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Tag: Danilo Petrucci
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Tyre gamble pays off for WorldSBK debutant Spinelli: WorldSBK
Assen, 20 April 2024: A brave tyre gamble paid off for the Nicholas Spinelli (Barni Spark Racing Team) at the TT Circuit Assen in Race 1 of the Dutch Round. On a drying track the Italian rider, making his WorldSBK debut, was the only rider to opt for intermediate tyres and he was rewarded with a stunning victory. Spinelli, a replacement rider for the injured Danilo Petrucci, was immediately able to get to the front of the field and led every lap before a red flag ended proceedings. The red flag was brought about by a technical failure for Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) and ensured the first WorldSBK victory for the long standing Barni Spark Racing Team.
Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) and Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) joined Spinelli on the podium but the red flag, on Lap 14, cost them the chance to win the race. The duo had closed down a margin of over 20 seconds at one point before being in position to attack for the win prior to the stoppage.
Earlier in the day Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) splashed his way to Superpole success in wet conditions. The Northern Irishman claimed the 44th pole position of his career and his first for Yamaha. He will start tomorrow’s ten lap Tissot Superpole Race from pole position and came away from Race 1 with a sixth place finish.
Championship leader Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) started from the front row of the grid but had to settle for just 11th position at the end of the race. He maintains a championship lead but is now just one point ahead of Razgatlioglu and Bautista.
P1 | Nicholas Spinelli | Barni Spark Racing Team
“It’s incredible because this is my first race and I am in front of Toprak and Bautista! It’s really incredible. The first time I rode a Superbike was in Friday Practice but this bike is very strong. I have tried to approach this weekend step by step and session for session. I don’t have experience with this bike. I told my team that I didn’t know which tyre to use and the team decided to go for the intermediate. I had a gap of 25 seconds but by the last lap the gap was closer! When I saw it was four seconds I thought ‘no! It’s over for me.’ When I saw the red flag it was very lucky for me but that’s the race! I’m happy for this win because it’s very incredible.”P2 | Toprak Razgatlioglu | ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team
“Firstly, congratulations to Spinelli. I needed just one more lap but the race finished like this. I was enjoying this race a lot. The first laps were exciting because the first sector was wet and we were sliding. You are trying to stay on the line for this. I needed a victory here for BMW but in the end we finished in second position. We will see what happens tomorrow but everyone is working hard for the best position possible.”P3 | Alvaro Bautista | Aruba.it Racing – Ducati
“This was a crazy race! It seemed like the first half of the race was about relaxing and not making a mistake but the second part of the race was attacking at 100% or even 120%! It was crazy. In the beginning there were a lot of overtakes all around the lap. It was crazy but I enjoyed this race a lot. The red flag meant that we missed the last seven laps and I think it was going to be a good battle for the victory with Toprak. In any case I’m happy and congratulations to Spinelli because it was incredible. It was a really good tyre choice.WorldSBK Race 1 Results
1. Nicholas Spinelli (Barni Spark Racing Team)
2. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +1.979s
3. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +2.089s
4. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) +4.851s
5. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +5.147s
6. Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) +5.376sChampionship Standings
1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 92 points
2. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 91 points
3. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) 91 pointsWorldSBK Tissot Superpole Results
1. Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) 1’42.650s
2. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.094
3. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +0.353s -
Petrucci wins a wet race; Alex Marquez arrives with a 2nd from P18
Le Mans, 11 October 2020: Danilo Petrucci (Ducati Team) is a wet weather master, but until now the Italian was always the bridesmaid in the rain. But no longer, as the number 9 put in a stunner in the Shark Helmets Grand Prox de France to take his second premier class win and first in the wet. It’s Ducati’s first victory at the Sarthe circuit too, with Alex Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) marking his own first in second place as the rookie took a stunning maiden premier class podium – from 18th on the grid. Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing completed the rostrum in another impressive ride in the wet, pipping Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) as the Italian was forced to settle for fourth – but far outscored his key title rivals.
Jack Miller (Pramac Racing) took the holeshot, the Australian characteristically quick off the line, with Crutchlow swooping through trying to take the long way round. Polesitter Quartararo lost out as he dropped behind Miller, Petrucci and Dovizioso, but he was quick to try and fend off an attack from Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing). He did initially, but the drama early on Lap 1 turned more heads: Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) skittled out, sending two crucial title contenders wide and dropping them right down the field: Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP).
Back at the front though, it was Petrucci who’d taken over in the lead, the Italian looking comfortable ahead of compatriot and teammate Dovizioso as they got through on early leader Miller. The three had a couple of seconds in hand ahead of Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar), who had sliced his way through on Pol Espargaro to take over in the chase to catch the podium fight, but the Suzuki man was on a charge as Quartararo slipped backwards, Viñales continued his charge forwards and Mir remained relegated to outside the points as the latter two tried to recover from their early run off.
