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Tag: Valentino Rossi
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‘King’ Marquez extends COTA reign with another win; Dovi leads championship
Marc Marquez celebrates another win at COTA. Photo: Honda Racing Austin (Texas, US), 23 April 2018: It’s closer than ever as the flag falls at the end of the Americas GP, with Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) taking the win and Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) the Championship lead as Texas shook up the standings. There are now five riders within eight points at the top of the title fight – with Marquez a point off the top after his win, and Maverick Viñales (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) moving up to third after a second place finish at COTA.
Vinales. Photo – Movistar Yamaha MotoGP The Americas GP also made it back-to-back podium finishes for Suzuki, with Andrea Iannone (Team Suzuki Ecstar) putting in an impressive push from the front row to take third and his first rostrum finish of the season – and first rostrum with the Hamamatsu factory.
It was also Iannone who got the holeshot from second on the grid, but Marquez also got a stunner from Row 2 – slotting into second and on the chase behind the ‘Maniac’. Making his move soon after and taking the lead, the number 93 started to pull a gap, but Iannone wasn’t done, and gave it everything for a late dive up the inside of the reigning Champion. Running a bit wide on the exit, Marquez took him back, then putting his head down.
From there on, the spectacular ballet of man and machine once more ruled the rodeo in Texas – with the victory making it 10 consecutive premier class wins for Marquez on US soil.
Andrea Iannone. Photo: Suzuki Racing Reflecting on his win, Marquez said: “This weekend I really gave it my all. Today I was totally focused, as I wanted to remain perfect here at Austin. I don’t think that ever in my career have I had such a race, pushing so hard from the first lap. Today, I felt that this was the right way and was able to do it, in part because my bike’s setup helped me a lot, so thanks to everyone in my garage as they’ve worked really well and hard.
“Yesterday, I was a bit ill, and even today I didn’t feel I had perfect energy, but it turned out to be a good race anyway – a lonely one, but sometimes it goes like that. Last night, when I was going to sleep, I thought about the strategy, and today, I followed it. Even in the warm-up, I tried to simulate the first laps of the race, going out on new tyres and with a full tank. That was in the plan.
“I told the team that I wanted to try to lead the race from the beginning and pull a gap. So in the first three or four laps, I pushed a bit more than usual, and then I managed the advantage. Today I had special motivation.
“There was a lot of pressure, but I like the pressure, as it helps to keep focused. I felt a special feeling on the last lap, when I passed in front of Nicky’s flag. So, I’m happy with the result and for recovering ground in the Championship, but now we go back to Europe, where we must be consistent, because look who’s leading the standings: Dovi, the most consistent rider! The feeling with my bike is very good, and the same has been true in Qatar and Argentina, so we’ll try and continue this way.”
Tight battle for podium spots
Championship leader Dovizioso. Photo: Ducati Behind, however, it was getting pretty tight. Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) was pressuring teammate Viñales for third as Iannone held firm in second. But lap-by-lap, Viñales was able to ease away and stake his claim on P2, closing in on Iannone before a well-judged pass into Turn 1 saw the Spaniard able to get through and then pull away. Keeping it calm, he took his first podium of the season in second, and Iannone did the same in third.
Rossi came home fourth, with Dovizioso taking fifth after a particularly difficult weekend. Well-rewarded for a solid race, the 2017 runner-up is now the leader of the pack once again after his controlled performance, including a late race pass on Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3).
Rossi. Photo: Movistar Yamaha MotoGP Rossi said: “It was a good weekend because we were always in the top five, but in the race, I hoped and expected to be a bit stronger to fight for the podium. I know that Marquez and Maverick were a bit stronger. I hoped I’d be fast enough to fight for the podium with Iannone, but Andrea was faster than me, so I was not able to arrive and attack.”
Zarco was top Independent Team rider in P6, with former Championship leader Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) sliding out at the final corner when attacking the Frenchman earlier in the race. Alex RIns (Team Suzuki Ecstar) also then suffered a tumble soon after – riders ok and Crutchlow able to rejoin.
Heroic ride by ‘Little Samurai’
Dani Pedrosa. Photo: Repsol Honda Meanwhile, Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team) followed up two stunning showings on Friday and Saturday to come home in a superhuman P7. Back on track and racing just over a week after surgery on his broken wrist sustained in the Argentina GP, the ‘Little Samurai’ rode a heroic push through the pain barrier around the punishing, technical challenge of the Circuit of the Americas in a performance worthy of the history books, taking home nine points ahead of the Championship’s return to one of his best venues: Jerez.
There was a Borgo Panigale battle around three seconds behind three-time World Champion Pedrosa, with Tito Rabat (Reale Avintia Racing) impressively beating Jack Miller (Alma Pramac Racing) to the line for eighth. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) completed the top ten, putting in an impressive push to keep Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team) behind him after a tough race for the five-time World Champion.
