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Tag: Ducati Team
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Alex Rins fastest in FP as 0.159 splits four factory riders on Friday at Sepang
Alex Rins sets the pace in Free Practice sessions on Friday at Sepang. Photo: MotoGP Sepang, 02 October 2018: Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) topped the timesheets on Friday at the Shell Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix after going quickest in FP2. The Spaniard heads Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) on the combined times by just 0.089 after setting a 1:59.608, with Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) completing a top three covered by 0.093 seconds at Sepang.
Rins tops FP2 in Sepang on Friday. Photo by Srinivasa Krishnan Despite the threat of rain throughout the day, the MotoGP™ riders were able to get two full dry sessions done and dusted in Malaysia, and it was a Suzuki leading the way as the chequered flag came out at the end of FP2. Rins was the man at the summit thanks to his late FP2 time, with Dovi failing to improve on his FP1 time in the afternoon session – P7 for the Italian in FP2. It was Marquez who finished the second session in P2, but the World Champion had an eventful day. In typical Marquez fashion, the number 93 had to save the front of his RC213V numerous times across the two sessions. Front-end improvements needed for the Champion before qualifying?
Andrea Dovizioso. Photo: MotoGP There were no such close shaves for fourth place overall and sixth fastest in FP2 Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) though. ‘The Doctor’ having a strong Friday to end the day just 0.159 from Rins’ time as four manufacturers make up the top four spots at Sepang. Fifth on the combined times was Jack Miller on board his Alma Pramac Racing Ducati, the Australian setting a quickest time of 1:59.771 to end FP2 in P3 after being the first rider to dip into the 1:59s in FP2. Meanwhile, Australian GP winner Maverick Viñales (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) completes the day P6 on the overall times, the Spaniard going fourth fastest in FP2 to end the day less than two tenths off P1.
Marc Marquez. Photo: MotoGP Just 0.009 behind him at the end of Friday’s proceedings sits Danilo Petrucci (Alma Pramac Racing), P7 overall for the Italian thanks to his FP2 time, with Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) improving by over half a second in the second session to end P8 on Friday. Completing the provisional automatic Q2 places were Andrea Iannone (Team Suzuki Ecstar) in P9 and Aprilia Racing Team Gresini’s Aleix Espargaro in P10 – the latter going over a second slower in FP2 though, with his FP1 time just enough to better 11th place Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team). Returning from injury, Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team) endured a tough opening day. The five-time World Champion finished bottom of the timesheets and over three seconds adrift of the fastest time. Scott Redding (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) had a crash at Turn 2 – rider ok.
So its Rins that was on fire on Friday in Sepang, a fantastic turnaround after one of his bikes was on up in flames in pitlane on Thursday. The times are super close with 0.203 covering the top six, but FP3 gives the premier class riders the last chance to improve their times to see if they can cement an automatic Q2 place.
Update: Crutchlow undergoes second surgery
Cal Crutchlow. Photo: MotoGP The LCR Honda Castrol Team have given an update on their rider Cal Crutchlow after the Briton sustained a fracture to his right ankle and tibia at Phillip Island. He currently remains in hospital in Australia, but the three-time Grand Prix winner has successfully undergone a second operation on the affected area and should now be allowed to return home on Sunday.
“Cal had his second operation on Thursday morning,” says Lucio Cecchinello, LCR Honda Team Principal. “The surgery took less than two hours and he was awake about an hour after the procedure finished. He didn’t complain about any particular pain after coming round. The surgery was performed by Dr Matthias Russ, the same doctor who carried out the first operation, and he stated that he was very pleased with how the surgery had gone. Cal has had two small plates inserted and he will be ready to fly home on Sunday night – provided there are no complications, which nobody expects. Once he’s back home he will start physiotherapy and will try his best to be fit again as soon as possible.”
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With five wins each this season, Ducati, Honda, Yamaha are all square in Sepang
Riders at the pre-event press conference. Photo: MotoGP Sepang, 1 November 2018: It’s time for the final flyaway race of the 2018 season and to kick things off at the Shell Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix, home hero Hafizh Syahrin (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) was joined in the pre-event Press Conference by 2018 MotoGP™ Champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team), Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team), Australian GP winner Maverick Viñales (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP), Andrea Iannone (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and the returning Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team).
In the last 15 races at the Sepang International Circuit, there has been nothing to choose between three MotoGP™ manufacturers in terms of the number of wins. Honda, Ducati and Yamaha have taken five victories each in the last 16 years and in the Press Conference, Marquez, Dovizioso and Viñales talked about their chances of claiming victory this time around.
Jorge Lorenzo. Photo: MotoGP The 2014 Malaysian GP winner Marquez began and after suffering his first DNF of the season last time out in Australia, the Honda rider is out to make amends this weekend on a track that he and Honda went very well at in preseason testing.
“We’ll try to continue in the same way, in Phillip Island we struggled a bit then in the race we were in good shape so we’ll try and keep our performance here,” said the number 93 rider. “The preseason was good here, race pace, but now it’s completely different; different bikes and different setups, so we forget that and concentrate on the weekend. We start from FP1, try to work hard, then we’ll see if we can fight for the podium, the top five or the victory.”
What we can’t forget is that Sepang has been Desmosedici territory in the last two years with Dovi taking maximum points in both 2016 and 2017, while teammate Lorenzo finished just behind him in P2 last season. But what does the number 04 expect from this weekend? Well, Sepang is where he secured his first MotoGP™ podium after a great battle with Nicky Hayden in 2008, but the Italian is interested to see how Ducati perform in a dry race after his two victories came in the wet conditions:
Andrea Dovizioso. Photo: MotoGP “I remember it well that weekend and race. I had a strong race with Nicky, it was my first year in MotoGP™ and until the last corner we were breaking very hard and I was able to arrive in front. It was nice, it was a good moment,” explained Dovi, talking about that 2008 race. “This track is good for me but in the past, if we look at the result we didn’t take a lot of good results in the dry. The last two years we won in the wet but it will be interesting to see what our speed would be in the dry.”