Pol Espargaro had Crutchlow for company, but soon there was another machine on the scene. Alex Marquez (Repsol Honda team) was showing incredible pace as the Spaniard caught and passed Crutchlow, and then he was homing in on Pol Espargaro – with fastest lap after fastest lap. And then all hell broke loose…
Rins, after catching the front group, had a nibble or two at Miller, before a few laps later the Suzuki man threw everything up the inside in a multi-buy for the lead – right after Dovizioso had taken over at the front. Dovi was shuffled back, contact ricocheted through the group and it was Petrucci who managed to emerge ahead, Rins second and Miller slotting back into third after running off and holding up his hand to give the advantage back.
And then there was more: a puff of smoke from the rear of Miller’s Ducati saw the Aussie forced to sit up and he was suddenly out with a mechanical – and then Rins suddenly slid out of contention. That shot of sudden drama left Petrucci with a couple of seconds in hand at the front, Dovizioso in second and Alex Marquez now up into third as the impressive rookie had sliced through on Pol Espargaro. Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) was close behind too, with the podium far from decided.
The gap to Petrucci was coming down, butMarquez was also right on Dovi. And sure enough, the number 73 picked his moment to perfection and sliced through – then immediately starting to make a gap back and catch Petrucci. The laps were running out, but the rookie was on an almighty charge.
Pol Espargaro struck to take third from Dovizioso soon after, before the Italian found himself in a battle with Miguel Oliveira as well. Onto the last lap just ahead though, it was 1.2 seconds from Petrucci back to Marquez, the rookie taking a good chunk of tenths off but the time ticking down. And the number 9 in the leading was holding firm, perfectly poised on the way to a second Grand Prix win…
Ultimately, the Italian wouldn’t be caught as he crossed the line for Ducati’s first win at Le Mans, his second premier class win and a huge boost of confidence after a difficult season. Alex Marquez kept it upright to get the incredible return for his stunning pace – having only ridden in the wet on Friday – with Pol Espargaro holding Dovizioso at bay.
Oliveira ended up with his hands full in the fight for fifth, and some late race pace from home hero Johann Zarco (Esponsorama Racing) saw the Frenchman mug the Portuguese rider to end the race as top Independent Team rider in fifth. Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) took seventh and was the second Honda home as Cal Crutchlow crashed out, with Stefan Bradl (Repsol Honda Team) in P8. And then came the three who begun the race on top in the title fight…
Fabio Quartararo won the tight, tight tussle for ninth as the Frenchman managed to fend off 2021 teammate Viñales late on, but it was a three-way scrap to the absolute last as Viñales then also managed to beat Mir to the line by almost nothing. The result? Quartararo extends his Championship lead to ten points ahead of Mir, and Dovizioso leapfrogs Viñales into third overall…
Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was the next man over the line in P12 after a tougher first race in the wet for the South African, with Francesco Bagnaia (Pramac Racing) taking P13. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) was 14th, was Iker Lecuona (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) completing the points and those classified in France.
That’s it from a dramatic Le Mans, and now we head for the very different MotorLand Aragon. Back to home turf for many and with some chances lost in France, the title fight remains incredibly tight – so don’t miss another dose of MotoGP™ next weekend!
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The 2020 MotoGP season will be a surprise for everybody: Petrucci
Paris, 2 April 2020: While the wait continues for the 2020 MotoGP World Championship to start, the Ducati Team rider revealed in this interview how he is spending the days and what he expects from the new season.
The 2020 MotoGP Season was supposed to begin nearly one month ago in Qatar for the Ducati Team, where just a few weeks earlier they had completed the last MotoGP pre-season test. Unfortunately, at the same time in Europe, the Covid-19 started to spread, stopping not just the sporting world but also whole countries, like Italy, which was one of the worst-affected nations by the virus.
A mandatory isolation period has been introduced by the Italian Government to stop the spread of the virus, and of course, also Danilo Petrucci is respecting the measure in his house in Terni. “For sure spending so much time at home, staying away from our friends is not the ideal situation. But at this time it is the only way that we have to solve this problem together. By staying at home following the instructions that are given us by the Government, we can help each other. The situation is difficult, but it can only improve if we endure it a little bit more”.
File photo of Danilo Petrucci from Ducati. The Ducati rider also explained how he is spending these days at home: “I am trying to use this time to solve some physical issues, like the problem I had at my shoulder last year in Valencia and some that I have in a leg. I am doing some physiotherapy at home, some light training and I am also focusing on my diet”.
Of course, during these days of lockdown, Petrucci doesn’t have the chance to train on a bike, and he declared that what he is missing the most is doing motocross with his teammate Andrea Dovizioso. “I hear Andrea nearly every day, and we text each other a lot. In these days, I miss the most doing motocross with him and training together, also because right now I can’t really ride anything!”
