INDIA in F1

Tag: Francesco Bagnaia

  • Bagnaia banishes Barcelona demons to deny Martin with statement win: MotoGP

    Bagnaia banishes Barcelona demons to deny Martin with statement win: MotoGP

    After a Saturday to forget it was a Sunday to remember for the reigning Champion as he hits back to outpace Martin – with #MM93 charging up the order to make it a familiar top three.

    Barcelona, 26 May 2024: After missing an open goal win on Saturday, Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) came out swinging on Sunday at the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya. The reigning Champion needed to make a statement and take some serious points, and that he did on both counts. Quick out the blocks from the start before ceding the lead early doors to Championship leader Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing), Bagnaia put in a relentless push to catch the #89, pounce once on the scene, and then edge away to pocket those 25 points on Sunday. 

    Behind Martin, the fight to complete the podium boiled down to the duel between Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) and Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing), and it was almost a photo finish but the #93 took the spoils – making it three Grand Prix podiums in a row for Marquez for the first time since 2019. It was also another stunning comeback ride, this time from P14 on the grid.

    As the lights went out, it was a showdown on the brakes into T1 but Bagnaia just held on for the holeshot ahead of Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3), with Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) also moving up but the #33 into third. Martin got a good start this time round, taking over in fourth, with polesitter Espargaro the main party losing out.

    Into Turn 10 on Lap 1, we had the first big move as Martin made an absolute lunge on Binder, but he got the job done and cleanly enough. It also left a small gap up the road to the leading duo of Bagnaia and Acosta, but it didn’t take long for that gap to close because it didn’t take long for the leading duo to start making moves amongst themselves.

    Acosta’s first attack came at Turn 10 after a couple of laps staring at the rear of the Ducati, but Bagnaia kept it tight to immediately take it back. Acosta’s foot was even off the peg. That closed everything up again, with Martin then right on their heels and Binder not too far behind either. Turn 10 staged another one next time round, this time for Championship leader Martin on the rookie – and Acosta was forced to cede it. And again next time around, this time as Martin left it oh-so-late to attack for the lead, taking over before they crossed the line for 19 to go.

    The party at Turn 10 didn’t stop there. Next time round there was another decisive move as Acosta attacked Bagnaia and took back over in second, and in a matter of apexes the rookie was back on the exhaust of race leader Martin, looking impatient.

    Meanwhile, the squabble behind was heating up. Bagnaia had some breathing space in third but Binder, Espargaro and Raul Fernandez were locked together. After stalking his prey for a while, Espargaro then was able to just nudge ahead into Turn 1, before Raul Fernandez attacked the KTM into Turn 3. Brutal but clean, Binder was pushed back to sixth.

    However, that soon become fifth as big drama hit for Acosta. After lighting it up there earlier, it all then came apart for the rookie at Turn 10 as he slid off, leaving Martin just over a second clear in the lead and Bagnaia now the rider on the chase. From there, the chess match began.

    Lap after lap, the gap was coming down as the #1 chipped away. A few hundredths here and there, each sector just enough to gain a few extra metres, a mere tenth per lap. But an absolutely relentless tenth per lap. And once he was there, Bagnaia wasted absolutely no time in making his attack. 

    With six laps to go, the reigning Champion made his move – and at exactly the place he let big spoils go begging in the Tissot Sprint: Turn 5. No drama, no contact, and nothing Martin could do, the roles were now reversed.

    The relentless pace from the #1 continued, however, and the battle of the laptimes was slipping from Martin’s grasp. The gap eked out, came back down slightly and then suddenly went up again. The jig was up as Martin started to fade, leaving Bagnaia with the same task as Saturday: keep it on the same rails to the flag. This time, it was a faultless performance as the Ducati Lenovo rider cuts the gap back to 39 points and Martin, this time round, has to settle for second.

    Meanwhile, Marc Marquez was now on the tailpipes of Espargaro. The #93 pulled a carbon copy of the move the Aprilia rider put on Binder a few laps before and was into third – now he just had to hold onto it. After announcing his retirement at the end of 2024 just ahead of the event and taking pole and the Sprint win, the incentive was even bigger than normal for the #41 to make an attack, and he clawed his way onto the back of the Gresini by the final lap. But there was no way through that would have allowed both to finish, so it came down to the final drag to the line – with Marquez just staying ahead for that podium from P14 on the grid.

    Espargaro takes fourth to complete an incredible weekend on home turf, with a late charge from Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) seeing the Italian just pip Raul Fernandez to fifth. Still, after a maiden front row and having led the Sprint, P6 concludes a great weekend for the #25 and Trackhouse Racing – it’s the team’s best result yet.

    Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) charged through to seventh as Binder lost out later in the race to finish P8. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) kept ahead of Miguel Oliveira (Trackhouse Racing) as they completed the top ten. Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team), Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing), Acosta after remounting, Takaaki Nakagami (IDEMITSU Honda LCR) and Joan Mir (Repsol Honda Team) completed the points.

    There’s one name missing from that last who did cross the line ahead of a few of them, but the FIM MotoGP™ Stewards v Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) intervened. The ‘Beast’ had a dramatic race after he went wide following an attack from Alex Marquez, was deemed to have not lost enough time cutting Turn 2, and then given a Long Lap. He didn’t agree with that, countering he’d lost time from the #AM73 move, so he rode on. He then got a double Long Lap and served one, unsure if it might have been for another incident, and didn’t serve the second – so it became a ride through. The protest vote rolled on from the #23 and he didn’t take that in time either, so it ended up as a 32s time penalty, the equivalent of a trip through pitlane. Acrimony low but commitment to opinion high, he’ll be looking to prove a point at Mugello.

    That’s just next week, as luck would have it, with the spectacular Tuscan venue ready to welcome the world’s most exciting sport for the Gran Premio d’Italia Brembo. Join us then for more as the statement wins just keep on coming – and the history just keeps getting made.

  • Clash of the titans: Bagnaia defeats Marquez in all-time classic at Jerez

    Clash of the titans: Bagnaia defeats Marquez in all-time classic at Jerez

    The Italian makes a huge statement at Jerez, locking horns with Marquez as Martin crashes out and sees his lead slashed to just 17 points.

    Jerez, 28 April 2024: Any questions? Reigning Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) made a serious statement on Sunday at the Gran Premio Estrella Galicia 0,0 de España, following up two tougher race weekends with an all-time great at Jerez. But it takes two to create a true clash of the titans, and home hero Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) more than obliged, resulting in one of the greatest showdowns Jerez has ever staged. Won by Bagnaia in front of a partisan, sold-out crowd and one of the best atmospheres in the sport, it also brings him to within 17 points of the Championship lead as Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) crashed out. Just behind the duel for the win, Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) made a return to the podium in third after getting his fair share of elbows out early on.

    As the lights went out, Marquez took the holeshot – just – as Martin got incredibly close to the rear of the #93. But the Championship leader was forced to settle for second as Bezzecchi and Bagnaia slotted into third and fourth in the aftermath. Fourth wasn’t enough for the #1 though, even in the early stages, as Bagnaia went for an incredible 2-for-1 move at the end of the back straight… round the outside.

    By the final corner on the same lap, Marquez was just wide enough on the exit to open the door. Bagnaia sliced through to lead, but by Turn 1 the #93 was heading back up the inside, both were slightly wide, and Martin was trying to pick their pocket. Bagnaia shot back into the lead though, now with the #89 on his tail and Marquez relegated to third.

    By the final corner next time round it was all change again, with Bagnaia the rider in hot – letting both Martin and Marquez through but the latter temporarily as the #1 hit back at Turn 1. The next key move came from Bezzecchi at the final corner as he got through on Marquez, and then came the big title drama.

    With Bagnaia right on his tail but a potential huge points lead up for grabs, Martin then suddenly slid out from the front as the Championship took an instant twist. Rider ok, but leaving key rival Bagnaia to lead Bezzecchi and Marquez in the chase for 25 more points, and letting that home GP win go begging.