There’s no guarantee we’ll see a dry race this weekend, but that is exactly what we saw in Australia. Viñales and Yamaha have been buoyed after the Spaniard ended their victory drought in Phillip Island, so can they kick on and potentially challenge for their first back-to-back victories since Qatar-Argentina 2017?
Maverick Vinales. Photo: MotoGP “It’s been nice, we enjoyed it a lot with the team and it’s been a long time since we enjoyed a dinner like that,” said the Yamaha rider, who thinks he and his team can work even better now they are more relaxed: “I think now we can do even better because we’re more relaxed and let’s see if that can help us to improve, and help Yamaha. I want to try to be competitive and be in front and try and finish the season well in the standings. It’s important to not lose this momentum now.”
So it looks like all three riders and all three manufacturers are aiming to fight for the victory on Sunday but as always in Malaysia, the weather looks set to play its part. There will be floods of fans surrounding the Sepang International Circuit throughout the weekend, but who will they see take the victory come Sunday?
Let’s not forget, Ducati, Honda and Yamaha also have Suzuki to contend with this weekend.
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Viñales ends Yamaha drought with spectacular Island win after Marquez forced to retire
Maverick Viñales celebrates Yamaha’s first Grand Prix race in 490 days. Photo: MotoGP Phillip Island, 28 October 2018: Maverick Viñales (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) ended Yamaha’s 25-race victory drought after storming to a spectacular win at the Michelin® Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, the Spaniard imperious in the second half of the race to eventually take his first win since Le Mans 2017 by 1.5 seconds over second place Andrea Iannone (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and Ducati Team’s Andrea Dovizioso.
The hectic scramble was marked by a lap 6 incident involving Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) and World champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team). As the duo headed into the braking zone at Turn 1 on lap 6, Zarco’s front tyre came into contact with Marquez’ rear tyre, causing the Frenchman to lose control and crash at roughly 300kph in a hugely scary incident. Zarco’s bike severely damaged the back of Marquez’ Honda and subsequently, the 2018 Champion retired from the race. Thankfully, Zarco walked away from the incident uninjured.
Earlier, as the lights went out it was Danilo Petrucci (Alma Pramac Racing) who got a lightning launch from P8 to head around the outside and lead into Turn 1, but the Italian then ran off at Turn 2 to end his charge. However, fellow Alma Pramac Racing rider Jack Miller took advantage of his teammate’s misfortunes to take the lead of his home Grand Prix at Turn 4 – rinse and repeat for the Aussie from 2017.
Pole man Marquez slotted in behind Miller with Iannone third, but heading into Turn 1 on lap 2 it was all change: Marquez took over the reins of the freight train, with Dovi slotting into second, Iannone was third and Miller was back to fourth. The swapping and changing at the front begun with the fast and sweeping Phillip Island circuit keeping the riders in close pursuit of each other. The racing was hard but fair under glorious Australian skies.
Andrea Dovizioso….a creditable second at Phillip Island. Photo: MotoGP The Zarco-Marquez incident left Dovi leading from Miller and Iannone but then Viñales began to make his move. Starting P2, the Spaniard didn’t get a good getaway and was as low as tenth at one stage, but on lap 8 he made what would turn out to be his race-winning overtake at Turn 4. Maverick then took off in true Top Gun style and within a lap, he had created a 0.8 second lead.
Viñales was in the groove and looked like he was on rails around the Island. Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) was leading the chase before Iannone then took the baton, but the Suzuki man ran wide at Turn 4 and dropped to the back of the quartet. Alvaro Bautista (Ducati Team) was taking no prisoners on his one-off Ducati factory ride, with he and teammate Dovi also taking it in turns to try and reel in Viñales. But no matter who it was out of the four, no one could match the Spaniard’s superior pace – 1.9 the gap on lap 13, which grew to four seconds by lap 21.
The battle for first was seemingly won but the fight for P2 raged on between Rossi, the two red Desmosedicis and Iannone, with Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) also joining the fray the latter stages. On lap 23 it was the man who had dominated the weekend to get into P2: Iannone. Then, the gap to Viñales suddenly dropped below three seconds and then with two laps to go, it was 1.8 seconds. Surely Viñales wasn’t going to let this slip?
The answer was no, he wasn’t. The leader responded after being a second a lap slower to bring his YZR-M1 home in P1, 1.543 clear of Iannone, the latter beating Dovizioso in a battle for second. A mistake with just over a lap to go on the exit of Turn 10 ended Bautista’s hopes of a podium, a terrific P4 – his best result of the season – nonetheless for the Spaniard who helps Ducati Team close the gap to Repsol Honda in the Team Championship to 38 points, with Movistar Yamaha MotoGP now just 16 points off Repsol Honda.
Rins got the better of Rossi on the final lap to claim a fourth consecutive top five finish, ‘The Doctor’ settling for P6. Miller would bring his Ducati home in a solid P7 and as the leading Independent Team rider – the Australian just 6.7 seconds from the win – with Franco Morbidelli (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) earning his best result of the season in P8 to take charge in the Rookie of the Year Championship – Hafizh Syahrin (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) crashing out of a top ten place on lap 19 at Turn 4. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) was able to beat Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Bradley Smith by a whisker – 0.036 separating the duo at the line in P9 and P10 respectively. Great results for both riders which means all six manufacturers were in the top 10 at Phillip Island.
Talking of great results, 11th was Karel Abraham (Angel Nieto Team), this the Czech rider’s best result of the season, with Petrucci recovering to P12 at the flag. Scott Redding (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini), Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) and Xavier Simeon (Reale Avintia Racing) completed to points in P13, P14 and P15 respectively – the latter earning his first point-scoring finish of the season. Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team) crashed out of his final Australian GP appearance – rider ok, with Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) retiring.
A fantastic and faultless ride from Viñales means Yamaha have won their first Grand Prix race in 490 days.