The last time the Ducati riders were able to sit on the Desmosedici GP20 bikes was more than a month ago, during the final winter test that was held in Qatar from 22nd-24th February 2020: “I was delighted with the test at Losail. I think I was one of the few riders that covered the whole distance in the race simulation by completing 22 laps. The bike is an evolution of the previous year, but the big difference now is the tyres. We worked a lot on trying to adjust the bike setup and the riding style”.
Speaking about the future, Petrucci declared his goals for 2020 and his expectations from the championship, now that the new calendar has tightened up towards the end of the season: “This is my second year with the Ducati Team, and I am proud of it. This year I would like to improve my performance compared to last season. In 2019 I got my first win in MotoGP, and I was able to fight for the third position in the standings until there were two races to go. This year I want to fight for that placement during the whole championship. For sure, this season will be a surprise for everybody. We are not used to such an intense programme! The calendar is extremely tight, especially in the last months, so we need to do a good mental and physical preparation and try to rest now because then we won’t have time. Honestly, I can’t wait to face this demanding calendar!”
Watch the whole interview on the Ducati Corse Instagram and Twitter accounts.
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Ducati presents Mission Winnow Team 2019: MotoGP
From Left: Andrea Dovizioso, Claudio Domenicali, Luigi Dall’Igna, Danilo Petrucci. on Jan 18. A Ducati image Neuchâtel (Switzerland), 18 Jan 2019: The Mission Winnow Ducati team, which will compete in the 2019 MotoGP World Championship, was presented today at the iconic Cube, Philip Morris International’s Research and Development centre in the lakeside Swiss town. Riders Andrea Dovizioso and Danilo Petrucci unveiled the brand-new Desmosedici GP19 machine – in its captivating red livery – in front of an audience of international media, guests, sponsors and partners. Everything is now ready for an exciting new season, with the first of 19 races scheduled for March 10 in Qatar. In two weeks’ time, Dovizioso and Petrucci will resume testing action with the Desmosedici GP19 at Sepang (Malaysia).
Miroslaw Zielinski, PMI President Science and Innovation, welcomed the audience: “Mission Winnow is about driving change by constantly searching for better ways of doing things. Ducati is one of the most inspiring and resilient brands in MotoGP, with a 70-year history in racing. The team’s determination to do better every race, to think unconventionally and to continuously push the boundaries of technology perfectly exemplify Mission Winnow.”
Claudio Domenicali, Ducati Motor Holding CEO, added: “Racing has always been part of Ducati’s DNA. The solutions and expertise gathered on track represent an asset that is directly tied to our product line, and the MotoGP project is crucial for us to produce models that are more performing, exciting and safe to ride for all our passionate fans. Looking back at the results achieved in 2018 on track, we can be proud because our Desmosedici GP proved to be one of the most competitive bikes, but we cannot settle and we want to make another, decisive step forward. I believe our know-how and the spirit that characterizes the people of Ducati Corse are an extra value compared with our rivals. I want to take this occasion to thank all the partners that are supporting us in this new challenge in MotoGP – including Audi Sport, which starting from this season will be main sponsor – and to send my best wishes to the whole Mission Winnow Ducati team for an unforgettable season.”
Luigi Dall’Igna, Ducati Corse General Manager: “2018 was another important season for us in MotoGP, one that saw us grow and improve again – both from a technical and a sporting point of view – for the fourth consecutive season. We were very competitive even on tracks that have traditionally been more difficult for us, and we achieved more victories and podiums overall compared with 2017. However, our direct competitors have also improved. We must do better and improve more than what we have done in recent years, bringing new ideas and evolutions to cover all the possible areas. With Andrea and Danilo, we’re confident we have the right team to optimize the resources for the development of the bike. Our goals must be ambitious, as always, and we want to bring the MotoGP title back to Borgo Panigale.”
Andrea Dovizioso (#04, Mission Winnow Ducati): “2018 was a very positive year for me. We started with a victory and, even if we had some ups and downs, the difficulties pushed us to look in new directions and half-way through the season we made a big step forward. I’m very happy with the work done with the team, we fought for the win basically throughout the second half of the championship and I think we’ll make more improvements in the next tests to begin the season in the best possible way. The expectations are high, I have a great feeling with both the bike and my crew, and we can count on more experience. I’m happy to have Danilo alongside me in the garage, we know each other well and I believe we can fight on track but also work together to develop the package.”
Danilo Petrucci (#9, Mission Winnow Ducati): “Last season was very important for me, my best ever in terms of points scored. Even if I barely missed my goal to finish first among independent riders, I still finished 2018 on an undoubtedly positive note. Racing with the factory colours makes me really proud and I can’t wait to get started: I have a great feeling with my new crew, and the technical level is higher than ever. As for me, I know where I can still improve and I changed my conditioning program to make sure I’ll be in my best shape ever come the first race. I’m very happy to pair with Andrea: not only is he a phenomenal rider, but also a wonderful person. We’ve known each other for a long time, and we started to train together with one goal: to both have a really strong season.”