    Bagnaia and Marquez (93) indulge in a fierce fight before the former prevails.

    Up ahead, the race pounded on. Bagnaia led the way as the tension rose on his tail, with the #93 inching closer to Bezzecchi ahead. When the VR46 machine went very slightly deep at the final corner, the Gresini was glued to him. Later that lap he struck, kept it, and then set off after Bagnaia. The duel was taking shape.

    The gap hovered around a second, but by just under ten to go, Marquez was three tenths quicker. Bagnaia responded, and then Marquez responded, with the two not yet sharing the same bit of track. But the distance back to Bezzecchi growing and growing.

    By five to go, the first mission was complete for the #93. The Gresini was tagged onto the rear tyre of the Ducati Lenovo machine, and he didn’t stalk his prey for long. Marquez went for it at Turn 9, but Bagnaia responded immediately into 10, slicing straight back alongside the #93 as the two bashed into each other and jostled over the racing line. The #93 was ahead but as Bagnaia sliced through into the next apex, Marquez had no choice but to concede. Something not many have ever made him do. It was as you were, the tension left to build again.

    A lap later, the stadium section got another show. This time Marquez divebombed it instead, and the door for the cutback was left a little more open. Bagnaia needed no second invitation, back in the lead, slicing straight through. As you were. Three to go. The #93 was forced to regroup, but over the line to start the next lap, Bagnaia had found even more – setting a new best race lap as the #1 put the pedal to the medal, and then through the floor.

    Both on the absolute limit, the crowd on their feet. Two laps, four tenths, two riders, one win. The #1 pounded on. The #93 cut back into the gap, centimetre by centimetre. But the tarmac left to race at the Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto was disappearing in metres and kilometers, not centimetres, and Bagnaia was holding strong. The final chance for Marquez to create his fairytale was the final corner… but he just wasn’t close enough. So Bagnaia completed his.

    0.372 is a small margin to be part of such a big statement, but it was a mammoth race win for the reigning Champion after a touger run – and it brings him to just 17 points off Martin in the Championship. Second overall after his second GP win of the season. Marquez takes his first dry weather podium since 2022, but that win will likely be on his mind as the paddock arrives at Mugello. The opposite home turf. But more on that later, we’re sure.

    Bezzecchi, meanwhile, was back on the rostrum for the first time since his incredible Indian GP win in 2023, making his own statement after a performance to remember. Behind, Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) took fourth to just deny Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) by the flag, the two with some tenths in hand over Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing). Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) took P7 and held off top Aprilia Miguel Oliveira (Trackhouse Racing), with COTA winner Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) just tenths off in P9. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) crashed earlier in the race with Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR), both riders ok.

    Superstar rookie Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) had a mammoth crash in Warm Up, rider ok but race day seeing him come home in P10 at the flag. Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse Racing) held off Joan Mir (Repsol Honda Team) in a near photo finish just behind, with Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™), Takaaki Nakagami (IDEMITSU Honda LCR) and Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) completing the points.

    There was drama as Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing) collided with Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and both crashed out earlier in the race, and MotoGP™ Legend Daniel Pedrosa’s Red Bull Factory Racing wildcard came to an early end with a crash too.

    After the drama for some, glory for others, and scores to be settled noted down for many on the grid, the record-breaking Spanish GP comes to an end. But that duel, that defeat, and that win will not be forgotten. Next up it’s Le Mans, with another huge crowd assured. And another chance for the world’s most exciting sport to prove that’s far more than a tagline.

  • Francesco ‘Pecco’ Bagnaia crowned MotoGP 2023 champion; Martin crashes

    Francesco ‘Pecco’ Bagnaia crowned MotoGP 2023 champion; Martin crashes

    Tension, drama, heartbreak, glory, history, and happiness: Valencia delivers a season finale to remember.

    Valencia, 26 Nov. 2023: Following a highly dramatic Gran Premio Motul de la Comunitat Valenciana, the 2023 MotoGP World Champion is Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) after Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) crashed out of the race following an incident at Turn 4 with Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team). Pecco went on to claim victory as a phenomenal fight for P1 played out, with Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) and Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) locked onto the Italian’s rear wheel. ‘Diggia’ crossed the line in 2nd with Zarco 3rd. However, a post-race sanction for Di Giannantonio due to wrong pressures demoted the Italian to P4 with Zarco being promoted to P2 and Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) inheriting the final podium position.

    Because of a Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) three-place grid penalty for ignoring the black and orange flags in Warm Up, Pecco was promoted to pole position for the final showdown, with Martin still launching from P6.

    For the final and most important time in 2023 it was time to race. Bagnaia got the dream getaway from pole to grab a crucial holeshot, with Martin also making a fantastic launch to grab an early P2. Pecco P1, Martin P2 – that’s how it was after the opening lap, with the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing pair of Binder and Jack Miller P3 and P4.

    Between the title fighting duo, it was as you were after the second lap but a monumental moment then took place at Turn 1 at the start of Lap 3. Martin was right in the slipstream of Pecco and as the duo chucked the anchors on into Turn 1, Martin got sucked in and made slight contact with Pecco. Martin was wide – well wide – and dropped to P8, with Pecco unhindered by the incident. Huge drama early on.

    The fightback began on Lap 4 for Martin. P8 became P7 as the Spaniard got the better of Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™). Martin tried to do the same to Viñales a lap later but the latter bit straight back – and a repeat played out at Turn 11.

    Up front, Binder was crawling all over the back of Pecco but focus was elsewhere. A battle was raging between Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) and Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing), with that enabling Viñales and Martin to close right in.

    What happened next ultimately decided the Championship. Martin was getting visibly frustrated and on Lap 6, having finally got through on Viñales, Marc Marquez was next in line. At Turn 4, Martin lunged up the inside of the eight-time World Champion but contact was made. So much so, the pair were tangled together. Martin ran straight into the gravel as Marquez was thrown into a vicious highside, as two of the home crowd favourites were down and out. Marquez’s final race with Honda ended in huge disappointment, with Martin’s title hopes vanishing. A painful end to a wonderful campaign for the Prima Pramac star.

    With Martin out, no matter what Bagnaia did, he would be the 2023 MotoGP™ World Champion. ‘MARTIN OUT’ was signalled on his pit board as the two KTMs of Binder and Miller were now first and second, with Zarco and Viñales chasing Pecco.

    With 12 laps to go though, Binder made a mistake. A big one too. Just as he did in the Tissot Sprint, the South African was wide at Turn 11, and that dropped him from P1 to P6. Miller now led Pecco by just over a second.

    Binder’s comeback began with an aggressive move on Alex Marquez at Turn 4, and it was one that saw him handed a drop one position penalty. With nine laps left, Miller’s race then ended. The Aussie crashed at Turn 10 which handed the lead back to Bagnaia, who had Zarco just 0.3s behind him. A disastrous few laps for KTM.

    The Championship might have been decided, but the race certainly wasn’t. Binder was just 1.5s away from the lead again and Diggia tagged himself onto the rear wheel of the KTM. Soon, the Italian was into P3 with five laps to go.

    With three laps left, 0.3s was still the gap between Pecco and Zarco. But cue the jaws music – Di Giannantonio was on a mission. On Lap 25 of 27, the top trio were split by 0.3s over the line. At Turn 4, Di Giannantonio shoved his Ducati up the inside of Zarco’s and made a move stick for P2. Next: the World Champion elect.

    LAST LAP OF THE SEASON: Three riders, only one could win. Would Bagnaia claim the title with a win or would it be Di Giannantonio or Zarco standing on the top step? Halfway around the lap, there was no way through. A head shake from Di Giannantonio told us frustrations were there, but Pecco rode superbly to fend off both his compatriot and Zarco to win the World Championship in the best way possible: victory. A classy ride from your top three. The podium result would later change however with Di Giannantonio’s three-second penalty demoting him to P4 and promoting Binder onto the podium. 