Binder beats Mir by 0.036 in brilliant Island battle
Brad Binder enjoying his hard-fought win at Phillip Island. Photo: MotoGP Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) claimed his third win of the season as he took the chequered flag by 0.036 from second place Joan Mir (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) with Xavi Vierge (Dynavolt Intact GP) snatching a maiden podium away from Augusto Fernandez (Pons HP40) at the line by 0.008 – a brilliant battle on the Island in the intermediate class that saw neither Francesco Bagnaia (SKY Racing Team VR46) or Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Ajo) challenge at the front.
There was drama before the race had even begun as P2 on the grid Marcel Schrötter (Dynavolt Intact GP) encountered a problem with his bike and although he eventually got it going, the German had to line up on the back of the grid. As the lights went out it was pole man Mattia Pasini (Italtrans Racing Team) who launched well to grab the holeshot, but Vierge soon cut his way through to the lead from P3 on the grid, with Binder, Iker Lecuona (Swiss Innovative Investors) and Dominique Aegerter (Kiefer Racing) slotting in behind.
Pasini’s race wouldn’t last long though, a crash at Turn 4 on lap 2 for the Italian ended his hopes of a second podium of the year. Meanwhile, Bagnaia had initially made significant progress from P16 on the grid to get as high as P6, but the Championship leader soon dropped back to outside the top ten, along with title rival Oliveira.
With Pasini out, the lead was chopping and changing lap by lap, particularly between Lorenzo Baldassarri (Pons HP40) and Vierge. With five to go, it was a group of six at the front, all of which looked menacing. However, Baldassarri’s race would end prematurely at Turn 10 after the Italian got his Kalex machine out of shape under braking and with grass and slick tyres not a good mix, Baldassarri went down and out of contention. And so, heading onto the last lap, there were five riders in contention. Luca Marini (SKY Racing Team VR46) made a sweeping move to go from fifth to third at Turn 1 as Binder led the way from Mir. Turn 4 then saw Marini run wide and out of podium contention, with Fernandez and Vierge also getting out of sorts on the exit to leave the battle for the win between Binder and Mir.
Mir wasn’t close enough at his particular strong point: Turn 10, but on the exit of Turn 11 Binder lit up the rear of his KTM. A run to the line then followed but the South African had just enough edge out the Spaniard – the 2016 and 2017 Moto3™ Champions going head-to-head. Vierge won the race to the line with Fernandez, with Marini taking P5.
Tetsuta Nagashima (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia), Sam Lowes (Swiss Innovative Investors) and Edgar Pons (MB Conveyors – Speed Up) complete the points in a top 15 that was separated by 14.076 seconds – the fifth closest top 15 in Moto2™/250 history.
So the Moto2™ riders Championship continues for another race, but Kalex claimed a sixth constructors title. A second match point for Bagnaia now awaits, can he and Oliveira challenge at the front again in at Sepang?
Arenas wins unbelievable race, Martin P5, Bezzecchi crashes
Albert Arenas on a charge. Photo: Angel Nieto team In an unbelievable Moto3™ race, it was Albert Arenas (Angel Nieto Team) who emerged as the victor to beat Fabio Di Giannantonio (Del Conca Gresini Moto3) and stand-in SKY Racing Team VR46 rider Celestino Vietti, but drama hit title contender Marco Bezzecchi (Redox PruestelGP) as the Moto3™ Championship takes another twist.
It was Championship leader Jorge Martin (Del Conca Gresini Moto3) who got the initial launch from pole but on the run into Turn 1 it was Gabriel Rodrigo (RBA BOE Skull rider) who grabbed the holeshot with Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Ayumu Sasaki (Petronas Sprinta Racing) tucking in behind, before Martin cut back through to the lead at Turn 4. This though was just the start of a mesmerising Moto3™ encounter which saw 14 different riders lead at some point.
An outrageous start to proceedings sees the Moto3™ title race take another unexpected turn as Martin now leads Bezzecchi by 12 points, with Diggia’s P2 getting him right back in the title mix – 20 points splitting the top three.
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Full attack mode at Phillip Island; Marquez favourite, but Rossi very much in the hunt
File photo of Marc Marquez in action. Photo: Honda Racing Corporation Phillip Island, 25 October 2018: From a history maker of a Grand Prix at the Twin Ring Motegi, it’s all change as MotoGP™ now heads down under for the Michelin Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix. The Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, a couple of hours south of Melbourne, is one of the world’s great masterpieces – a flowing ribbon of asphalt perched on the cliffs, where the Gardner Straight seems to disappear into the horizon.
It doesn’t, it becomes the Southern Loop and Stoner Corner and Lukey Heights and every other legendary kink and curve of this legendary racetrack, but the setting is a dramatic one. The racing, too, is often showstopping – with the Island fabled not only for its curves but also for its contests. Some of the greatest races of all time have happened here, and in 2018 the odds say another may well be on the way.
Valentino Rossi . Photo : Yamaha MotoGP Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) will be the favourite as we arrive this season. Not only for his seventh crown, wrapped up at Motegi, or even for his stats from the season. It’s not even for his win count at the track, it’s his pace at Phillip Island that widens eyes – with pole position taken so often, it would take a fairly dramatic twist to deny him. Marquez has won some incredible races here – and taken some DNFs – as well as going from P38 on the grid in Moto2™ and getting on the podium. The king around here used to be Casey Stoner; now he goes by another name.
The other rider with the top recent record isn’t racing, either – with Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team) out through injury. So that leaves only Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) as the other man with a great track record at the Island – including his most recent win in 2014 – but the ‘Doctor’ also dominated the venue before the arrival of Stoner. Phillip Island could also suit Yamaha a little more than some tracks of late – so can Rossi break that losing streak? Or will it be his teammate, Maverick Viñales, who suffered much more at Motegi but did take a rostrum in Thailand…
So what of the man whose absence on the final laps in Japan was so notable? Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team)’s crash may have assured Marquez the crown, but it also robbed us of another incredible duel. On a more positive note the Italian went out swinging and if the 04 machine crashes out, it usually means one thing: he gave everything.