The Mission Winnow Ducati team will soon leave for Malaysia where, on February 6-9 at Sepang, the first collective pre-season tests will unfold.
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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 -
MotoGP pre-race Press Conference: Riders talk of Barcelona and beyond
Riders pose before the pre-race Press Conference in Barcelona. Photo: MotoGP Barcelona, 14 June 2018: Selected quotes from riders who attended the Press Conference ahead of the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya:
Marc Marquez. Photo: MotoGP Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team): “Mugello was a difficult weekend for us, but it normally is a bit. We were struggling a lot with the front tyre there, and I wasn’t able to manage it well or in the right way in the race. Here in the test, I felt good and confident. I know it’s not one of the best tracks for me, but still I’ve finished on the podium a few times from 125 to MotoGP.
It will be a big change inside Honda (when Lorenzo moves to Repsol Honda from Ducati next season), a new team-mate and new riding style. I’ve learned a lot from Dani (Pedrosa) when I arrived, he was riding the Honda so well. But Jorge is a strong team-mate and we’ll try to learn from him because he’s a completely different riding style. But I’m happy I’m INSIDE the team, although he’ll be tough to beat!
Valentino Rossi. Photo: MotoGP Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP): This is a track that I love, but in the last years I’ve had very different results. 2016 it was a victory and then last year it was one of the most difficult races of the season and I struggled a lot, and we didn’t expect it after the year before.
After Assen as well we started to have a lot of problem in the second half of the year. But it’s important, and the track has changed a lot with the new layout and new track surface without the bumps, and that could help us and our performance,. It will be important to understand our level.
Jorge Lorenzo. Photo: MotoGP Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team): My goal and my first priority was to stay at Ducati, until Le Mans, where I realised that maybe they wanted to swap me…then we started to plan another future. Until then, I wanted to win with Ducati. Races, the Championship if possible. Now, everybody is looking at me…I entered the Championship when I was 16, I know how fast I can be on different bikes. I won with Derbi, I rode for Honda, Aprilia, Yamaha…Ducati. I work a lot of hours, millions of hours and I have this capacity. I know what I want to do with the bike and for sure it will be a challenge, but that’s the future. I am a person of the now and I still have a lot to do with Ducati. Like I did with Yamaha – until the last race I tried to win and do the best for the team.
We are in a sweet moment with Ducati, it’s a good package and we try and improve it every month. It’s good for all riders, on our side we got some pieces that helped me keep a constant pace and we arrive at a good track after a good test a month ago here.
Andrea Dovizioso. Photo: MotoGP Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team): For sure this is one of the best tracks in our Championship. It’s nice to ride the bike here and we won last year, but this year is a different story with new asphalt and less bumps. I think we have to work very well during the weekend to understand the tyres – a bit more because of the new asphalt. I expect a lot of fast riders with different bikes but I’m confident, in the last two races I’ve fought for the podium and the victory but every weekend it’s a different story so we have to keep calm and work in the right way like we have been doing. I’m happy, because I have a good relationship with Danilo and he knows a lot about our bike. That’s positive because we can work together to try and improve the bike. There are some big changes next year and I think that’s good for our Championship.
Danilo Petrucci (Alma Pramac Racing): Mugello was a very difficult race. After Le Mans, where I was on the podium, and at Mugello, last year I was on the podium, so everyone expected it…we worked very hard, in qualifying made a small mistake but then in the race my start was good but then I had contact with Marc, went wide and tried to recover, but my rear tyre was tired with four or five laps to go. I pushed at my best and my target was to save the tyre but I was back in ninth…anyway, I did my best and I was happy about that. But for sure I dreamt of an all Ducati podium until five laps to go! I have no regrets and now we’re focused on this race.
Cal Crutchlow. Photo: MotoGP Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol): Mugello wasn’t too bad. I aimed for the podium at the start of the weekend and I didn’t get it but we have to be happy because it was a very difficult race and tough to manage. We tested there and felt fantastic but in the race weekend it seemed more difficult for us. It was tough in the battle at the time and I couldn’t pass because I didn’t want to risk not finishing. I settled for getting some good points. But Mugello was a step in the right direction for here.
Joan Mir (EG 0,0 Marc VDS), Moto2™ rookie and reigning Moto3™ World Champion who will move to MotoGP™ next season with Team Suzuki Ecstar: I’m really happy to join MotoGP next year. It’s like a dream for me. If you said to me three years ago that I would be racing in MotoGP next year I would have said you were crazy! But I’m really happy about the progress so far, we’re growing quickly and I just hope to keep going on this line and I hope to improve more in Moto2. That’s my priority, and then in MotoGP to keep learning. Now we’re scoring points and podiums, but we need the victory. But we’re working well!