    Raul Fernandez (CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP™ Team) earned his best result of the season with a fantastic P5. Alex Marquez was P6 with Franco Morbidelli (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) capping off his Yamaha career with a solid P7, as Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing), Luca Marini in his final Mooney VR46 Racing Team appearance and Viñales rounded out the top 10.

    An unwell Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) finished P11 after feeling ill, with Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu), Lorenzo Savadori (CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP™ Team) and Pol Espargaro (GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3) the other finishers, as the latter ends his full-time MotoGP™ career – for now – in P14 after a crash and remount.

    Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team), Augusto Fernandez (GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3) and Alex Rins (LCR Honda Castrol) were the other riders to DNF, Bezzecchi after an early race crash with Marc Marquez.

    And just like that, 2023 draws to a dramatic close. Bagnaia is now a three-time World Champion as Martin gets set to come back even stronger in 2024. What a season it’s been. Now, full focus turns to Tuesday’s Valencia Test – 2024 starts very soon…

  • Jorge Martin stars in rain; but Bagnaia takes 2nd, to bag 20 crucial points

    Jorge Martin stars in rain; but Bagnaia takes 2nd, to bag 20 crucial points

    Motegi, 1 October 2023: It was a day for nerves of steel at the Motul Grand Prix of Japan, with the Championship on a knife edge before the race start and drops of drizzle becoming a flag-to-flag and then some serious rain. But on a day when faltering would likely have lived long in the memory, neither in the duel at the top of the standings did. Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) overcame arguably his biggest test of late to put on a wet weather masterclass at the front, outpacing Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) to cut the gap to just three points. The test was also a huge one for Bagnaia, on the back foot in terms of momentum and faced with the toughest conditions of the season so far, but the reigning World Champion dug in, held on, and took the necessary 20 points needed to keep that lead.

    As the top two in the Championship held their nerve, so did the rider in the centre of his own storm as rumours about the future swirl: Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) got back on the Grand Prix podium for the first time in 2023, and on home turf for Honda. 

    On the grid the tyres were slicks and the skies were grey, with Martin getting the dream start to take the holeshot, while Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) also got off the line superbly. The same can’t be said for reigning World Champion Bagnaia, who headed into Turn 1 in fourth as Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), though the factory Ducati bit back on the exit of the second corner.

    There was immediate disappointment for Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) who ended up in the gravel after contact with several riders going into Turn 1, while Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) went wide with him.

    As the rain started to increase, pitlane was opened almost immediately for riders to swap bikes, something which the vast majority opted to do. Martin led them into pitlane, with Bagnaia, Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team), Marquez and Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) following closely behind. Five opted to stay out: Fabio Quartararo (Moneter Energy Yamaha MotoGP™), Franco Morbidelli (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™), Cal Crutchlow (Yamalube RS4GP Racing Team), Stefan Bradl (LCR Honda Castrol) and Michele Pirro (Ducati Lenovo Team) were the quintet of riders, and all of a sudden, Pirro led the Japanese Grand Prix.

    From those who chose to change bikes, Martin led a large group out onto the track, with Espargaro, Miller, Bagnaia and Marquez next. At Turn 10, Espargaro challenged Martin for the lead of the group but the Pramac rider struck back. As we went to clock off another lap, Quartararo and Crutchlow then changed machines. Pirro, Bradl and Morbidelli did not.

    It was an incredibly dramatic start to the race, and it showed no signs of slowing down as Martin went wide under pressure from Espargaro, dropping to P9 before Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) picked him off. A ballsy move around Turn 6 though returned the position to the title hopeful as he went up the inside of the Gresini machine.

    By the end of Lap 3, the riders on wets caught Morbidelli as Marquez tried to battle past Espargaro at Turn 11, but couldn’t keep it pinned as he slipped back behind the Aprilia. A little further back, Martin was out to make amends from his earlier error and got through on Miller at Turn 3 for sixth, lining up behind title rivals Bezzecchi and Bagnaia.

    Amid all that, Pirro, incredibly, still led the Grand Prix by 10 seconds, but he soon swapped bikes too, meaning we had a new race leader in the form of Aleix Espargaro, who had time to spare over Marquez in second. There were then further shifts in the pecking order, as Bagnaia and Martin both picked off Bezzecchi, before the Ducatis then flew past Marc Marquez by the end of the lap to move for the podium places.  

    Just five laps in, and we had enough drama to last a season… and it was far from over!

    A look at the timing screens showed Aleix Espargaro out front, but his lead was cut to half a second over Bagnaia, with Martin completing the provisional podium paces. Bezzecchi picked off Marquez as the Repsol Honda began sliding the wrong way, with Miguel Oliveira (CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP™ Team) the next to get the better of him. By this stage, the race lost Binder to a crash as he slid out at Turn 3, rider ok.

    Back out front, Martin was on the march, battling past Bagnaia for second and then making light work of Espargaro for the lead, and the in form Spaniard opened up a cushion of seven tenths. 1.5 seconds behind the front two, Bezzecchi moved into third place at the expense of Aleix Espargaro, who seemed to lose all drive aboard his RS-GP with Oliveira and Marquez both coming through on him seconds later.

    After nine laps, it looked like the race began to settle down after probably the most hectic start to a MotoGP™ race in recent memory. Martin’s lead was out to a second, with Bagnaia still holding his advantage over Bezzecchi. Oliveira was next in line, but the master of the wet in recent times couldn’t mount a podium challenge and then entered the pits to retire by the end of Lap 12, a lost chance.

    The action was still coming thick and fast behind the leaders though, with Joan Mir (Repsol Honda Team) and Miller staging a spectacular battle for seventh before the Aussie lost out after running it wide at Turn 11, somewhat fortunate not to crash as he rejoined the chasing pack in 10th. That suddenly put the Constructors’ crown in reach for Ducati…

    Conditions were worsening, with bikes spraying up water from the asphalt as the pace slowed, but that couldn’t stop Marquez from making moves as the eight-time World Champion went by Bezzecchi and onto the podium on the drive into Turn 11. He then began taking chunks out of Bagnaia’s advantage, and it looked like just a matter of time before he reeled him in…. but then the red flag waved. Riders returned to pitlane. Including Zarco who crashed moments before the red flag and wrote off his GP23, rider ok.

    With 13 of 24 laps completed, a restart would happen if conditions were to improve, but that was a big if. It seemed that conditions had cleared enough for a restart, but before they could complete the warm up lap, the red flag was waved once again, and a race result was declared. As over 50% of the race had been completed, full points were awarded.

    Martin’s nerves of steel in the face of a very different challenge see him confirmed the winner, with another 25 points putting him just three off Bagnaia. But to keep that lead, if he didn’t beat him and Martin won, Pecco had to follow him home. And that he did.

    Bezzecchi missed the podium but collected 13 points ahead of Aleix Espargaro and Jack Miller in P5 and P6 respectively. Augusto Fernandez (GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3) finished ahead of Fabio Di Giannantonio for seventh, while Raul Fernandez (CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP™ Team) and Quartararo completed the top 10. Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) came home in 11th in his home Grand Prix, with Mir, Crutchlow, Bradl and Pol Espargaro (GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3) completing the point-scoring places.

    Perhaps it was a muted end, but it was simply a breathtaking, spectacular challenge and race at the Japanese Grand Prix. Now, we’ve got two weeks until the Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia gets underway, which might just be as well, because it’s going to take some time to unpack this one.

  • Aleix Espargaro storms past Bagnaia to take Sprint win

    Aleix Espargaro storms past Bagnaia to take Sprint win

    Aprilia make it double podium delight as “the Captain” becomes the sixth different Sprint winner, with Bagnaia forced to defend hard against Viñales.