Andrea Dovizioso. Photo: MotoGP So now ‘DesmoDovi’ resets to making sure he’ll end the year second overall, and carries on trying to garner as many wins as possible, race by race. Last year in Australia the race was one of the toughest of the season for Ducati so that may not be here, and some more points and keeping tabs on the Yamahas will be the goal. Rossi lurks within striking distance, but the gap back to Viñales gives Dovizioso a little more breathing space.
The fight to be top Independent Team rider, meanwhile, is beginning to space out a little more too. With his second place at Motegi, Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) moved to 148 points, and within seven points of Viñales – and he’s a previous winner at the Island. Behind the Brit Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) is on 133 – and Danilo Petrucci (Alma Pramac Racing) has exactly the same, but Zarco remains ahead in the fight by virtue of his podiums.
Carl Crutchlow. Photo: MotoGP It quite literally couldn’t get any closer, and last season Zarco was tantalizingly close to the podium. Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) is beginning to home in on all three, too, and after another podium he could be a complication for the three ahead of him. But the home crowd will likely have more eyes for Jack Miller (Alma Pramac Racing), who had a front row start in Japan and solid pace until crashing out of contention. He’s got form at Phillip Island, and he’ll be aiming to be more than just top Independent…
Rookie of the Year is also close and Franco Morbidelli (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) is ahead but Hafizh Syahrin (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) took a top ten just ahead of his rival last time out – so there’s plenty life left in that fight. That’s not even everything to look for in Australia – with Alvaro Bautista riding Lorenzo’s Ducati Team machine too, and a rookie to the GP18.
So the Championship is decided and the pressure is off, but so are the shackles. It’s now all-or-nothing at the breathtaking Phillip Island, so can anyone stop Marquez? Or will the reigning Champion run out of a little luck? We will know on Sunday as the lights go out at one of the greatest racetracks in the world.
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Michelin Australian GP: Changing patterns, new colours, 10 possible winners?
The riders line-up to kick-off the pre-event press conference. Photo: MotoGP Melbourne, 25 October 2018: The Michelin Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix signals the second of the three back-to-back flyaway races and as always, the pre-event Press Conference kicked off the weekend’s proceedings. Joining now seven-time World Champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) in front of the media were Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP), Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol), Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar), home hero Jack Miller (Alma Pramac Racing) and Alvaro Bautista (Ducati Team) – the latter standing in for the injured Jorge Lorenzo in Australia.
Marquez at the press conference. Photo: MotoGP Phillip Island is a rider and fan favourite, but this weekend sees several reasons why it’s a particularly different Grand Prix. Firstly, after coming to Australia following title wins in Japan in 2014 and 2016, Marquez failed to see the chequered flag on both occasions after crashing out of the race. This is something the Spaniard pointed out in the Press Conference and it’s a pattern he’s wanting to put an end to this year: “I won in 2014 at Motegi, I got here and I thought I could do everything and I crashed,” said the Repsol Honda rider. “In 2016, I felt different but again I crashed in the race. So I need to control myself a bit, it’s a track that I love but…now we will start looking towards the 2019 season.”
Rossi has an outstanding record on the Island, having only missed the podium four times in his 21 visits. The Italian was second to Marquez last season and picked up the victory when the number 93 crashed in 2014. But, for Rossi, what makes Phillip Island such a unique event?
Rossi taking time off. Photo: MotoGP “I think Phillip Island is one of the best circuits of the season, for more or less everyone,” affirmed ‘The Doctor’. “For me Phillip Island is really different, it’s the only one like this. On other tracks you’re fast as an average speed but here you’re fast in the corners and there are a lot of high-speed changes of direction, it’s mostly left but you still have to manage the right, and it’s all up and down…”
And what does Crutchlow – beneficiary from Marquez’ 2016 crash – think about this circuit? Well, for a start, there isn’t just a couple of names – in his opinion – that can challenge for victory: “On paper right now there are ten guys who could probably win and there are only three spaces on the podium,” explained the Briton.
One of those potential winners is home rider Miller. It’s, of course, a special weekend for the Australian and after leading the early exchanges of last season’s race, can he dream up a win around the Island on board a Desmosedici?
Carl Crutchlow. Photo: MotoGP “I love coming to this race, staying in Melbourne for a couple of days and enjoying it. It’s a great event to be a part of,” began the number 43 rider, who will be hoping he can build on his P3 qualifying position in Japan on home soil. “We had the front row start in Japan, we tried the soft option tyre as a gamble and as we kinda had predicted but hoped not that by the third lap the edge of the tyre was too hot, I was rolling around, I had a bit of a slide into the corner and crashed…and I’ll try not to do that too much this weekend.”
In addition, another special topic about this particular Australian GP comes from fellow Ducati rider Bautista, who swaps his everyday Angel Nieto Team colours for the red of the factory Desmosedici team. Stepping in for Lorenzo, what does the Spaniard hope he can achieve on his final visit to Phillip Island on a GP machine?
“I think this opportunity arrives at my best moment because I feel very strong riding the bike,” admitted Bautista. “New people, new bike, I have to adapt to the GP18. This track hasn’t been the best for Ducati and before we’ve struggled a lot. I’ll try to give all the information to the engineers.”
Phillip Island is a special circuit but throw in a few more unique situations like we have on our hands this weekend and it becomes a weekend that is simply unmissable. There are so many other questions that need to be answered, so if you thought the racing would be winding down because the 2018 Championship has been decided then, you’re wrong.
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Marquez vs Dovi: who will shine brightest in Motul Grand Prix of Japan?
Marc Marquez and Andrea Dovizioso…..another royal battle in the offing. Photo: MotoGp Motegi, 18 October 2018: The Motul Grand Prix of Japan could be a Championship clinching weekend for Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) and joining him in the pre-event Press Conference was closest rival Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team), Maverick Viñales (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP), Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar), Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team) and home hero Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) to preview Round 16.