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Mugello – Passion, points and that all-important podium; Rossi hopes to do better on home track
Valentino Rossi…..keen to put in better performance on home turf. Photo – Movistar Yamaha MotoGP Mugello, 31 May 2018: Home hero Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) is more than just keen to make up for his fourth place finish last year in the Italian GP when he was still recovering from injuries he had suffered during training.
Speaking at the pre-race press conference here on Thursday, ahead of this weekend’s race, Rossi hoped to put behind him a difficult start to the season for the Movistar Yamaha MotoGP team. The number 46 took his second podium of the year in France, and Mugello is something extra special – home turf where the crowd breathes yellow, and a venue where he’s won seven times.
“Mugello is a special weekend for me and for all the Italian riders, it’s the historic Italian GP for MotoGP,” affirmed the ‘Doctor’. “The track is fantastic, one of the best, and the atmosphere, especially on Sunday, is very special. I arrive better than last year because last year I’d been injured in motocross, but then it was quite a good race. So we have to check this year! In Le Mans it was a good podium but it’s always a good track for the Yamaha and we have to understand our potential here.”
In terms of understanding that, there was also a private test at the venue recently that the majority of the field took part in – although it was interrupted by the weather. For Rossi, it’s a case of starting from Le Mans and moving on.
“The test here wasn’t fantastic for me because I wasn’t very fast. The conditions weren’t fantastic and we only did the morning. But we haven’t changed a lot and we’ll start with a similar base from Le Mans, try and find the feeling and improve – it’s a different track with a lot of changes of direction so you need a different feeling with the bike.”
Marc Marquez, the championship leader. Photo: Honda Racing Ahead of the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley, Rossi was joined by Championship leader Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team), 2017 race winner Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team), Alma Pramac Racing’s Danilo Petrucci and Jack Miller and Moto2™ World Championship leader Francesco ‘Pecco’ Bagnaia to talk about the weekend ahead, the season so far and debrief a few final points from Le Mans before taking on the magnificent Mugello.
First, however, there was another event on Thursday morning as Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu), Scott Redding (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini), Lorenzo Baldassari (Pons HP40), Xavi Vierge (Dynavolt Intact GP), Marco Bezzecchi (Redox PruestelGP), Andrea Migno (Angel Nieto Team), Albert Arenas (Angel Nieto Team), Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Leopard Racing), Dennis Foggia (Sky Racing Team VR46) and Nicolo Bulega (Sky Racing Team VR46) took part in a Giro di Scarperia – a lap of the circuit before cycling to the impressive Palazzo dei Vicari and then back to the track.
With a mixed record at Mugello, it’s not a talisman venue for Marquez, but the season has seen him conquer some venue at which he has a similar record already. “Mugello is a really nice track, one of the most difficult on the calendar and in the past where I didn’t achieve my best results, but we had a test here a few weeks ago and it wasn’t bad. But now, it’s warmer temperatures and everything has changed so we need to do ride the same as we have in the last few races.”
Asked if the Honda he’s riding now is the best he’s had in the premier class, Marquez said it’s not quite like 2014 – and a lot is down to his competitors.
“It’s related to the performance of our opponents. I feel good now with the bike, but in 2014, I felt better. It was easier to ride in 2014. Now there are different tyres and electronics, everything is different, and if the performance of your opponents is higher, then you struggle more with the bike. But now it looks like we can be fast in all conditions, a bit like the second part of last season. This year, it looks like we’ve started in a good way and circuits where we normally struggle we’ve been able to be on top or on the podium and that’s the most important thing during the season.”
Danilo Petrucci. Photo: Prama Racing Danilo Petrucci, however, does think he might be a little behind initially after not having tested at the venue. But ‘Petrux’ is, like Rossi, happy to be riding at home and is aiming high again after his rostrum at Le Mans last time out and his podium form at Mugello in 2017.
Petrucci said: “It’s always special to be here. There are just more Italian journalists! It’s one of my favourite tracks and after Le Mans we arrive in a positive way, but we have to do things simply – the things we’ve done in every race, be precise with the details and working on the bike. Today we had an important meeting and decided everything about the bike, we’re working a lot and arriving here after a podium is special. After last year and two weeks ago, I know a target for me is to be on the podium but for sure it won’t be easy. We haven’t been here for testing so we start a step behind but we’ll try and recover as fast as possible.”
The number 9 was also asked about his team-mate, Jack Miller, and the competition between the two looking towards next season and a possible move to the Ducati Team as rumoured.
“Jack is very fast and he’s shown that in all previous races,” said Petrucci. “But every race is important in MotoGP, there’s not one race that’s easier than another and I always want to be as quick as possible. Sometimes it happens but sometimes it’s more difficult. I have to be in front of as many people as possible, I don’t care about being in front of one rider or another – I just try to be faster than everyone…it’s just not always possible, unfortunately!”