    Barcelona, 2 Sept. 2023: How’s that for the statement? Local hero Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) sealed victory in the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya Tissot Sprint with a storming ride at the front, becoming the sixth different Saturday winner of the season so far. The “Captain” got the better of Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) as the World Championship leader had no answer for the flying Aprilia ahead, instead forced to defend against the next one: Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing). The number one plated Ducati was the meat in the Aprilia sandwich but just held on to deny Aprilia a 1-2 as Viñales looked for a way through on the final lap.

    The Captain vs The Champion 
    Tensions were rocketing as the grid got off onto their warm lap with spots of rain beginning to threaten the Catalan GP Tissot Sprint. Wet bikes were being prepared but the time had come for lights out and there was no looking back now. The weather, luckily, held firm. 

    As the lights went out, it was a clean start for Bagnaia and Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing), and Bagnaia defended the lead from pole as, nevertheless, the two Aprilias fended off the fast-starting Pramac machine. Viñales almost immediately shot through into second past Martin, and Bagnaia, Viñales, Espargaro was the order as they crossed the line for the first time. Espargaro then took over from his teammate at Turn 1 though, the Captain beginning his charge.

    Bagnaia powered on though, the odd drop of rain not affecting the track conditions. But the number 41 Aprilia was soon locked on and the duo began to pull away from the rest of the field.  

    Viñales was initially left to defend 3rd place as Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Miguel Oliveira (CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP™ Team) were snapping at the Spaniard’s heels.  

    With six laps to go, it was game on in Barcelona as Aleix Espargaro attacked for the lead. And he took it, immediately putting the hammer down in an attempt to break away from the Ducati. Bagnaia had no answer as the Aprilia stretched out half a second in one lap, doing a Bagnaia – of late – on Bagnaia.

    Espargaro proved to be untouchable at the front as he went on to take the Sprint victory by just under two seconds, putting down a pace that not even the reigning World Champion could match. He had his hands full elsewhere.

    Viñales was catching the Championship leader as the laps ticked down, and he was bringing Binder with him. Sure enough, Bagnaia fell into the clutches of the chasing Viñales with two laps remaining as it became a Ducati vs Aprillia scrap for 2nd place.

    As the last lap arrived, Viñales was riding pillion to Bagnaia as he desperately looked for a way through. Bagnaia put in an incredible defensive performance, however, and was simply too strong on the brakes to allow the Aprilia a chance. He did consider it at the final corner, but no dice.

    Binder did all he could to stay in the fight but found himself eight-tenths back from the top three by the time the chequered flag dropped. 

    Battles all the way through the field
    Slightly further back, Martin bagged P5 after an eventful Sprint. The Spaniard pushed his way past Oliveira after dropping down the field early on following a run off round Turn 2. Oliveira took sixth, and will be gunning for more on Sunday.

    Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing), meanwhile, was almost two seconds back from Oliveira in P7, but he nabbed that late as he pulled a VR46 on Mooney VR46 rider Marco Bezzecchi at the final corner.

    Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) picked up the final Sprint point in P9, as the Italian made some more steps back towards his brilliant best.

    One early moment saw Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team), Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) and Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) come together in a mid-pack sandwich at Turn 1, with MM93 winning out and the latter duo sent wide. Alex Marquez came back to P10, just ahead of Marc.

    Check out the full results and then get ready for the MotoGP™ race at 14:00 local time (GMT+2), with more history on the cards. Aprilia have never had two bikes on the premier class Grand Prix podium… can they achieve the feat on Sunday? Can Aleix do the double, or Viñales take that third win with a third different MotoGP™ machine? Or is Bagnaia ready to ride for some revenge? Make sure to come back on Sunday for a MONSTER Catalan Grand Prix!

  • “If I need to try something, I will!”: Thursday talking points in Barcelona

    “If I need to try something, I will!”: Thursday talking points in Barcelona

    Hear from Bagnaia, Martin, Bezzecchi, Binder, Zarco, Aleix Espargaro, Marc Marquez and Pol Espargaro

    Barcelona, 31 August 2023: We’re back in Barcelona and ready to rock’n’roll at the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya, with the second half of the season now really about to heat up. And ahead of track action, as ever, it was time to talk shop.

    The first Press Conference on Thursday comprised Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing), Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team)  and Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), before the second saw Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) and Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) joined byMarc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) and Pol Espargaro (GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3).

    FRANCESCO BAGNAIA: “I feel that I’m enjoying and that I have a great feeling with the team honestly. We are working a lot and improving our situation, starting every time not in the best way on Friday morning but every time we are improving and in Austria we discovered something that helped me a lot to improve our situation, our performance and I’m very happy.”

    Is it a track you like and why haven’t you got results here?
    “It’s one of my favourite tracks, I always love to be here. I’ve never had a good result, the best was P6 in 2020 and for sure it’s something to improve. Last year I was competitive, I was starting on the front row, the pace all weekend was fast and everyone knows what happened at the first corner. As always if we work well we can be fast and competitive to fight for the top positions.”

    America’s Cup experience:
    “For me it was incredible. A bit less for some people on the other boat who were feeling the waves, they got a bit dizzy, but I was feeling incredible on the boat. The speed they can reach on the water is incredible. They did a big turn and the G-force is like an F1 car. I was not expecting it but it was really great. I also drove it, it was a bit scary because the wind and the waves are pretty unpredictable but I was feeling great.”

    JORGE MARTIN: “I’m looking forward to it. It’ll be a really interesting weekend, I feel. in terms of race pace I feel really competitive I’ve just been a little bit unlucky but yeah I’m just going to try and be focused and not make any mistakes because that’s the key to having a great race on Sunday.”

    You need a big weekend to break Pecco?
    “Well, I’m just missing a few podiums from a few podiums for a few races. I got third at the Sprint race in Austria, but it’s never enough. Hopefully, we can be back on the podium this Sunday, that will be important.”

    Are you concerned about Qualifying?
    “I think I’ve been quite unlucky because of crashes and yellow flags, or in Austria because of track limits. Now it’s really on the limit. I feel like what was  my strongest point is now my weak point. So hopefully now I can get back to focusing again and I feel like I can do those amazing laps again and hopefully we can do it this weekend.”

    New contract:
    MARCO BEZZECCHI: “Thank you first of all. It wasn’t an easy decision for sure all because when you have the possibility to get a factory bike it’s always interesting, but to be honest from my point of view the human side let’s say of the team was very important for me, I built a relationship with these guys for many years that for me is very important for me to perform in this way, and I was not sure I could build such a strong relationship with another team in a short time. In MotoGP we have to perform very quickly. So for me it was a bit easier to decide to stay in this team and also to see Vale so interested in me, pushing me to stay was very important because at the end Vale is Vale and he believed in me for many years. Without him it was probably not possible to arrive at the world championship so I decided to stay.”

    How tempting was it to leave?
    “It was tough but Ducati are supporting us in the best way we can. Ok we don’t have the new bike but the support from them is fantastic, they always try to help us and give us advice to help us perform in the best way. In the end I won’t miss out on any support.”

    MARCO BEZZECCHI

    Keys to being fast here:
    “I would kike to be competitive for sure. It’s a track that I like but last year unfortunately in the race I crashed, I was quite competitive but I made this mistake. This year I hope to continue in the way I was in the last races, in Austria I was very fast apart from the sprint, so yeah I hope to enjoy it on the bike. Finally to tomorrow we ride and it will be easier than media.”

    Seat on Pecco’s plane?
    “This time no!”

    BRAD BINDER: “I’m coming into this weekend with a lot of confidence. We’ve had a good few weekends. It’s true, that this track has been a bit of a challenge for us in the past, but on every track we’ve gone to this year, we’ve been close to a second faster than we’ve ever been. So yeah, I believe we can be strong for sure. I’m really looking forward to getting started again. I think this track can be good for us. I’ve always been OK over one lap but never put the rest together, so I’ve learned a lot in the last couple of seasons and I’m looking to change that.”