With a 77-point lead in the overall standings, Marquez has his first match point of the season at the Twin Ring Motegi: the home of Honda and a venue he’s sealed the title at previously in 2014 and 2016. The number 93 isn’t wanting to put any extra pressure on himself though and is treating this race like any other weekend.
“Here we have our first match point but the target is the same as every other weekend, start well in FP1 and try and be ready to fight for the victory. After Warm Up we’ll see whether we can fight – let’s not forget these guys are very strong in Motegi, so no stress and no panic.”
Marquez vs Dovi….hot battle. Photo: MotoGP “These guys” was an indication to the rider sat immediately to his right – Dovizioso. The two were embroiled in an unforgettable battle in Motegi last season and it’s one Marquez remembers like it was yesterday. Is a repeat on the cards? “Those kinds of battles are in my mind like they happened yesterday! It was nice but a difficult race with a lot of water but a great battle. He beat me on the back straight and braked later, he was already in front and I tried at the last corner but it was too much. He made a great move in that race but this year on Sunday it looks like it will be dry, and it could be different…”
‘DesmoDovi’ will be hoping the outcome won’t be different from that particular battle as he aims to put Honda’s title celebrations on hold. And in addition to his Spanish colleague, Dovi is treating the Japanese GP as he would any other weekend: not thinking about the Championship and simply just trying to win the race.
“Let’s try and win the race and make Marc have to wait for the celebrations,” commented the Ducati rider. “I think, unfortunately, I’ve been racing not thinking about the championship for a long time because the gap is so big. Here is just another race and we want to win, come back to victory and it could be a good track for us.”
It certainly seems like Motegi’s 2018 mixture is a recipe for another potential Marquez vs Dovizioso classic. Despite the weather looking like it will have a part to play on Friday and potentially Saturday, Sunday’s weather forecast is predicting a dry race for both riders to go into full attack mode.
Will it be magnificent seven for Marquez or delight for Dovi? Thankfully, we don’t have long to find out. Watch both riders join the rest of the premier class field as they take to the Twin Ring Motegi for FP1 on Friday morning.
A MILESTONE AWAITS CAL CRUTCHLOW
Crutchlow….on verge of history. Photo: MotoGP Honda rider can become the first Briton to reach the milestone in premier class history with a top five result in Japan. Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) can etch his name into the MotoGP™ history books again at the Motul Grand Prix of Japan this weekend, with a top five finish in Motegi enough to see him become the first British rider to reach 1000 premier class points in Grand Prix motorcycle racing.
Currently on 989 points, the Isle of Man resident has been a prominent figure in the MotoGP™ paddock since joining Tech 3 in 2011 from WorldSBK and has since managed to notch up three wins – his maiden GP victory at Brno in 2016 the first from a British rider in 35 years.
In total, Crutchlow has scored 15 podiums during his eight years and he’s aiming to get another one under his belt at the Twin Ring Motegi to strengthen his position as Independent Team Championship leader:
“Of course, Motegi is one of the most important races of the calendar because it’s Honda HRC’s home race and we are all keen to get a good result. As I said before, I expected a better result in Thailand, but at the same time I am happy to lead the independent rider classification.
“The Motegi circuit suits my riding style more then Buriram so the aim to finish in the top 5 and hopefully get on the podium, although the battle up in the front group is very hard. We will see, for sure the Japanese crowd will be awesome as always and we’ll do our best to give them a great show on Sunday. It’s also Taka’s home race and I hope he can make a good race for his family and fans.”
THE LITTLE SAMURAI’S LAST JAPANESE JOUST
Dani Pedrosa. Photo: Honda Racing After announcing his retirement earlier in the season, Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team) aka the ‘Little Samurai’ will take part in his last race on Japanese soil at this weekend’s Motul Grand Prix of Japan.
The three-time World Champion was present in the pre-event Press Conference and reflected on his time spent in a country he’s become closely connected to: “We’ve already been to two of Honda’s places; the office and the factory and you can see all the Japanese people are so supportive, so it’s an important race. I’ve always had a good welcome here.”
In addition to a warm welcome off track, Pedrosa had enjoyed success on track at the Twin Ring Motegi. Five wins across all classes – the last coming in 2015 – and a total of 10 podiums gives the 33-year-old hope of a successful weekend, despite also being dished some bad luck at the venue in years gone by.
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Marc Marquez on the cusp of MotoGP title at Motegi Twin Ring Circuit, Japan, this weekend
File photo of Marc Marquez in action. Photo – Honda Racing Corporation Motegi, 15 October 2018: Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) has done it before and wrapped up the title on the home turf of manufacturer Honda, and in 2018 he has chance to do it again in the Motul Grand Prix of Japan at the Motegi Twin Ring circuit here this weekend. If he scores points and finishes ahead of Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) and if he doesn’t concede more than two points to Dovizioso and 24 to Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP), Marquez is Champion and takes his seventh crown. The hard-braking behemoth of the Twin Ring could decide everything.
The mission for Dovizioso is clear, then. He has to be ahead of Marquez and the best case scenario is to win. He has good form at the venue including two poles – 2010 and 2014 – and two podiums, one of which was a win, last season. And who could forget the stunning showdown in the rain as Marquez and Dovizioso dueled it out? The Italian certainly won’t, nor the fact that he won it in style. Despite the Spaniard fighting back last time out, Dovi remains ahead in their last lap showdowns.
Valentino Rossi. Photo: Yamaha MotoGP So what of Valentino Rossi? The Italian remains third by virtue of consistency and consistently getting the best from the package, despite some struggles for Yamaha of late. He needs to go big to play a big part in the title decider, but like most venues, he’s a former winner at Motegi – that’s a given. Could Thailand have been a turning point for Yamaha too? Both Rossi, who came fourth at Buriram, and teammate Maverick Viñales, who locked out the podium, had much improved pace there – and that despite the hot temperatures and high tyre wear. They’ll hope to be a force to be reckoned with as it’s their home race and also the home track of arch rivals Honda – something also true of Hamamatsu factory Suzuki and Team Suzuki Ecstar’s Alex Rins and Andrea Iannone.
