for Marc Márquez on what is his 99th start in the premier class (48.5%), and the 76th of his Grand Prix career.
Danilo Petrucci starts from second on the grid for the second successive time at the Sachsenring circuit, equalling his best qualifying result in the MotoGP™ class.
Jorge Lorenzo has qualified in third, which is his best qualifying result at the Sachsenring since he was also third back in 2015. He will be aiming to take his first ever Grand Prix win at this track.
The highest-placed Yamaha rider on the grid is Maverick Viñales in fourth, which is the best qualifying result for a Yamaha rider at this track since Valentino Rossi was third two years ago. Last year, he finished fourth from 11th on the grid. He will be aiming to become the first non-Honda rider to win at the Sachsenring in the premier class since Valentino Rossi in 2009.
Yamaha riders have not won since Assen last season with Valentino Rossi (18 successive races), equalling their longest sequence without a win since the 18-race sequence that included the last two races of 2002 and the 16 races of 2003. The last time Yamaha had a winless streak of more than 18 races was the 22-race sequence including the 15 races of 1997 and the opening seven races of 1998.
After passing through Q1, Andrea Dovizioso has qualified fifth, which is his best qualifying result at the Sachsenring since he was fourth back in 2010.
Valentino Rossi, who crossed the line in fifth last year at the Sachsenring, starts from sixth on the grid and will be aiming to stand on the podium for fifth time this year.
Cal Crutchlow, who has finished on the podium at the Sachsenring twice in the premier class, in 2013 and 2016, has qualified seventh and is the second Independent Team rider.
Andrea Iannone starts from the middle of the third row, which is the best qualifying result for Suzuki at the Sachsenring since Maverick Viñales was sixth fastest two years ago.
Álvaro Bautista has qualified in ninth place, which is his best qualifying result since he was also ninth in Aragón last year.
Dani Pedrosa, who has won four times at the Sachsenring in the premier class, starts from tenth on the grid, which is his best qualifying result since Le Mans.
Takaaki Nakagami, who has qualified 12th, equalling his best qualifying result in the MotoGP™ class, is now the first of the five rookies this year to reach Q2 more than once.
Heading the fifth row on the grid is Johann Zarco, who was in Q1 for the second successive time. He failed to go to Q2 for the first time since the German GP last year, when he qualified in 19th place on the grid, and the fourth time overall.
Moto2
Mattia Pasini starts from pole position for the seventh time in the Moto2™ class, becoming the Italian rider with most pole positions in the class ahead of Franco Morbidelli. He will be aiming to win for the second time at the Sachsenring, along with 2006 (125cc).Mattia Pasini (32 years 335 days old) is the oldest rider to qualify on pole position in the Moto2™ class, beating his previous record from Italy earlier this year.
Luca Marini starts from second on the grid, which is his best ever qualifying result and his second successive front row start. He will be aiming to stand on the podium for the first time in what is his 45th Grand Prix race.
Championship leader Francesco Bagnaia, who crossed the line third place last year in Germany, has qualified in third place making three Italian riders on the front row for the first time in the Moto2™ class.
Heading the second row on the grid as the highest-place KTM rider is Sam Lowes, which is his best qualifying result since he was second in Austin earlier this year.
Lorenzo Baldassarri starts from the middle of the second row, which is his best qualifying result since he was third fastest qualifier at Le Mans this season.
Xavi Vierge starts from sixth on the grid, which is the second successive time he has qualified on the first two rows.
Álex Márquez, who crashed out of the race last year (breaking two vertebras), heads the third row on the grid ahead of his teammate Joan Mir, winner of the 2017 Moto3™ race in Germany. This is the second time this year that Márquez failed to qualify on the first two rows on the grid.
Second across the line last year at the Sachsenring, Miguel Oliveira starts from 15th, which is the fourth time this year he has failed to qualify within the four front rows.
Moto3
Jorge Martín has qualified on pole position for the sixth time this year and the 15thtime in the Moto3™ class. He missed the race at the Sachsenring circuit last year after breaking his right leg in FP2.This is the 12th successive pole for a Honda rider, which is the longest run of successive pole positions in the Moto3™ class by the Japanese manufacturer since the introduction of the class in 2012.
Marcos Ramírez, who stood on the podium for the first time in his Grand Prix career last year in Germany, starts from second on the gird as the highest-placed KTM rider, which is his best qualifying result – and his first front-row start – on what is his 36thstart in the Moto3™ class.
Enea Bastianini completes the front row of the grid, which is second front row start at the Sachsenring circuit after his pole position in 2016. Along with Marcos Ramírez, he is the only rider of the current field who has stood on the podium at this track, both in 2015 and 2016.
Heading the second row is Jaume Masiá, despite a big crash in FP3, which is his best qualifying result on what is his 12th start in the Moto3™ class.