    How important is it to keep momentum going?
    “I feel like the first half of the year I made a lot of mistakes and did a lot of things I didn’t want to or shouldn’t have. The last few races I really feel like we’ve started to fall into our stride and things have been going well for us. I feel competitive, I feel good on the bike and the team’s done an amazing job, so let’s see what this weekend brings us.”

    And the Championship?
    “Well, I mean, if it’s been done before, let’s try again. Of course, Pecco is in incredible form at the moment and he has been throughout the year, but in the last few races he’s been super good. We’re here, we’re ready to give our best and if it’s good enough, fantastic, and if it’s not, we’ll keep working at it.”

    JOHANN ZARCO: “I’ve got good energy, a full week to get the time with the decision I took and see that everything is going well. It’s been a good week, training and resting well, for sure taking this decision in Spielberg and then when you take the decision, in the night you swallow the decision and in 24 hours you have a free mind to race. (..) I was feeling like things were going better at home in the mind and body, and here in Barcelona I have good memories. I guess it’s a better track for my style because it’s almost the opposite than Spielberg. I have been struggling more than what I could have expected on the Sunday and I was disappointed. Let’s see what I can do, the bike is the winning bike at the moment and I would love to use it perfectly.”

    What is it about Barcelona that you like so much?
    “I love the long corners like 3 and 4 and also the last two corners. It’s also a good flow, not many braking points or tight corners, so I can handle it better. There’s also a problem with the heating of the rear tyre and when I’m feeling good I can control it well. So that’s many points why I got good results here in Barcelona. I’d love to repeat it, we have maybe tricky conditions, I can adapt quick.”

    This is your 253rd GP start, tying you with Randy de Puniet as the French riders with most starts?
    “Many races. I’m quite proud that in that time I just wanted to be a fast rider, now doing 253 GPs I have been fast enough to do all these GPs and to repeat it it’s a 15 year career I think. I remember after the first 100 races I said I hope I can do better on the second 100, and I got much better podium stats for the second 100 that I did. Now try to do as well as possible all the time, but I’m really happy that when I look back I lived many things and get these experiences and it’s so useful to enjoy some different moments in life. Quite happy but clearly feel fresh to do more things!”

    Can you get that first podium in Barcelona after what happened last year?
    ALEIX ESPARGARO: “Can you get that first podium in Barcelona after what happened last year?
    Yes. I mean, it’s not about revenge I did a big mistake last year. At the beginning, it was really, really difficult to keep going, but at the end it’s a mistake and as a human I can make a lot of mistakes. So that was one big one last year here. I mean it’s already passed and I was very, very fast last year here. I lead all the sessions ahead of the race so that’s good and I can’t wait to go on track because the 2023 Aprilia is better than last season’s one, so I could see how far we can go.”

    What does your helmet say?
    “Yeah, it says one more lap.I will. I will remember. So like this I will remember.I want to say that the marshals have to be careful because when I see the chequered flag I’ll keep pushing one more lap so, just in case haha. But we have to try to focus. For sure, I can make many mistakes, but this one I will not repeat again.”

    Where do you think you can make the difference?
    “I love this layout because it’s more about fast corners. Like Silverstone Malaysia, Assen, and Argentina. In Austria, it was completely the opposite was just stop and go. I’m not really competitive in these types of corners. And neither is the Aprilia because I’ve been riding it for a long time, so I’ve adapted it to my style. I think the structure really good ’cause you can just release the front brake and arrive at the apex, so I think it’s a good place for us to try to shine.”

    Different mentality or a change?
    MARC MARQUEZ: “No the same as Silverstone and Austria. Give 100 or 95% but always understand the limits of our project now. It’s a circuit I struggled with in my best years, so this year I will struggle even more but now we have 8 races in 10 weeks so it will be demanding and it will be important to stay on track and keep going.”

    Less changes this weekend to the bike?
    “Straight away in FP1 it will be a big difference because I will try the new wings and some back-to-backs because in a different circuit they would like to try them. The weather looks unstable on Saturday and Sunday, especially Saturday, and we will decide. If I need to try something I will because we are at a point where we must do.”

    There was a test in Misano, have you spoken to Stefan Bradl?
    “He was testing in Misano more or less with the bike I raced with in Austria and he was also testing in Motegi. I don’t know if he is but yeah, looks like we are trying to improve, step by step and altogether I think we can do it.”

    How much of a boost was last weekend for you confidence?
    POL ESPARGARO: “The exciting thing was that I kept Aleix behind me the whole race. The winner of the last GP, you know, it was an exciting race. I knew that from the beginning of the weekend that that was my race, actually told my team and my guys that that was the moment that I wanted to be fast because I knew that I was more or less fresh to compete for 1/2 race distance. And actually, everything went well for sure. The thing that happened at the first corner helped me a little to gain some positions, but then the rhythm and the speed were really fast and I was I could keep Aleix behind which was really amazing. On Sunday I struggled. I was pretty tired and the bike was very different compared to Portimao. So I need to adapt quickly, but everything is happening so quickly Then the new schedule and everything’s quite different and stressful, together with my physical condition. I’m just getting used to everything, so here we go.”

    So many memories here now you’re in MotoGP™ with your brother:
    “Yeah. I don’t know if it’ll Alex remembers, but when we started to race here at the circuit of Catalunya. We weren’t allowed to do the full track and there was a shortcut in the middle of the straight after the chequered flag that cut to corner six, I think it was. So we weren’t even doing the full track. So for us stopping and looking back, you just see what you achieved here at MotoGP with these guys who are the best in the world and you need to feel really proud and happy of what we have achieved. But hopefully the best is yet to come!”

  • Facile victory for Bagnaia at Spielberg; Bezzecchi takes third behind Binder

    Facile victory for Bagnaia at Spielberg; Bezzecchi takes third behind Binder

    The #1 was in a league of his own on Sunday as Binder and Bezzecchi complete the Red Bull Ring podium.

    Spielberg, 20 August 2023: Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) capped off a perfect weekend at the CryptoDATA Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich with an unbeatable performance in Sunday’s MotoGP race to bring it up to a half-century of Grand Prix podiums for the reigning World Champion. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) hung in there early on as he chased KTM home glory but was forced to settle for second – still, plenty to cheer about for the Mattighofen factory. After bad luck on Saturday, Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) rebounded from Tissot Sprint disappointment to climb onto the rostrum in third.

    Simply unstoppable
    Just like he did in the Tissot Sprint, Bagnaia launched incredibly to grab the holeshot ahead of Binder. Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was away well as well – and as usual – to propel himself up to P3, as Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) went backwards again. It wasn’t a terrible getaway from ‘Top Gun’ but Viñales then got swarmed at Turn 1, as Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) and Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP) gained places.

    Bagnaia and Binder quickly pulled a second clear of the chasers, with the #33 shadowing the World Champion. It got close. Lap 4 saw Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) take his Long Lap penalty, which dropped the title hopeful to P13, as Binder hounded Pecco at the front. Alex Marquez then passed Miller for P3 at the end of Lap 4 but faced a 1.7s gap to Pecco and Binder, with Bezzecchi and Mooney VR46 teammate Marini quickly dispatching the Australian too.

    As the race settled, Binder dropped to half a second adrift of Bagnaia’s rear wheel as ‘Mapping 2’ popped up on the South African’s dashboard. In the fight for P3, meanwhile, Alex Marquez was holding off Bezzecchi as we entered Lap 11, with the double World Champions still 1.7s shy of Binder in P2.

    With 15 laps to go, Pecco’s lead crept up to a second for the first time. That went up to 1.2s on Lap 17 of 28, as Bezzecchi continued to pursue Alex Marquez. Marini was a safe P5 with Viñales two seconds down the road in P6, while Martin’s recovery found him in a commendable P7 with 12 laps to go.