One unknown quantity who could have a big say in the weekend is Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team). Crashing out at Aragon and left riding through the pain barrier on Friday in Thailand, the ‘Spartan’ was on the pace – until a monster highside in FP2 put paid to his weekend at Buriram. It was caused by a mechanical problem and Lorenzo, classed fit to race, nevertheless chose to sit the weekend out. He’ll be back at Motegi, however, and he has quite a CV at the Japanese venue, including three wins. As does Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team), who crashed out in Thailand.
Andrea Dovizioso. Photo: Ducati The fight for top Independent Team rider continues to rage just behind Lorenzo in the standings. Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) has 128 points, Danilo Petrucci (Alma Pramac Racing) 126 and Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) 123 – so it remains incredibly close and every weekend is pivotal, with Motegi no different.
The same is true in the battle for Rookie of the Year as last time out Hafizh Syahrin (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) closed on Franco Morbidelli (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) and it’s just five points between the two, but at Motegi, eyes will be on a different rookie.
Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) is one of the home heroes who will be on track and the Japanese rookie has had some good pace of late – and then suffered bad luck on race day. He’ll want to put on a good show at his home race and the home race of HRC, but he won’t be alone in flying the flag. Yamaha test rider Katsuyuki Nakasuga will be another Japanese rider on the grid as he wildcards, giving the home crowd a rookie and a veteran to cheer for.
The Motul Grand Prix of Japan has everything hanging in the balance. Marquez is on the cusp of yet more history and, again, it’s Andrea Dovizioso the key man in his way. Find out if Motegi hosts another incredible showdown on Sunday 21st October when the lights go out at 14:00 (GMT +2) local time.
Championship Standings
1 – Marc Marquez (SPA) HONDA 271 points
2 – Andrea Dovizioso (ITA) DUCATI 194
3 – Valentino Rossi (ITA) YAMAHA 172
4 – Maverick Viñales (SPA) YAMAHA 146
5 – Jorge Lorenzo (SPA) DUCATI 130 -
Dutch Grand Prix: Assen, where myth and magic collide at the ‘Cathedral’
The iconic Assen TT cirdcuit. Photo: MotoGP Assen, 26 June 2018: Since the beginnings of the Dutch TT way back, much has changed, but not the heart and soul of one of the most iconic races on the calendar. Amongst the green fields of the picturesque Drenthe province nestles a true classic, now an 18-apex racetrack made of equal parts courage and precision. It has been a hundred years since motorcycles first raced near the town of Assen, and the track we know today began to appear half a century ago with the finish line the very same today, unchanged since the 1950s. The only track to have remained on the calendar since 1949, the TT Circuit Assen is drenched in magic and myth, and this is the 70th time the event has counted towards the World Championship; a year to remember.
Jorge Lorenzo. Photo: MotoGP In 2018, the MotoGP™ grid arrive in the Netherlands in the shadow of one man: Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team). After two dominant victories in which the ‘Spartan’ was uncatchable and unmatchable, he’s now ahead of teammate Andrea Dovizioso in the Championship for the first time since he joined the Borgo Panigale factory. If he wins at Assen, he will become only the second Ducati rider to win three races in a row, after Casey Stoner. But the Circuit van Drenthe hasn’t always been kind to the number 99 with Lorenzo having taken only one premier class win at the track, in 2010, but for every bad memory, such as a broken collarbone sustained at the track in 2013, there’s a counterpoint, such as the Spaniard’s ride through the pain barrier that same weekend, taking a superhuman fifth place.
Valentino Rossi. Photo: MotoGP His teammate Andrea Dovizioso will be wanting to reverse the swing of momentum within the garage, however. The number 04 doesn’t have the most impressive record at the track, but he may have an ace card if it rains, having always been one of the best in difficult conditions.
But that’s often been true of the master of Assen, Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP), who has made the magic happen no less than ten times. Pencilled in as a threat at the Dutch track even before the season begins, the rider from Tavullia will be looking to paint the stands yellow. In addition, as well as contributing ten wins to the ‘Doctor’’s stunning record, the TT Circuit Assen was also the stage of his most recent victory, taken in 2017. That’s the last time a Yamaha stood on the top step, and the Iwata marque – and Rossi – will be keen to update the season on that stat. With three podiums in a row, the stage is set.
His teammate Maverick Viñales will also, like Dovizioso, want to strike back against the other side of the garage. And Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team) will want to take his first podium of the season after a run of bad luck. But Assen hasn’t been the best for either – something not true of reigning Champion and points leader Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team).
Marc Marquez. Photo: Honda Racing Will Marquez be racing to win? With a considerable lead in the Championship, the number 93 just needs to keep bagging the points. But with Assen ‘Rossi territory’ in a way and already having staged a showdown between the two in 2015, will that be the blueprint? Or will it be 2016, when Marquez rode to a safe second behind a stunning maiden win for Jack Miller?
Alma Pramac Racing rider Miller will be hoping for history to repeat itself. After two tougher rounds coming off the back of eight consecutive top ten finishes, the Queenslander will be pushing hard to get back in the mix. But the race for top Independent Team rider will be hard fought once again – former Assen podium finishers, teammate Danilo Petrucci and LCR Honda Castrol rider Cal Crutchlow, will be tough to beat – as will Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3).
Then, finally, there’s that all-important battle for Rookie of the Year. Franco Morbidelli (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) leads as it stands, but Hafizh Syahrin (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) is close behind – can he take over at the TT Circuit Assen? Especially if fortunes favours the Malaysian rainmaster with the weather?
