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Tag: Repsol Honda
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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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Marc Marquez takes a magnificent 7th World title at Twin Ring Motegi: MotoGP
Marquez celebrates after winning the 5th MotoGP title in Motegi on Sunday. A MotoGP image Motegi, 21 October 2018: Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) is now a seven-time World Champion, with the number 93 wrapping up his fifth premier class crown in six years in Japan. That makes it a more than 83% success rate for the 25-year-old Spaniard as he continues to work his way through the record books, with 2015 so far the only season since he graduated in which he hasn’t been crowned MotoGP™ Champion. The youngest rider to win five premier class titles and the youngest rider to reach seven Championships overall, Marquez is also now one of only four men to have won five or more premier class crowns, joining Valentino Rossi, Mick Doohan and Giacomo Agostini in that exclusive club.
Marquez’ rise to glory began with his first title in the 125 Championship in 2010, just two years after making his debut on the world stage at 15. A podium finisher in that rookie year despite the season ending in some injury struggles, Marquez impressed early – and in 2010 his talent shone fully for the first time as he took the crown and won ten of the last 14 races of the year.
2011 saw Marquez make the move to Moto2™. It was a difficult start to the season punctuated by crashes, but then the Spaniard gained some serious momentum and went on a winning run – taking seven victories to close down the gap to Championship leader Stefan Bradl. Marquez also took a podium at Phillip Island from 38th on the grid following a penalty, and that put him in striking distance of the lead – but the Malaysian Grand Prix changed the course of the season. A crash in practice ended his charge as the number 93 suffered problems with his eyesight and was forced to forfeit the rest of the season and the chance at the crown.
Marquez spent that winter in limbo as he sought to cure the problem, before finally surgery was successful and he was ready to get back on track. Despite the tough off season the number 93 came out swinging and was the pacesetter from the off, taking the Championship in style – including a win from the back in the season finale in Valencia to underline the spectacular year. Then it was time to try a MotoGP™ machine for the first time as Marquez prepared for his premier class debut in 2013.
It started with a bang as the number 93 duelled the likes of Valentino Rossi to take his first podium and that laid the groundwork for next time out as Marquez won only his second ever MotoGP™ race. He went on to become the youngest rider to clinch the premier class crown after a stunning rookie season and was the first rookie to achieve the feat in 35 years. That was a taste of what was to come as Marquez kept barrelling through the record books, beginning 2014 with victory in the first ten races to extend a stunning lead and retain the crown at the Twin Ring Motegi. That was the first time he won it in Japan, on the home turf of manufacturer Honda.
2015 began well with a win in the Americas GP once again, but the season was punctuated by a few more ups and downs and Marquez lost the title for the first time since moving up to MotoGP™. Drama characterised the end of that season as the number 93 clashed with Valentino Rossi, and it was Jorge Lorenzo who emerged victorious in the Championship. That remains the only empty space in Marquez’ trophy cabinet as yet and 2016 saw the Spaniard on a serious mission to make sure it wasn’t repeated.
It wasn’t. Marquez rode to win the title and not simply to win races, honing his aggression into a more targeted weapon and once again taking the title at Motegi in Japan. With wins in Texas, Argentina, Germany and Aragon ahead of wrapping up MotoGP™ Championship number three, it was a season of consistency. 2017 didn’t begin the same as the reigning Champion suffered a DNF in Argentina, and by Le Mans he’d recorded his third 0 of the campaign. It was going to be a big mountain for Marquez to climb if he was to retain the crown – but that he did.
Marquez’ team had told him he’d be ahead going into the summer break and somehow, he was. Back on top in the German GP and going on a run of podium finishes until a mechanical issue at Silverstone, the consistency was back in the later part of the season. At Motegi there was no chance at the crown but there was a stunning duel in the rain between Marquez and key rival Andrea Dovizioso, and the Italian won it to become the first man to beat Marquez in a last lap duel after the number 93 had begun that lap in the lead. The fight rolled on and on and went down to Valencia – with Marquez eventually emerging victorious by virtue of an awe-inspiring save at Turn 1 when he was chasing the win. He didn’t get that win and instead took a podium in third, but he did wrap up title number six and his fourth premier class Championship.