Arón Canet, who qualified on his most recent pole at the Sachsenring last year, has qualified fifth, which is the fourth successive time he has qualified on the first two rows on the grid. He crashed out of the race in Germany last season.
Tony Arbolino starts from sixth on the grid, which is his best qualifying result since he was on pole position in Argentina earlier this year.
Championship leader Marco Bezzecchi has qualified seventh, which is the fourth time this year he has failed to qualify on the first two rows on the grid.
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Marquez edges Petrucci by just 0.025 to take pole: MotoGP Round 9
Independent team rider and Friday’s second-fastest Petrucci was denied his first pole on Saturday. A MotoGP image After the first runs in the session, it was Maverick Viñales (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) on the provisional pole as the Spaniard was the first to break Marquez’ previous pole lap record from 2015, before the first charge on the second exit saw Lorenzo threaten that – with Petrucci in close pursuit. Over the line, the two took over at the top, with Petrucci just ahead, as Marquez began his third run – later crediting the two-stop strategy as a key to his ninth pole at the venue.
On that last dash with the clock counting down, the number 93 was just off in the first sector, put in a personal best second sector and then a red third one – meaning he was up on the previous best overall. But it was mere hundredths and it went right down to the wire, with a solid final sector seeing Marquez just maintain the advantage and pip Petrucci by the tiniest of margins. That means it’s exactly the top two from last season, except then, it was over a tenth and a half, and this year it’s half a tenth covering the front row.
Viñales wasn’t able to improve and stayed fourth, Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) moved up to fifth after coming from Q1 and Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) found some more pace on Saturday to complete the superstar-studded second row – with every one of them keen to get the launch of their lives and move forward at lights out. With Lorenzo ahead of them on the front row, that could be a task. The front row riders share 11 titles between them – but so do the second.
On the third row, the former podium finisher at the venue Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) took P7, ahead of practice pacesetter Andrea Iannone (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and the on-form Alvaro Bautista (Angel Nieto Team), with Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team) rounding out the top ten. The number 26 has an impeccable record at the track – it’s the venue at which he’s had the most success, along with Valencia – and could be one to watch when the lights go out.
Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) starts P11 and Q1 graduate Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) starts P12, with Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) hot on their heels in thirteenth. Jack Miller (Alma Pramac Racing) and Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) complete the top fifteen on the grid after Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini), who just missed out on a place in Q2, received a six-place grid penalty for the race following ‘irresponsible riding’ in FP3; now starting P19.
Think you know what’s going to happen in the German GP? You might be the only one…From 14:00 (GMT +2) the grid will be back out to race and see who will take the momentum into the summer break.
MotoGP™ Qualifying Results
1 – Marc Marquez (SPA) HONDA 1’20.270
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First Independent Team Rider:
2 – Danilo Petrucci (ITA) DUCATI +0.025
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3 – Jorge Lorenzo (SPA) DUCATI +0.057 -
It’s an all Italian affair: Marini and Bagnaia join Pasini on Moto2 front row
First-ever all-Italian front row in Moto2. A MotoGP image Mattia Pasini (Italtrans Racing Team) grabbed his second pole of the season at the Pramac Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland to finish 0.181 seconds ahead of fellow Italian Luca Marini (Sky Racing Team VR46), with his teammate, Championship leader Francesco Bagnaia (Sky Racing Team VR46), rounding out the front row to make it an all-Italian front three for the first time ever in Moto2™.
The intermediate class took to the Sachsenring in beautiful conditions and it was the eventual pole sitter who came out the blocks with all cylinders firing, climbing to the top of the timesheets to set his benchmark time of 1:23.787 on his fourth flying lap – a time that would go unbeaten. The two VR46 riders went out in tandem with Bagnaia leading Marini around the 3.6km circuit, with the latter going 0.002 quicker than his teammate to claim his second consecutive front row start. Bagnaia had to settle for third, but will be confident of challenging for the win in Sunday’s race to try and extend his Championship lead over Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Ajo) – the Portuguese rider starts 15th.
Fourth and the leading KTM was Sam Lowes (Swiss Innovative Investors) as he launches from the front of the second row, with 0.001 splitting the British rider from Bagnaia. Lorenzo Baldassarri (Pons HP40) recovered from a crash in FP3 to qualify fifth on the grid, with FP2’s quickest rider Xavi Vierge (Dynavolt Intact GP) rounding out Row 2 at the team’s home Grand Prix.
After a heavy fall at Turn 8 in FP3, Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) was able to earn a seventh place start in qualifying, with teammate Joan Mir just 0.013 behind him in eighth. At his home Grand Prix, Marcel Schroetter (Dynavolt Intact GP) will launch from ninth in a bid to stand on the rostrum for the first time, with Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) in 10th – less than four tenths from pole position.