Watch magic and myth collide at the ‘Cathedral’ from Friday 29th June, with race day now Sunday 1st July. Gone are the days of racing on a Saturday and gone are the tree-lined lanes that formed the track – but the TT Circuit Assen remains drenched in history.
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Jorge Lorenzo hammers home his pace with sublime win in Barcelona
Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team) puts the hammer down in Barcelona. Photo: MotoGP Barcelona, 17 June 2018: Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team) hammered home the race victory at the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya in flawless style, taking victory by over four seconds to secure his second consecutive win. Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) crossed the line second at his home Grand Prix to extend his Championship lead, with Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) securing third place for the third race in a row.
Just like it was in Mugello, Sunday at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya was all about Lorenzo. However, the number 99 didn’t get the perfect launch from pole position, with Marquez out-dragging the Ducati into the first corner. Andrea Iannone (Team Suzuki Ecstar) also made a great start, slotting into second place on the opening laps, with Lorenzo sitting tightly in third.
Marc Marquez. Photo: Honda Racing The Spaniard wasn’t there for long though, keeping his composure to get past Iannone and Marquez to lead into Turn 1 on the second lap and from there, it was hammer time. By now, Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) was tucked up behind the number 93 in third, before the Italian crashed out at Turn 5 on lap 9 – his third DNF of the season and another massive dent in his title aspirations.
Back on track, Lorenzo and Marquez had pulled the pin, with Rossi picking up third position, 3.2 seconds back. The gap between the two Spaniards at the front flirted at just under a second, with Lorenzo looking imperious, setting 1:40.0s lap after lap. In the end, the Championship leader had no answer, and eventually finished 4.479 seconds back from the number 99 – who now draws level on points with teammate Dovizioso in the overall standings.
Valentino Rossi. Photo: Yamaha MotoGP Rossi was a lonely third at the checkered flag, with Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) enjoying a fantastic ride to finish as top Independent Team rider in fourth. The Brit was locked in a battle with Repsol Honda Team’s Dani Pedrosa in the latter stages of the race before getting the better of the Spaniard down into Turn 4 – Pedrosa rounded out the top five.
Maverick Viñales’ (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) opening lap woes continued, finishing the first lap down in P10 after starting fourth. The home rider managed to salvage 6th at the flag, holding off Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3), with the two locked together throughout the race. Danilo Petrucci (Alma Pramac Racing) crossed the line eighth, with fellow Ducati rider Alvaro Bautista (Angel Nieto Team) seven seconds further back in ninth.
Iannone slipped right back after a fantastic start, the Italian rounded out the top ten. Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) picking up his fourth straight P11 finish, with Scott Redding (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) and Karel Abraham (Angel Nieto Team) the only other riders to finish the race in P12 and P13 respectively.
‘Fabulous’ Fabio Quartararo ….maiden Moto2 success. Photo: MotoGP Fabulous Fabio takes flawless first Grand Prix win
Fabio Quartararo (HDR – Speed Up Racing) stormed to a stunning first Grand Prix victory to take his first podium finish since Assen 2015 in Moto2™. The Frenchman finished 2.492 seconds ahead of Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Ajo), who came through from P17 on the grid, with home rider and last year’s race winner Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) taking the final step on the podium in third.
It wasn’t the start the Frenchman would have wanted from pole position, dropping down to fourth on the opening lap as Marquez grabbed the hole shot going down into Turn 1, with Marcel Schroetter (Dynavolt Intact GP) and Francesco Bagnaia (SKY Racing Team VR46) slotting in behind. Oliveira again produced a lightning start to get into the top six on the first lap after starting 17th, and by lap 6 the Portuguese rider was shadowing Marquez in second.
The number 44 hit the front a lap later, but Quatararo was on the move. The double Junior Moto3™ World Champion passed Marquez into Turn 10, and set his sights on Oliveira, making his move at Turn 4 on lap 9 after the KTM rider ran slightly wide.
From there, it was an exhibition job for the 19-year-old. Quartararo was consistently the only rider to dip into the 1:43s, setting new lap records lap after lap to create a 2.2 second gap to Oliveira by lap 18. Meanwhile, the second-place man had pulled away from Marquez, with the Spaniard holding off the chasing Xavi Vierge (Dynavolt Intact GP) and the recovering teammate Schroetter, who ran wide at Turn 1 on lap 6 after setting the fastest lap of the race.
Quartararo took the checkered flag 2.492 seconds ahead, getting himself onto the top step of the podium for the first time since 2014. Oliveria crossed the line second, but was then involved in a scary looking incident with Simone Corsi (Tasca Racing Scuderia Moto2) down into Turn 1 on the cool down lap – riders ok. Marquez held off Schroetter to earn a home turf podium, he now sits 20 points behind Bagnaia heading to Assen.
Vierge was a solid fifth at his home GP, with Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) holding off a late charge from Lorenzo Baldassarri (Pons HP40) to finish 6th, the Italian 0.087 behind in 7th. Championship leader Bagnaia had a disappointing day in eighth, seeing his overall standings lead cut to just one point over Oliveira.
Enea Bastianini celebrates after scoring a dramatic win. Photo: MotoGP Bastianini wins breathless Moto3™ race
Enea Bastianini (Leopard Racing) took his first victory since Motegi 2016 in a dramatic Moto3™ race with Marco Bezzecchi (Redox PrustelGP) taking second by 0.003 from Gabriel Rodirigo (RBA BOE Skull Rider), who secured his first Grand Prix podium and Argentina’s first GP podium since Sebastian Porto in 2005.
The lightweight class race in Barcelona was full of drama for two World Championship protagonists. Jorge Martin (Del Conca Gresini Moto3) crashed out of the lead on lap 9 at Turn 9, with fellow-Championship rival Aron Canet (Estrella Galicia 0,0) involved in a huge crash at Turn 5 on lap 16, with Albert Arenas (Angel Nieto Team) and Nicolo Bulega (SKY Racing Team VR46) also involved in the incident – Canet was stretchered away.