Then began 2018 and the long road from Qatar to Valencia was reset once again. This time it was 19 rounds that would decide the Champion and it began with fireworks in the desert as ‘DesmoDovi’ came out swinging and duelled Marquez for the first victory of the season. The Italian took it at the final corner of the final lap – the duo’s third duel and the third win for Dovizioso – but Argentina was up next, where Marquez was expected to be the favourite. That he was, but with start line drama hitting the number 93 and three penalties given to the reigning Champion during a riotous race, it was a Grand Prix that saw him fail to score and caused some big debates in the paddock.
Next time out in Texas, Marquez was on a mission to quell the aftermath and rode a lights-to-flag spectacular to take the win by a big margin, only challenged briefly by Andrea Iannone in the early stages. His first win of the season, it put him back in the title hunt – and Dovizioso had had two more challenging rounds since his Qatari celebrations. But it was time to return to Europe and Marquez was about to turn the screw.
Jerez was dramatic not for Marquez’ antics, but for a huge crash at the front involving three key rivals – Andrea Dovizioso, Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa. They all collided and failed to score, setting the scene for a big points gain for Marquez. The bad luck kept coming for Dovizioso next time out in Le Mans and the Italian crashed out the lead, with the number 93 on the top step once again…
Mugello was a shake up though. The Italian classic was a race to remember for Ducati as they took their first 1-2 at the venue – and it was Lorenzo on the top step for the first time in red. Winning by a sizeable margin, there was a new big threat to Marquez’ mission on the scene, and the Majorcan followed it up by the same, ‘Lorenzo-style’ victory the following race weekend in Barcelona. Marquez was second, however, and did some good damage limitation – with the next race set for the TT Circuit Assen in the Netherlands.
After qualifying for that Dutch GP it looked like it was going to be a tight fight at the front, but no one could have predicted quite how tight. One of the best races of all time saw a huge battle for the win between a huge group of riders, but it was Marquez who, once again, was able to pull the pin late on and escape to take the flag. A ninth win in a row at the Sachsenring followed it up before a duel with Lorenzo saw Marquez take P3 in Czechia as Dovizioso won, and the number 93 would face the number 99 again in Austria in the following Grand Prix…
Rivalry reignited, the battle for the Red Bull Ring was a spectacular scrap and it was Lorenzo who took the spoils. The Majorcan was on a serious run of form that he followed up with pole at Silverstone, but with racing then cancelled on Sunday it was a blow for the hopes of those who had shown superior pace in practice. Dovizioso won in Misano to gain some ground but Lorenzo crashed, and Marquez’ second edged him ever closer to the crown. Aragon only underlined that as the number 93 took the win before he finally – on the fourth attempt – beat Dovizioso in a last lap duel with the fight going down to the wire at Buriram in the first ever Thai GP. From there it was next stop Motegi and a first chance at wrapping up the crown.
Qualifying didn’t quite go to plan for Marquez in Japan and he was left to start sixth. Needing a clean getaway to get on the level with polesitter and key rival Dovizioso, that’s exactly what he got – slicing through to third and the race slowly forming into another tantalising 93 vs 04 duel. After taking the lead in the latter laps it was clear the Spaniard was giving it everything to try and wrap up the title with the win – and that he did. Drama struck on the penultimate lap for Dovizioso as the Italian slid out from the chase, leaving Marquez in clear air in the lead and one lap from being a seven-time World Champion.
That lap ended with a huge wheelie across the line as the number 93 wrote another chapter in his legend, making yet more history in style.
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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 -
Dovizioso fastest on Friday but 93 hits back in wet…: MotoGP Free Practice
Andrea Dovizioso fastest on Friday at Spielberg. A MotoGP image Spielberg, 10 Aug 2018: Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) was the fastest man on Friday at the eyetime Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich and the only rider into the 1:23 bracket in FP1, moving two tenths clear of teammate Jorge Lorenzo. And just behind the two at the top, the Ducati attack continued – with top Independent Team rider Danilo Petrucci (Alma Pramac Racing) locking out the top three on the combined timesheets and pipping reigning Champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) to the honour.