Miller was, aptly, the next on the mic and talked more of consistency, having taken eight top ten finishes in a row as of Le Mans.
“I’m feeling pretty good and such a consistent run for me is quit a new feeling – I was known for inconsistency in the past and I loved to crash,” laughed the Australian. “But since hopping on the Ducati I’ve found some new form and new consistency and it’s starting to show with some decent races. In Jerez, we got lucky with the tangle between Dani, Dovi and Jorge but in Le Mans, it was good to fight and be close to the group for the podium.
“We were missing a little bit there, but riding with these guys and being around them the whole race, I learned a lot and got a lot more experience. So I’ll try and bring the momentum we’ve had in the last couple of GPs into this weekend. It’s a track I’ve not done the best at in the past; I had a pole but then crashed out that year but since, on the Honda, I‘ve struggled. It will be interesting, this bike won here last year, so it’s sure not slow around here and we have to try and do our best!”
Explaining his mistake in Le Mans, Dovizioso said: “It was quite clear for me what happened, I was too relaxed because my speed was really good. I overtook Jorge because I wanted to be in front because Zarco was very aggressive. He had the speed and was maybe too excited to be in his home race! I put myself in the best position but made a mistake in the braking point. I wasn’t careful enough about the weight on the front and it was too much for the grip. It was a very small but bad mistake.”
Ahead of his debut in the premier class in 2019, Bagnaia, the intermediate class points leader was happy to be there and is aiming to make more of a habit of it.
“I’m nervous, excited, but most of all happy to be here for the first time. Since the test in February, we started well, we’ve taken a good direction to work in and from Qatar we knew it was possible to be fast this year, and the win in Texas and Le Mans confirmed that feeling. In Jerez, it was difficult to be fast like in Austin or Le Mans but to finish third in a difficult Grand Prix was good. For sure being here with riders who will be my competitors next year it’s hard to say much…next year, I’ll be with the fastest riders on the planet, with Valentino who was my hero since I was young…that’s incredible. It’s the first time I’ve been here in the Press Conference and next year I hope I can be here a few more times!”
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Marc Marquez equals Casey Stoner as Valentino Rossi gets back on the podium
Marc Marquez….in a class of his own at Le Mans. Photo: Honda Racing Le Mans, 20 May 2018: Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) took a record breaking victory at the HJC Helmets Grand Prix de France here on Sunday, which sees the reigning World Champion equal Casey Stoner’s 38 premier class wins, while also surpassing Mike Hailwood’s win record. Alma Pramac Racing’s Danilo Petrucci was a superb second to take his first podium of the season, with Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) returning to rostrum in third place.
The French fairytale was unfortunately not to be for Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) as the home hero crashed out at Turn 8, on lap eight, after re-passing Marquez for second. Andrea Iannone (Team Suzuki Ecstar) was another rider to crash, falling out of contention on lap one at la Chapelle after making a good start.
Danilo Petrucci. Photo: Prama Racing Then, Championship contender Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) made a rare error at the same corner four laps later. The number 04 had just passed teammate Jorge Lorenzo – who once again got a magnificent start – for the lead, with the Ducati man leaving with no points for the second consecutive race. All three were ok, but it proved to be another pivotal race in the Championship.
Meanwhile, Lorenzo held firm at the front, Marquez was close for company with Petrucci, Rossi and Jack Miller (Alma Pramac Racing) chasing them both. On lap 10 though, the number 93 made his move on Lorezno, before Petrucci followed the Honda rider through a lap later. Rossi and Miller soon carved their way past the five-time World Champion with Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team) waiting in the wings.
Valentino Rossi….yet another podium. Photo: Movistar Yamaha MotoGP The gap between Marquez, Petrucci, Rossi and Miller stayed consistent, with all four exchanging quickest laps. That was until the six-time World Champion pulled the pin on lap 16, setting the fastest lap of the race to bridge to gap to a second over the chasing GP18. From there, Marquez was able to stretch the gap tenth by tenth, with Petrucci also keeping the nine-time World Champion Rossi at bay. Pedrosa was later able to pass Lorenzo for fifth, with the Ducati rider having to settle for sixth.
Further down the order, after failing to get the start he was looking for, last year’s winner Maverick Viñales (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) made his way back up to seventh after being outside the top ten for the first half of the race. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) had a great ride, holding onto eighth until the last lap to earn his best result of the season. Passing him on the last lap was walking wounded Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol), who had a magnificent ride battling to P8 from 13th on the grid.
It was a quiet but important race for Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) after three DNF’s this season, the Spaniard battled with Viñales and Espargaro throughout the race, eventually rounding out the top ten. Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) picked up another solid result in P11, with Hafizh Syahrin (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) eventually getting the better of Franco Morbidelli (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) to finish as top rookie.
Alvaro Bautista (Angel Nieto Team) and Tito Rabat (Reale Avintia Racing) were both early fallers, with Scott Redding (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) also crashing out – riders ok.