Then, on lap 18 of 21, there was more drama as Jaume Masia (Besta Capital Dubai) collided with Andrea Migno (Angel Nieto Team) down into Turn 1 with both in the hunt for victory – both riders were taken to the medical centre for a check-up.
An almighty battle at the front developed, with John McPhee (CIP Green Power) Bastianini, Bezzecchi, Rodrigo and Suzuki the five riders left at the front in the final three laps after the two huge crashes. McPhee led over the line onto the final lap, but it was ‘The Beast’ who expertly slipstreamed his way to the front, with Rodrigo and Bezzecchi also getting past McPhee. The Italian rode a flawless last lap to take a much-needed victory, as Championship leader Bezzecchi pipped Rodrigo on the line to grab second place – McPhee had to settle for fourth, his best result of the season.
Suzuki was an excellent fifth in the end, with reigning Junior Moto3™ World Champion Alonso Lopez (Estrella Galicia 0,0) grabbing sixth, 5.961 back from the top five.
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Jorge Lorenzo pulls the trigger for pole in Barcelona; Marquez, Dovi complete front row
Jorge Lorenzo. Photo: MotoGP Barcelona, 16 June 2018: Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team) secured a tantalising first pole position since Valencia 2016 at the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya in a spectacular Q2 session, with Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) within a whisker of the fellow-Spaniard in second and Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) grabbing his first front row start of the season in third.
Under blistering Barcelona skies, it was all about the battle of the Spaniards for pole position on home soil. Lorenzo was the first man to set a time, before Marquez crossed the line to set the fastest lap of the weekend – a magnificent 1:38.886, with Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) firing in a 1:39.392 to put himself between the two after the first set of hot laps.
Marc Marquez. Photo: Official website It was bubbling up beautifully in Barcelona ahead of the second runs to say the least, with Lorenzo coming out of the box to launch himself to the top of the timesheets, a slender 0.066 the difference between him and future team-mate Marquez. The number 93 was on the ragged edge, and he was right on the pace of his compatriot before hitting traffic at Turn 13 – handing Lorenzo his first Ducati pole and his tenth straight front row start at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
Dovizioso threatened to take pole on his final run, the Italian was up by a whisker in the first half of the lap before losing time in Sector 3. Nonetheless, the number 04 launches from P3 and looks confident ahead of Sunday. Maverick Viñales (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) was the man who ‘DesmoDovi’ was shadowing on his final run, the Spaniard will start fourth and top Yamaha at his home Grand Prix, a huge improvement from his P9 start this time last year.
FP4’s quickest man Andrea Iannone (Team Suzuki Ecstar) was just 0.003 behind Viñales’ time, the Italian starting from the second row for a third consecutive race as he puts himself in a strong position to once again challenge for a podium. Alma Pramac Racing’s Danilo Petrucci was able to get himself onto the outside of row two, a good session for the Ducati rider, who starts P6.
Andrea Dovizioso. Photo: Ducati Rossi, who was second after the first runs, pulled out of a potential front row lap at Turn 10 after a message from the Yamaha box told him a certain number 93 was following him. ‘The Doctor’ will start seventh for Sunday’s race, ahead of Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3), with the Frenchman having to take avoiding action down into Turn 1 when tucked behind Marquez – P8 for Zarco after a difficult weekend. Rounding out the third row was Tito Rabat (Reale Avintia Racing) after he was able to earn an automatic Q2 spot, the Spaniard securing his best dry qualifying result of the season in P9.
Behind Rabat on the grid is Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol), who had a disappointing end to the session, crashing at the newly modified Turn 13 while on a personal best lap – the British rider will start tenth. Dani Pedrosa’s (Repsol Honda Team) quiet weekend continued in qualifying, the Spaniard will line up in 11th for his home race, with Q1 graduate Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) having a fantastic afternoon in Barcelona, setting a lap time less than two tenths slower than Pedrosa to start a personal best P12.
So, is it Lorenzo vs Marquez for the victory on home soil? The hammer has been well and truly slammed down by the number 99, but the shockwaves didn’t seem to faze the number 93 too much on Saturday. However, will Lorenzo’s race pace prove too much come Sunday afternoon?
Quartararo takes stunning Moto2™ pole
Fabio Quartararo (HRD – Speed Up Racing) will start tomorrow’s Moto2™ race from pole position, setting a blistering 1:43.474 to beat 2017 race winner Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) and Marcel Schroetter (Dynavolt Intact GP) to secure his first ever intermediate class pole.
It was Schroetter who was the man to beat for the majority of the session, jumping to the top of the timesheets from the off, setting a benchmark of 1:43.619 – the fastest lap of the weekend. The German’s time wouldn’t be beaten until home rider Marquez, on his 14th flying lap, went 0.029 quicker.
Quartararo, who has been up the sharp end throughout the weekend, then stepped up to the mark. The Speed Up rider was looking comfortable in P3, until the 19-year-old increased the pace with just three minutes remaining – a 1:43.474 topping Marquez by over a tenth, with no one having an answer before the checkered flag was waved.
After leading FP3 by over three tenths of a second, Championship leader Francesco Bagnaia (SKY Racing Team VR46) had to settle for fourth quickest in qualifying. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) was the leading KTM rider in Catalunya, he picked up his equal best qualifying finish of the season in fifth after spending much of the session battling for a top six place. The South African is in an Italian sandwich in the middle of row two, with Italtrans Racing Team rider Mattia Pasini in sixth – 0.038 back from Binder.
Beast in Barcelona: Bastianini blasts to Moto3™ pole
Enea Bastianini (Leopard Racing) will start the Moto3™ race from pole position as he took top spot in qualifying for the first time since Aragon 2016. Despite a second crash of the weekend, Jorge Martin (Del Conca Gresini Moto3) starts second, with Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse) on the outside of the front row in third.
‘The Beast’ was the rider to beat throughout the session, setting a 1:48.806 – the quickest lap of the weekend – just ten minutes into the session to set a benchmark that wouldn’t be beaten.