    Could Binder get the gap down? Two crucial laps were slammed in by the race-leading #1 to give us our answer. With 10 laps left, Pecco’s advantage was up to 2.5s. A battle was raging for the final podium spot though as Bezzecchi attempted to make a pass stick at Turn 1, however the Spaniard was able to get back past on the cutback. Meanwhile, Marini had reeled the Ducati duo in to join the rostrum battle.

    Bezzecchi made a move stick at Turn 9 with seven laps to go, and the Italian immediately began to open up a gap to make his podium chase a lot more comfortable. Marini made his way past Alex Marquez with three laps to go, but by that point, Bezzecchi had 1.7s in his back pocket.

    At the front, Bagnaia was in a league of his own. The #1 proving just why he wears that special number on the front of his red Bologna bullet, as Bagnaia claimed victory to make it a pole, Tissot Sprint and Grand Prix race triple at the Red Bull Ring. That’s 50 career podiums for the Italian, as Binder brings his KTM home in P2 to cap off a very strong weekend on the Austrian manufacturer’s home turf. Bezzecchi bounced back very well to stand on the rostrum after his Saturday disappointment.

    The points scorers
    Marini’s late race pace was superb as the Italian crossed the line in P4 after getting the better of Alex Marquez, who rounded out the top five. Viñales ended P6 after a disappointing start and Martin made up ground but will leave Styria disappointed with P7.

    Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) made a late attack to get past Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) for eighth, and Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) completed the top 10.

    Franco Morbidelli (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) eventually got the better of Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) for P11, and the latter took P12 but takes points and finishes a GP race for the first time in 301 days. Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) was next up after a tough weekend but one with some, headlines, with Augusto Fernandez (GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3) and Miller, after dropping back throughout, taking home the final points. Pol Espargaro (GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3) was also in contention but got a late Long Lap for track limits.

    Next stop: Barcelona
    After a perfect weekend in Austria, Bagnaia’s Championship lead sits at a healthy 62 points over Martin heading to the Catalan GP. Can the chasing pack stop the World Champion’s charge in Barcelona? We’ll find out in two weeks!

  • Bagnaia holds off Binder as high drama hits Sprint race

    Bagnaia holds off Binder as high drama hits Sprint race

    Spielberg, 19 August 2023: Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) converted pole position into Tissot Sprint victory number four of 2023 as the Italian fended off an early Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) challenge at the CryptoDATA Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich. Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) picked up P3 but the Spaniard was heavily involved in the drama that unfolded right from the get-go, as well as another dose later in the Sprint.

    Key contenders crash at Turn 1
    Bagnaia got away well from pole well with Binder – as always – launching like a rocket ship from the outside of the front row as well. Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) got a sluggish start from P2, however, and dropped like a stone as Turn 1 played host to high drama.

    Martin was on the inside line, with contact made with Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™), which then started a domino effect. Viñales was involved as he was sandwiched between Quartararo and Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team), and the latter went down along with Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) and Miguel Oliveira (CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP™ Team). Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) was also caught up in the incident. Martin was later given a Long Lap penalty for Sunday’s race after being found to have been riding irresponsibly. Hear all their perspectives in the video below.

    Bagnaia untouchable on Saturday
    Back at the front, Bagnaia led from Binder. By the start of Lap 5 the duo were over a second up the road from Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team), with Martin running in P5. On Lap 6, Miller went from P3 to P5 as Marini and Martin pounced though, and more drama involving Martin then unravelled – this time at Turn 2A. Martin was up the inside of Marini but contact was made as the duo tipped it into the apex, with the latter crashing out unhurt.

    Meanwhile, Bagnaia’s lead was up to a second over Binder, who in turn had three seconds in hand to Martin. With six laps left, Pecco was 1.3s ahead of the leading KTM, and the gap kept on climbing. Binder was a safe second, the #33 was 2.7s up the road from Martin, and Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) was a lonely P4 as we got confirmation that no further action would be taken regarding the Martin-Marini clash.

    Bagnaia made no mistake to bring his Ducati home for Austrian GP Tissot Sprint victory to extend his title lead, with Binder claiming P2 in KTM’s backyard. Martin took the bronze medal from P12 on the grid. A spirited – albeit slightly controversial – comeback ride. Alex Marquez held on to fourth, with Miller taking P5.

    With a host of other expected frontrunners further down the order facing a fight back after that huge Turn 1 shuffle, there was plenty going on there, including a charge from GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3’s Pol Espargaro. He took an impressive P6, highly commendable as the Spaniard competes in just his second Tissot Sprint of the season.

    Aleix Espargaro finished P7, 0.144s further back, and had some serious pressure from teammate Viñales. The number 12 produced a great fight back to take P8 and nearly, nearly pounce on the final lap. Franco Morbidelli (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) held off Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) for the final Saturday afternoon point.

    Meanwhile, Quartararo had some extra drama after the Turn 1 incident too. He clashed with Lorenzo Savadori (Aprilia Racing), and was given a Long Lap to serve in the Sprint, which he did.

    As the dust settles, it truly was drama aplenty in the Austrian GP Tissot Sprint. Now, the big points are on offer on Sunday, with plenty looking to fight back. Tune into the MotoGP™ race at 14:00 local time (GMT+2)!

  • “It looks easy on the outside. It’s not!”: Thursday talking points

    “It looks easy on the outside. It’s not!”: Thursday talking points

    Hear from Bagnaia, Martin, Binder, Aleix, Bezzecchi, Alex Marquez and Marc Marquez

    Spielberg, 17 August 2023: The MotoGP bandwagon is headed across to the spectacular Red Bull Ring for the CryptoDATA Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich, to be held on Sunday.

    The first Press Conference on Thursday comprised Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing), Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing), before the second saw Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) joined by Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP) and Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team). Here are some key quotes…

    FRANCESCO BAGNAIA: “I’m happy to be here it’s always a great circuit for us. Last year we were competitive, we were struggling a little bit during the weekend but then on the Sunday we felt better. So let’s see, this year it won’t be easy because we know the step that KTM have done in terms of braking and acceleration and Aprilia this year are the ones that have improved in most. In the last races, they’ve been on the podium and then they won the last one, so there are many riders that could be competitive for this race. Also the other seven Ducatis, so let’s see.”

    Do you expect to fight for the win here?
    “Yeah, we know perfectly well the potential that our bike has in braking and acceleration and on the straight. It’s always important to take as many points as you can in circumstances that are great for you. I think that we can have an advantage at this track this year. The gap is maybe less than other years, but I feel that if we start well and we start the race weekend well we can improve the situation and have a good potential to fight for the win. For sure it will be important to take them the maximum amount of points to finish the weekend.”

    JORGE MARTIN: “For sure it’s one of the best race tracks for me and normally I’m quite competitive. We never know but for sure I will be fighting for top spots. It’ll be an interesting weekend, trying to get back to the podium positions because the last two weekends for me were, I feel like Saturdays were complicated, so I hope we improve Saturdays to be more ready on Sunday.”

    Jorge Martin photo from MotoGP media release

    What is it about the Red Bull Ring that plays to your strengths?
    “Stop and go corners are really good to me but also the third sector I’m quite competitive. It just feels like everything comes easier here. Last year I was struggling with the bike but I could fight with Jack for the podium position even if my race was difficult so I feel like this weekend will be a bit better.”

    Big weekend needed?
    “It’s not just one weekend but it’s a lot of weekends for the rest of the season. There’s still a long way to go, I feel competitive. There’s not been a track where I’ve been slow, this is important, and hopefully I can keep this consistency for the season and hopefully here I can fight for the victory.

    What’s your favourite battle here?
    “Yeah mine was 2021 also because I remember going into the final corner… I thought everyone had stopped and I thought I was still second. Then I saw my pit board and I was 11th going onto the last lap, then I finished on the podium. The last lap was like playing bowling!”