In the end, there was no stopping Marquez as he claimed his third successive victory on a track that he hasn’t won at since 2014. The Spaniard extends his Championship lead to 36 points, with Mugello up next.
Arenas victorious in drama filled Moto3™ race
Albert Arenas (Angel Nieto Team Moto3) claimed his first lightweight class win in a spectacular Moto3™ race. Team-mate Andrea Migno claimed second to make it a perfect day for the Angel Nieto Team, with Marcos Ramirez (Bester Capital Dubai) standing on the third step of the podium for the second race in a row.
Albert Arenas. Photo – Angel Nieto Team And that’s just the start, with all the drama coming in the final laps of the race. One of the biggest headlines was Championship leaders Marco Bezzecchi (Redox PrustelGP) and Jorge Martin (Del Conca Gresini Moto3), the two leaders for most of the race, crashing with just one corner to go. Bezzecchi, after passed by Fabio Di Giannanotonio (Del Conca Gresini Moto3), highsided trying to cut back through on his compatriot. Martin, right behind Bezzecchi in third, had nowhere to go and the Spaniard crashed out of a podium position. That’s not all. Di Giannantonio went on take the checkered flag with the Italian elated to have claimed what he thought was his first ever Moto3™ race win. However, a three-second time penalty for running over the chicane at Turns 10 and 11 midway through the race took that victory away from him, handing Arenas the race win.
Niccolo Antonelli (SIC58 Squadra Corse) thought he had claimed his first podium of the season. However, the Italian was also penalised for running straight over the first chicane. This promoted Marcos Ramirez (Bester Capital Dubai), who crossed the line in P5, to third, the second consecutive race the Spaniard stands on the podium after crossing the line outside the top three. Di Giannantonio was demoted to fourth, leaving him second in the World Championship, with Antonelli finishing fifth after his penalty.
Franceso Bagnaia reigns supreme in Moto2™
Sky Racing Team VR46 rider Franceso Bagnaia was simply unstoppable in the Moto2™ race, converting pole position into a commanding victory to take his third win of 2018 – the first winner from pole in Moto2™ at the venue. Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) was the Italian’s closest challenger in second, with teammate 2017 Moto3™ World Champion Joan Mir securing his maiden intermediate class podium, crossing the line third.
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Johann Zarco’s territory: Frenchman takes pole position at Le Mans
Johann Zarco….an inspired qualifying run at Le Mans. Photo: Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Le Mans, May 19: Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) stormed to an outstanding pole position at the HJC Helmets Grand Prix de France, smashing the circuit lap record to become the first Frenchman to secure pole on home soil since Christian Sarron at Paul Ricard in 1988.
Repsol Honda’s Marc Marquez threatened to spoil the party on his final lap, but it wasn’t enough. The World Championship leader starts P2. Q1 graduate Danilo Petrucci (Alma Pramac Racing) will start tomorrow’s race third on the grid, a great session for the Italian.
Zarco, straight out the blocks in Q2, didn’t disappoint. He topped the timesheets after his first flying lap. However, Marquez, as ever, was quick to reply. The reigning World Champion wasn’t at the summit for long though, as Petrucci put in his fastest lap of the weekend to go provisional P1. Zarco, on the final lap of his first run, sent a warning sign, going 0.330 seconds quicker than anyone else.
Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team) briefly led the session when the riders came back out for their second runs, but Marquez then reset the benchmark, with Andrea Iannone (Team Suzuki Ecstar) leaping up to second. Zarco though wasn’t done, again going quickest, this time by 0.130. Marquez’ efforts on his final lap sent French nerves into overdrive, but Zarco held on.
Iannone starts from P4 on his Suzuki, his time of 1:31.454 was less than a tenth off the front row. The Italian heads the two factory Ducatis of Andrea Dovizioso, who will start fifth, and Lorenzo in sixth, both of whom look to have very strong race pace.
Jack Miller (Alma Pramac Racing) was impressive once again in P7. He was in the mix throughout the session, making it four Ducatis in the top seven on a track the manufacturer has never won. Maverick Viñales and his Movistar Yamaha MotoGP team-mate Valentino Rossi will have work to do from P8 and P9 on the grid respectively. The two will be disappointed to be over half a second behind fellow-Yamaha rider Zarco.
Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team), who came through Q1, will start from 10th on Sunday. He is joined by Tito Rabat (Reale Avintia Racing) who was a slender 0.025 behind compatriot and Aprilia Racing Team Gresini’s Aleix Espargaro. The number 41 crashed at Turn 1 on his opening run – he was ok and ran back to the pits.
The top 11 riders are covered by eight tents, and it looks set to be a classic.