FP1 saw some big-time attacks as doubts about the weather forecast continued, and they were proved right as the dry and pleasant conditions of FP1 were a distant memory come FP2. A downpour delayed the session and conditions remained very wet when action continued, with Scott Redding (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) looking like he was going to end FP2 on top. But Marquez struck back and the Brit was relegated to second…ahead of the familiar trio of Petrucci, Lorenzo and Dovizioso, who also showed great pace in the wet.
Overall, however, it’s Andrea Iannone (Team Suzuki Ecstar) who completes the top five from his FP1 time, ahead of Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team) and fellow Honda rider Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol). Tito Rabat (Real Avintia Racing) took P8 on yet another Borgo Panigale machine as Ducati dominated the top ten – with Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) the top Yamaha in P9.
It was a more difficult morning for Movistar Yamaha MotoGP, although Maverick Viñales ended the day in P10 and Valentino Rossi in P11. For Viñales the day began much further down the timesheets, but for Rossi it began almost off them. An early technical problem for the ‘Doctor’ saw him forced to pull over and then head out on his second bike, costing him some time. Right at the end of FP1 Viñales pipped him to provisional graduation to Q2, leaving Rossi at risk of not making it through if the rain pays another visit to Spielberg in FP3…Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) was P12 overall and fastest Aprilia in the dry, ahead of Alvaro Bautista (Angel Nieto Team), Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and KTM’s lone home team representative Bradley Smith (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), who was P6 in the wet to impress, too.
ends
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Marquez edges Petrucci by just 0.025 to take pole: MotoGP Round 9
Independent team rider and Friday’s second-fastest Petrucci was denied his first pole on Saturday. A MotoGP image After the first runs in the session, it was Maverick Viñales (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) on the provisional pole as the Spaniard was the first to break Marquez’ previous pole lap record from 2015, before the first charge on the second exit saw Lorenzo threaten that – with Petrucci in close pursuit. Over the line, the two took over at the top, with Petrucci just ahead, as Marquez began his third run – later crediting the two-stop strategy as a key to his ninth pole at the venue.
On that last dash with the clock counting down, the number 93 was just off in the first sector, put in a personal best second sector and then a red third one – meaning he was up on the previous best overall. But it was mere hundredths and it went right down to the wire, with a solid final sector seeing Marquez just maintain the advantage and pip Petrucci by the tiniest of margins. That means it’s exactly the top two from last season, except then, it was over a tenth and a half, and this year it’s half a tenth covering the front row.
Viñales wasn’t able to improve and stayed fourth, Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) moved up to fifth after coming from Q1 and Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) found some more pace on Saturday to complete the superstar-studded second row – with every one of them keen to get the launch of their lives and move forward at lights out. With Lorenzo ahead of them on the front row, that could be a task. The front row riders share 11 titles between them – but so do the second.
On the third row, the former podium finisher at the venue Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) took P7, ahead of practice pacesetter Andrea Iannone (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and the on-form Alvaro Bautista (Angel Nieto Team), with Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team) rounding out the top ten. The number 26 has an impeccable record at the track – it’s the venue at which he’s had the most success, along with Valencia – and could be one to watch when the lights go out.
Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) starts P11 and Q1 graduate Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) starts P12, with Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) hot on their heels in thirteenth. Jack Miller (Alma Pramac Racing) and Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) complete the top fifteen on the grid after Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini), who just missed out on a place in Q2, received a six-place grid penalty for the race following ‘irresponsible riding’ in FP3; now starting P19.
Think you know what’s going to happen in the German GP? You might be the only one…From 14:00 (GMT +2) the grid will be back out to race and see who will take the momentum into the summer break.
MotoGP™ Qualifying Results
1 – Marc Marquez (SPA) HONDA 1’20.270
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First Independent Team Rider:
2 – Danilo Petrucci (ITA) DUCATI +0.025
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3 – Jorge Lorenzo (SPA) DUCATI +0.057 -
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.