    Do you feel more pressure here?
    BRAD BINDER: “Well, I mean, I think it’s the closest thing I’m going to have for a home Grand Prix for a while. For me it’s important always to have a strong weekend at home, so obviously with this weekend being a home GP for Red Bull and KTM of course, it’s an amazing feeling to win here. I’ve done it in GP once and in Moto2 before and yeah, I really enjoyed it and there’s no better place to get the result right. So yeah, I’m going into the weekend with a lot of confidence. I feel like my bike’s been working exceptionally well lately, my team has done an incredible job, and yeah, I’m ready to give it a send and see how this weekend pans out.”

    Could this be your weekend to get the Sunday win?
    “Yeah, it’s about time I get another one right. It’s been cool to win two Sprints, but yeah, it’s been a while since I’ve won on the Sunday. I feel like many times this year we’ve been fighting for the podium, even if I’ve made small mistakes, made a lot of them, and thrown away a few. I think we just need to put some small things together. We’re not far, but yeah, with those small tweaks, I think on the right day we can definitely be in for a shot at giving it a good go.”

    On KTM’s evolution:
    “Yeah, I’m extremely proud to have raced for almost 10 years now for such an incredible manufacturer. To see the effort that they’ve put into this MotoGP project and the changes that they are making, and how big the whole thing has become over the years is incredible. To be a part of this whole story has been amazing. It’s awesome to see, it gives me a lot of extra motivation to try and get the job right. I think with all the massive effort that they’ve put in, they really deserve good results. We’re short of a win, so we better get it right sooner rather than later.”

    ALEIX ESPARGARO: “We know we have an important challenge ahead of us this weekend because this track is quite difficult, not just for Aprilia but for my riding style. I will try my best to try and keep the momentum, as you mentioned not just for the victory at Silverstone but for the podium and the consistency in the last rounds. Important to see how we’ve improved from last season at a difficult track.”

    Why have you found it difficult here?
    “The Aprilia and my riding style, I pretty much created this bike. What Aprilia want is to ride on the apex, to be fast mid-corner and fast in long corners, tracks like Qatar, Argentina and Silverstone, but the stop-and-go is difficult for us. We’re struggling a little bit to stop the bike and also we are looking for better traction and more torque. It’s a good place to see how much we’ve improved the 2023 bike. As we saw in America we were a lot more competitive than in the past so I’m really positive sincerely.”

    New parts?
    “Yeah at Silverstone they brought me some new parts in terms of aero and cooling system in the fairing and it was quite good actually, the bike turned a bit better and it was more agile, we have some new updates as well here so hopefully we can test it tomorrow morning.”

    MARCO BEZZECCHI: “In Silverstone as you said on Sunday I unfortunately made a mistake which made me crash. It was a shame, but the speed was there and my confidence on the bike was good. So overall I cannot say that was not a positive weekend, so I can’t wait to jump on the bike again. This is a track that I really like and I hope the weather will be good. I just can’t wait.”

    Marco Bezzecchi at the Press Conference on Thursday in Spielberg. MotoGP image

    What do you like about the track?
    “Well, it’s a particular track. It looks easy from the outside but is not because of the different banking on the track and the very hard braking. I like hard braking with the MotoGP bike and also for our bike, it’s a strong strong point where the Ducati can work very well, so overall because of this I like this track.”

    Future discussions…
    “Well, as you already know my my plan A would be to stay in the Mooney VR46 team. The Academy and my management is trying to work to find the best solution for me. I think in Barcelona I can give you a precise answer on the decision that I will take.”

    How good is it to already have the contract signed?
    ALEX MARQUEZ: “Very happy to announce officially the announcement, super happy to continue in the Gresini family next season. I felt at home from the first day in Valencia and the relationship with the team is fantastic, so it was my objective. Always the first year with a new team and bike I struggle a bit more but with this bike and this team I felt at home. So what’s better than to continue together and be more competitive in 2024, make better results and be more consistent!”

    How much you looking forward to the Red Bull Ring?
    “When you arrive in Austria you see the straights short… but when you arrive with another bike you see long ones. Last year I was happy with the chicane, but this year I’d prefer to go straight. Apart from jokes I’m looking forward to being competitive, I have a bad feeling inside from Silverstone’s technical problem, I think it was a great opportunity to have another great result. But it’s like this, this is racing, and we need to look forward and try to make a good result here in Austria.”

    Targets to find more consistency?
    “Yeah if we speak about my mistakes, I did just two: Jerez Sprint and also in the race at Mugello. The others were just racing and racing incidents, so yeah for sure I want to be more consistent in the top five, try to be from this point more in the top five with good speed, learn from the top guys in Ducati and next year make another step. This is the objective for this season, for sure if we have the opportunity to be on the podium or fight for a win again we will try, but we need to have in our head to be more consistent in the top five.”

    MARC MARQUEZ: “Austria is one of the circuits where I’ve never won in the past. I don’t think this will be the year to win at this circuit. But yeah, we’ll try to approach it with a low profile. We’ll just try to understand our level on Friday and from that point understand if we can improve during the weekend.”

    You’re testing almost as much as racing…
    “Of course it’s a difficult approach, but it’s easy to understand.  When I try to analyse the first half of the season, I broke three bones and I tore a ligament. So it’s easy to understand that you must to change your approach on the races. The only change we made at Silverstone was to try was trying to forget about the result and just focus on finding the limits of our package and that’s what I did. Of course, at some points in the weekend, like in the FP2, Qualiyfing and the races you are taking risks. My target is Silverstone was to finish the weekend without any crashes and I was able to do it. Unfortunately, in a race incident, I crashed on Sunday but the most important thing is that I revealed the confidence at the Silverstone Grand Prix. And yeah we will see, of course we’re working. I’m working on myself. Honda is working, as you’ll see tomorrow we will be trying a new aero package. So yeah, let’s see if step by step we can improve tenth by tenth.”

  • “I’d like another battle!”: Thursday talking points at the TT Circuit Assen

    “I’d like another battle!”: Thursday talking points at the TT Circuit Assen

    Hear from Bagnaia, Martin, Bezzecchi, Zarco, Miller and Marc Marquez.

    Assen,22 June 2023:

    Do not adjust your set! Yes, we’re back in action again for the third stop of the triple header, and this time it’s the Motul TT Assen at the legendary Cathedral. Two Press Conferences kicked us off, with plenty to talk about… or maybe you agree much of it is all “clickbait and bullshit”. We’ll let Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) elaborate!

    The first comprised Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) and Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team), before the second saw Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) joined by Miller and Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team).

    Here are some key quotes!

    How important is this weekend?
    FRANCESCO BAGNAIA: “Like always, starting this weekend for me is so special. It’s one of my favourite race weekends and I love this layout so for me it’s always great. I’m looking forward to riding tomorrow and let’s see. I’m quite sure that our bike suits this track well. Last year we worked so perfectly to arrive at the race prepared, and we will try to do the same this year. Our bike looks great on these kinds of tracks, so let’s see.”

    What is it about Assen that suits your style?
    “When I arrived here in the World Championship in Moto3, I always said I had great respect for this track.The first time I won was here and it was incredible with Mahindra. Then it Moto2 it was the perfect weekend because I led in all the sessions and during the race. And then last year was great, for sure two contenders were out of the race, but we managed to be competitive and we managed to be on pole position and for sure it will be very important to try to repeat the same for this year to start the summer break in a good mood. It won’t be easy, but our ambition is to be as competitive as last year.”

    Do you expect to have a close battle this weekend?
    “I think they are both strong. They were both so competitive at this track last year. Marco was very close to victory with me, and Jorge until the end of the race was with us. So for sure, they are so competitive, they are on the list to be contenders for this weekend. I would like to have another battle like in Sachsenring, but with different results.”

    Is the win a weight off your shoulders?
    JORGE MARTIN: “For sure I really enjoyed these few days after a victory, it’s a pity we have a race straight away because I didn’t celebrate a lot but you know I couldn’t, as soon as you go into the next week you already think about Assen. I’m focused on this weekend, I want to finish in a good way before summer so yeah hopefully we can battle for the podium again, be as consistent as we have in the last four races so yeah let’s see.”