Fabio Quartararo (MB Conveyors – Speed Up Racing) was an early faller in the session at Turn 3, the Frenchman will have work to do from P18 if he’s to claim his third consecutive podium. Meanwhile, Khairul Idham Pawi (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) also crashed at Turn 3 late on – both riders were ok.
Less than a second covers Pawi in P24 to pole in what is an incredibly tight intermediate class field. Who will take victory at the German GP tomorrow? Find out when the Moto2™ riders go racing at 3.40 pm Indian time (12:20 local time -GMT +2) on Sunday. Watch live on Sony Ten in India.
Moto2™ Qualifying Results
1 – Mattia Pasini (ITA) KALEX 1’23.787
2 – Luca Marini (ITA) KALEX +0.181
3 – Francesco Bagnaia (ITA) KALEX +0.183 -
Dani Pedrosa to be named MotoGP Legend in Valencia: Hall of Fame
Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta (L) with Pedrosa during the announcement. A Dorna Sports image Paris, 12 July 2018: As decided by the Permanent Bureau formed by FIM President Vito Ippolito and Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta, three-time World Champion Dani Pedrosa will become a MotoGP Legend when he hangs up his leathers, with the Spaniard set to be inducted into the MotoGP Legends Hall of Fame at the season finale at Valencia. Pedrosa won the 125 Championship in 2003, the 250 title in 2004 and 2005, and is one of the most successful riders of all time in the premier class.
Pedrosa’s international career began in 2001 in the 125 World Championship. As a rookie, he took two podiums and finished his first season within the top ten overall in eighth. The following year he took his first wins – three of them – to finish the season third overall, before he went two better in 2003 and won his first title with five wins.
Despite breaking both his ankles in a crash at the end of 2003, the ‘Little Samurai’ then moved up to the 250 World Championship for 2004 – and won on his debut. At 18 years and 202 days old Pedrosa became the youngest rider to win in the class, and it was on his way to becoming the youngest ever intermediate class World Champion at 19 years and 18 days old. In 2005, he defended the crown.
2006 marked Pedrosa’s debut in the premier class. On the podium first time out in Jerez and then needing only four races to take his first win when he took to the top step in Shanghai, one of the most successful premier class riders ever had arrived on the scene. He took another win in his rookie year, at Donington Park, and ended the year in the top five.
In 2007 Pedrosa was second overall to only Casey Stoner and added more wins and podiums to his tally, and he was in the top three in the Championship in 2008 – despite breaking his right hand in pre-season testing and sitting out the US GP after injuring his left hand at the German GP. In 2009 he managed the same top three despite more struggles with injury, and in 2010 was runner-up once again. 2011 was another battle through the pain barrier, before an incredible assault on the title in 2012 that saw the Spaniard only narrowly miss out on the crown – and win the most races that year.
Pedrosa file photo by MotoGP In 2013 Pedrosa was leading the standings before a collarbone break and was third overall, and in 2014 he suffered with arm problems throughout the season and despite that, took another win. 2015 began with career-saving surgery to fix the problem, and Pedrosa was back on the top step towards the end of the year at Motegi and at Sepang. In 2016 he won at Misano as he destroyed the field, and 2017 saw him make another piece of history as he took to the top step in the 3000thrace counting towards the World Championship, in Jerez. He also won the season finale in style, underlining an incredible achievement: he’s the first rider in history to win at least one Grand Prix per season for 16 consecutive years.
After taking the third most podiums of all time behind only Valentino Rossi and Giacomo Agostini, Pedrosa retires at the end of 2018 – and will now join the ranks of MotoGP™ Legends.
“Dani Pedrosa is a true great,” says Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports. “A World Champion on 125cc and 250cc machinery and one of the most successful riders we’ve ever had the pleasure of watching, Pedrosa has contributed an incredible amount to the world of motorcycle racing over a long and distinguished career in MotoGP. With a legacy that includes his incredible winning run over so many years, and so many wins and podium finishes, we’re very proud that he will be inducted as a MotoGP Legend.”
Pedrosa will join a long list of greats that have been or will be made MotoGP™ Legends that includes Giacomo Agostini, Mick Doohan, Geoff Duke, Wayne Gardner, Mike Hailwood, Daijiro Kato, Eddie Lawson, Anton Mang, Angel Nieto, Wayne Rainey, Phil Read, Jim Redman, Kenny Roberts, Jarno Saarinen, Kevin Schwantz, Barry Sheene, Marco Simoncelli, Freddie Spencer, Casey Stoner, John Surtees, Carlo Ubbiali, Alex Crivillé, Franco Uncini, Marco Lucchinelli, Randy Mamola, Kork Ballington and the late Nicky Hayden.
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