Franceso Bagnaia unbeatable in Moto2™ qualifying
Franceso Bagnaia (SKY Racing Team VR46) will start tomorrow’s Moto2™ race from pole for the first time in his Moto2™ career, setting a new circuit lap record along the way. Xavi Vierge (Dynavolt Intact GP), who crashed on his final run, will start second on the grid, 0.202 behind, with Jerez winner Lorenzo Baldassarri (Pons HP40) earning his fourth front row start of the year in P3.
Vierge was the early pace setter in the session, setting a lap record after just five minutes. Bagnaia, though, was right on his tail, and sure enough, the Italian moved the goal posts to set 1:36.188 on the following lap. Neither of the top two would go on to improve their times.
Jorge Martin snatches late pole in Moto3™
For the third time in 2018, Jorge Martin (Del Conca Gresini Moto3) will start the Moto3™ race from pole position after putting in a magnificent final run to take top spot at the HJC Helmets Grand Prix de France. Jakub Kornfeil (Redox PrustelGP) continued his great weekend, leaping up the timesheets at the end of the session to start from P2 on his 150th Grand Prix start. After a heavy fall at the start of the session, walking wounded Enea Bastianini (Leopard Racing) put in a valiant effort to start from third in Sunday’s race.
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High drama in Jerez: Marc Marquez wins in a canter as contenders collide
Marc Marquez on way to winning the Spanish GP. Photo: Honda Racing Jerez, 6 May 2018: Reigning champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) took a stunning second win of the season – and his second win at Jerez – in the Gran Premio Red Bull de España, fighting to the front and just able to pull away into clear air, away from some huge drama that then hit the race behind.
Johann Zarco Photo: Yamaha Racing In a pivotal day in the Championship, an unbelievable racing incident saw Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team), teammate Andrea Dovizioso and Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team) all crash out in one go at Turn 6 – with Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) and Andrea Iannone (Team Suzuki Ecstar) then coming through to complete the podium.
Lorenzo got the holeshot after an unbelievable launch from the second row, taking the lead ahead of Pedrosa in second and Zarco in third as polesitter Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) lost out off the line. Marquez remained where he’d qualified in fifth, with Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) in sixth.
Andrea Iannone. Photo: Suzuki Racing Lorenzo pushed early from the front to set the pace, with Pedrosa holding station in second as Marquez, Crutchlow and Zarco squabbled for third. A moment for Zarco soon after then saw the Frenchman out wide and dropping back. Then Crutchlow crashed out, before another name went missing from the front group as Rins followed suit not so long after. Meanwhile, Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) had made his way through to the front group leaving a Repsol Honda vs Ducati Team duel of duos fighting it out.
With 16 laps to go, however, Marquez made his move, slicing past Lorenzo to take over in the lead as ‘DesmoDovi’ and Pedrosa looked for a way past the number 99. After some chopping and changing as Marquez pulled away, it was then time for the overwhelming headline of the race: the three-rider crash that saw Lorenzo, Dovizioso and Pedrosa all collide and tumble into the gravel.
Dovizioso had attacked Lorenzo into Turn 6 but headed too deep, with the number 99 then cutting back towards the apex, but Pedrosa was already there. The two collided with each other and then Dovizioso; the gravel trap waiting for the three men and the shockwaves of the moment ricocheting around the circuit as the dust settled. Costly in the Championship, but the three all walked away unharmed despite the incident.
That left Zarco with the unbelievable sight of a Repsol Honda and both Ducatis in the gravel as he came past, inheriting second and then facing seven laps to keep calm and take yet another impressive podium. The battle to complete that after the drama up ahead was hotting up, meanwhile, as Danilo Petrucci (Alma Pramac Racing) and Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) were closing in on the Suzuki of Andrea Iannone in third.
Valentino Ross. Photo: Yamaha Racing As the last lap dawned, Iannone was just able to make a gap and stay clear of the chasing Italians, despite Rossi having pulled back an awesome amount of distance on the penultimate lap to get himself in contention. So the ‘Maniac’ crossed the line in third for the third Suzuki podium in a row, Petrucci took fourth and Rossi a top five finish in the race in which he completed a lap of the World – now having raced the equivalent distance of the circumference of the Earth upon finishing Lap 15.
Jack Miller (Alma Pramac Racing) just dropped off that battle to cross the line in sixth, with Maverick Viñales (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) making some progress from outside the top 10 in the initial stages to take P7. Eighth was the best result of 2018 so far for Alvaro Bautista (Angel Nieto Team) after he fought with Viñales for much of the race, with top rookie Franco Morbidelli (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) taking ninth and his first top ten result in the premier class.
Mika Kallio (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), wildcarding on a prototype of the 2019 RC16, completed the top ten in another stunning ride, and teammate Pol Espargaro took P11 as he won a battle against Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) by mere hundredths at the line. Bradley Smith (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was incredibly close, too, taking P13 to make it three Austrian machines in the points. Those points were completed by Tito Rabat (Reale Avintia Racing) and Scott Redding (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini).
Source: motogp.com