    Did you get the victory fairing you asked for?
    “Not yet not yet, I asked Ducati already to have something for two years in a row and I have nothing from the bike. For sure Pecco has something, I don’t know why it’s difficult. I just want to put it at home, I’m not going to give it to any factory. Gino told me he would give me it so let’s see if he can manage it.”

    Will Pecco be harder to beat here than in Germany?
    “I know this is one of his favourites. I was just remembering when we were staying together in the motorhome when he won his first race I remember I asked him, I couldn’t race because I was injured, and he told me ‘today I will win’. I know it’s one of his favourites, last season he won, I like this track, last season I was competitive. When it started to rain I struggled a lot to have confidence so I lost contact with them but I feel strong and I think it’s a good moment to arrive.”

    On Paolo Ciabatti’s quotes saying he’ll be on the Pramac in 2024…
    “Yeah I’m happy where I am, I don’t see a reason to change. I have a factory bike, an amazing team that is pushing for me and I think 2024 will be the same.”

    On Assen:
    MARCO BEZZECCHI: “It is a place that I love for sure. When I arrived here yesterday, in my mind immediately there were beautiful memories about my first podium in MotoGP. Of course, it was a big emotion, but I know now I need to be more focus on the race of this weekend. I really like the track, it suits my riding style well, also it is quiet fun and beautiful!”

    Confidence from that first podium in Assen?
    “It was a big push in confidence for me because I was struggling all the weekend and then in QP I was able to go fast but my pace was not really good honestly. I tried the soft in the race without knowing whether it was possible to do well or not, and then I rode well and finished on the podium. It was something then that came into my mind that I said ‘yeah, I can do it!’ So, yeah, it is quite special but then you have to keep working and I’ll try do this and stay focused.”

    On those Mugello & Sachsenring points finishes?
    “We saw during the first part of the Championship that with the Sprint, everything can change so quickly. Unfortunately, in Mugello, I had a good Sprint, but I had problems on Sunday and I wasn’t fast enough to fight for the front positions. At the Sachsenring, I struggled all weekend but for the race I found something better that gave me the possibility to be faster. But as soon as you lose something with this format and the level we have, you are lost, so it is important to start in a good way and keep the high level and be consistent, it’s not too easy. My team though are giving me a lot of confidence and giving a good effort so I’m very happy for this.”

    Riding better than ever?
    JOHANN ZARCO: “Clearly, I think really the best moment where I could feel very good on the bike, and ride, everything naturally, was in 2015 for the first year that I was world champion. Now in MotoGP it’s always more and more difficult, but this year things are getting under control and I can enjoy more and get more tastes of the podium. It was so good to get three in a row. Le Mans, Mugello and Sachsenring. Three different tracks. So yeah, it’s a good feeling. And overall with this feeling, things are coming better every time. So I really wiish and hope for even better for the next races. This is the target.”

    Atmosphere in the garage:
    “The teammate is the first guy that you can look at. And watching I’m watching Jorge, but Jorge is also watching me. Not just for the for the setup, but also to do the results. vThe areas where he’s super fast, I’m trying to be fast and usually I’m quite consistent and now also he’s trying to be quite consistent. So it’s creating something that we didn’t expect. We’re leading the classification of the teams standings, and that would be very nice to keep it to the end of the year, because I think that would be it would be historical that a satellite team can be world champions, so why not? But just being focussed every race and doing the maximum, we do not share share too much our feelings with Jorge because we are two different guys. But then the results. We enjoy the same thing with the team and it’s a really nice time that I’m pretty happy to be living this season.”

    Optimistic about Assen?
    “Ducati can be fast everywhere now. We have a very good balance on the bike, and also with the eight riders on the Ducatis, we have so many references in case we are getting a bit lost. So the victory of Pecco last year, and the second position of Bezzecchi gives us this trust that Ducati can work well here. So yeah, we’ll try to find the good line to be able to repeat another podium, but as I say we always start from Friday. This qualifying on Saturday is always very high pressure to be on the first two rows, and then when you can control this pressure and get a good qualifying it opens your weekend much better for the Sprint and for the long race on Sunday.”

    Can the shoey return?
    JACK MILLER: “We’ll try our best. Every time you drive into this joint you always get that feeling I guess. Different times for sure back then but no it’s nice to be back here, I feel pretty good towards the weekend, another new track for us but the bike is working really well a the moment. We have a couple of things to iron out, but we’re getting there. Quite confident, the bike is very nimble and around here that’s what you need, a nice stable bike but something that is easy to change direction at high speed and I feel the KTM has that in it so looking forward to spinning the first laps around here.”

    Does the experience of last two races put you in a better position?
    “The high-speed corners in Mugello was where I was struggling with in, Arabbiata 2, and again at the weekend it was obvious where my weak point was at the Sachsenring, 9, 10, 11, going down the hill. I tried a lot of different things during the race in terms of my riding style just to try and compensate for what I was having through those corners. Wasn’t able to find what I wanted but we went back to the drawing board and I think we’ve got a direction to go in terms of set up and geometry to help give me more stability in the fast corners without losing too much in the slower corners.”

    His reaction to the reaction to his reaction:
    “My reaction is it’s a lot of clickbait and bullshit. The majority of people weren’t there at the media debrief so they don’t even know what was actually said, then you clickbaited and put on spray like this. It is what it is, this is the world we live in. At the end of the day I just want the health of the championship to better, I want guys to get on with their job and that’s all it is. Like I say, a lot of people weren’t there.”

    And on Pedro Acosta:
    “We know he’s ready. That interview says it all, if he thinks he’s ready then that’s all that matters. I like that he’s young, he’s confident and that’s what you need to do at that age, you need to say what you think and that’s what he did there. For sure I’m excited by the prospects, hopefully KTM can keep him in the family of course because we would love to have him on one of our bikes for sure.”

    MARC MARQUEZ: “I rode on the limit last weekend, but we have done a very good job the last three days in Madrid with my medical team and my physio team. The ankle was the biggest problem before coming here as it was swollen a lot, but they did a very good job and now I don’t think it will be a big problem. My thumb is broken, but luckily it is just the end, so it won’t be a problem. The rib, I have a crack in the second rib and this will be a problem because as soon as I breathe or if I push with my arm, I’ll feel it…anyways let’s see, we’ll start with P1 and step by step.”

    On Sachsenring drama.
    “Yeah it was a tough weekend. The thing is if you are pushing and you crash, you accept it, like I did it in QP practice but for example the WUP crash…. already on Saturday I had given up a bit on the weekend and I will just keep going and in Saturday’s race… I didn’t push more than I felt with the bike. Then in WUP I had an unexpected crash, only on the second lap without pushing and yeah, this is the most difficult to understand.”

    Has his opinion changed on the future?
    I didn’t read a lot (the news). I am focused on myself and I have a lot work to do with the physios and in the gym these days but as you can see, if I am here with all those injuries, it’s because my commitment with Honda is maximum and I want to continue working with this project in the future. Yeah, my commitment is 100% and for that reason I am here, to get information and improve the bike for the future.”

    Biggest injury problem?
    “Let’s see. In Mugello and Germany I already said about physical conditions, I felt in one of my best moments and for that reason I was able to be in the top positions by riding over the limit most of the time. Here, obviously after 5 crashes, I’m not ready to push again. It’s time to step back and get some information.”

    Bagnaia, part of TT Legends Club

    Last year’s Grand Prix winner, Pecco Bagnaia, is now officially part of the TT Legends Club! The reigning Champion was presented with his stone for the walk of fame by Assen mayor Marco Out and Willem Bakker from the TT Legends foundation. The stone will now take its place on the famous street in Assen, alongside his fellow legends!