Danilo Petrucci (Alma Pramac Racing) took P12, ahead of some impressive points for Pol Espargaro and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing in P13. Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) was top rookie in P14, ahead of Alvaro Bautista (Angel Nieto Team).
So there we have it. The rodeo is ridden and the points are given, and what a Championship we have on our hands as we head for Jerez: five riders within eight points, with ‘DesmoDovi’ the man in the lead on the road to Europe. Marquez trails him by one point, Viñales by five and Crutchlow by eight – with Zarco equal on points with the Brit, back in P5 due to Crutchlow having a race win.
Now, it’s carnival time. Packed grandstands, Spanish sun, the awesome Circuito de Jerez and one of the best atmospheres of the year – with the Championship so close, there’s almost nothing in it!
Francesco Bagnaia (SKY Racing Team VR46) took the honours in Moto 2 ahead of Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) and Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Ajo).
Jorge Martin (Del Conca Gresini Moto3) topped the Moto 3 field and he was followed home by Enea Bastianini (Leopard Racing) and Marco Bezzecchi (Redox Pruestel GP) in that order.
Source: motogp.com, Honda Racing Corporation
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Sparks fly as Viñales takes pole after Marquez gets 3-place penalty!
Maverick Vinales celebrating pole position. Photo: Movistar Yamaha GP Austin (Texas, US), 22 April 2018: Things got pretty hot in Texas in qualifying for the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas, with drama first striking as reigning Champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) took a tumble at Turn 13 and was heading back to the garage on the back of a scooter as his rivals started to threaten his provisional pole. But the number 93 was able to get back out, and set a sixth pole position at the Circuit of the Americas – closely followed by the man who seems set to try and challenge him on Sunday, Maverick Viñales (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP). It wasn’t done there, however…
Viñales, after an impressive show of race pace earlier in the day in FP4, came across a slower-moving Marquez on his first flyer on his second run and was forced to abandon the lap. Nevertheless, the Spaniard set the second quickest lap on a final push – and he’ll be starting from pole.
After the incident between the two men was investigated by the FIM MotoGP™ Stewards, Marquez was given a three-place grid penalty and will therefore actually start from fourth.
Front row for Andrea Iannone
Andrea Iannone. Photo: Team Suzuki Ecstar Andrea Iannone (Team Suzuki Ecstar) – another man who has been key competition for Marquez in practice – set the third fastest lap and will be starting from the front row and now second place, with Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) bumped back onto the front row to make it seven races in the row the Frenchman has lined up there.
The ‘Maniac’, however, was a protagonist of sorts in the drama of the day – it was him Marquez was focused on when the reigning Champion then impeded Viñales, having been looking the wrong way.
Why? “I know a fast rider behind me can improve his laptime, and Iannone yesterday was first,” explained Marquez. “I was looking more for Iannone, and then I didn’t expect Maverick!”
And he was right to look, with Iannone confirming that was the idea: “Every rider tries to do the best for himself. I went out from the pits, I saw Marc, and I know he’s fast so I tried to follow him…and he didn’t want to overtake me…”
Marc Marquez. Photo: Repsol Honda As stated, however, the Italian was indeed first on Friday, and led the timesheets into Saturday afternoon. The impressive qualifying – and he did eventually end up just behind Marquez in the session – just adds on the positives, and sets Iannone up for a solid Sunday.
On pace, too, it’s looking rosy for Sunday – but there Iannone errs on the side of caution, saying only that he’ll be pushing.
“At the moment it’s only on paper. For sure I want to be on the podium tomorrow and we need a good result, we’ve worked a lot since last year and step by step we’ve closed the gap. We’ll see tomorrow, but I’ll start with all my energy and push at 150%,” said Iannone.
Valentino Rossi on pace
Valentino Rossi. Photo: Movistar Yamaha MotoGP He had Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) for very close company on the timesheets; the Italian just 0.019 back and now starting fifth, next to Marquez now heading up Row 2. And it was just as tight for sixth and the final spot on the second row, as Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team) was only another 0.065 in arrears behind the ‘Doctor’. Three men certain to attack right from lights out, with 20 World Championships between them.
“I’m quite satisfied about these two days because I’m always quite fast and I feel good with the bike,” said the number 46. “We worked in a good way. I thought that I had the potential for the front row but maybe I wasn’t fast enough. But anyway, we start from the top five which is ok for the race tomorrow.”
“Now we have to fix some very small details,” concludes the ‘Doctor’, “and we also have to hope that we have some sun and a dry race.”
Cal Crutclow slots in seventh
Championship leader Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) took seventh as he aims to keep his points lead on Sunday, and he’s just ahead of the man chasing him in the standings, Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) – who’s won off the third row before.
Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team) completes that star-studded third row. The three-time World Champion is racing only a week and a bit after surgery on a broken wrist sustained in the Argentina GP, and not only gained direct entry to Q2, but took a third row start in another superhuman effort.
Q1 graduate Danilo Petrucci (Alma Pramac Racing), Argentina GP podium finisher Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) completed the top twelve – with Espargaro having put in a stunner to come through Q1 and get KTM’s first visit to Q2 this season. Thereafter, however, the KTM rider was also given a three-place grid penalty, meaning Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) will start P12.
It’s set up to be a stunner, with Viñales alongside Marquez and Rossi and Zarco gunning from Row 2. Think you can call it in the MotoGP™ League? Iannone already said it on Friday: “Anything is possible!”
Meanwhile, Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) took pole position in Moto 2 with Sam Lowes (Swiss Innovative Investors) and Mattia Passini (Italtrans Racing) completing the front row.
In Moto 3, Jorge Martin (Del Conca Gresini Moto3) grabbed the pole position ahead of Aaron Canet (Estrella Galica) and John McPhee (CIP – Green Power).
MotoGP™ Qualifying Results
1 – Marc Márquez (SPA) HONDA 2’03.658
2 – Maverick Viñales (SPA) YAMAHA + 0.406
3 – Andrea Iannone (ITA) SUZUKI + 0.551
First Independent Team Rider
4 – Johann Zarco (FRA) YAMAHA + 0.552 -
Marquez has company: the King of COTA overthrown on Friday by Iannone
Andrea Iannone on a charge. Photo: Team Suzuki Ecstar Austin (Texas, US), 21 April 2018: Andrea Iannone (Team Suzuki Ecstar) left his best till last at the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas as the ‘Maniac’ slammed in a 2:04.599 to depose the ‘King of COTA’ Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) from the top on Friday.
Marquez. Photo: Repsol Honda The gap between the two was just 0.056, and Marquez also suffered a crash on Friday – rider ok. Behind the number 93, the Movistar Yamaha duo of Maverick Viñales and Valentino Rossi completed the top four, within another couple of tenths as it tightened up at the top.
With weather looking set to change on Saturday in Austin, the end of FP2 saw a mad dash to get into the top ten and secure provisional entry to Q2 qualifying. In that rush, Iannone was the last to strike big – and win – but there was another big headline, too: Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) ending the day in P13 overall; heading for Q1 if the rain comes.
Behind the four men at the top, the timesheets remained tight and it was Championship leader Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) locking out the top five as he aims to hold onto that advantage heading back from the US.
Rossi. Photo: Movistar Yamaha MotoGP One of the men fighting him for the win last time out, Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar), was on his tail in P6 as the Spaniard got Texas off to a positive start – keeping compatriot Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team) just behind him by a mere three hundredths.
Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) was eighth, moving up late on in the day and securing a safe move through to Q2 if the skies changes on Saturday, with an impressive performance from Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) seeing the Spaniard take ninth, just under a tenth off the 2017 Championship runner-up.
Vinales. Photo: Movistar Yamaha MotoGP Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team), meanwhile, completed the top ten. The three-time World Champion found FP1 tough going as he rides just over a week after surgery on a broken wrist, but was back at it in FP2. Pedrosa also put in a representative amount of laps as he tested his fitness, as well as being able to take a stunning provisional place in Q2.
So, will the skies change over COTA? Will the King take back his throne on Saturday? Or will the competition get even closer as we count down to Round 3…
Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Ajo) topped the time sheets in both Free Practice sessions in Moto 2 as did Jorge Martin (Del Conca Gresini Moto3) in Moto 3.
Source: motogp.com
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Rivals Rossi and Marquez prefer to look ahead; Pedrosa declared fit to race in Austin
Valentino Rossi. Photo: Movistar Yamaha MotoGP Austin (Texas, US), 20 April 2018: Here for the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas, arch rivals Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) and Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) opted to look forward than back at the incident involving the two of them during the Argentina GP.
Nine times World Champion Rossi said: “The only thing to do now is to look to the future and think about this weekend. I think it’s important to get back on track, ride the motorcycle, to try to get the maximum and work with the team. I’m very happy to be here. Also because this track is very difficult, so you have a lot of work, it’s very long with a lot of corners – so we have to think about that. Do our work, and try the maximum.”
Then, when pressed on his comments at Termas de Rio Hondo, the ‘Doctor’ reaffirmed his opinion. “I watched the race. I think exactly what I said after the race in Argentina. But it’s better to look forward.” The door to talking through the issues with Marc Marquez, however, was left ajar. “Maybe it’s not yet time to talk, but maybe in the future.”
I learn from my mistakes: Marquez
It was a turbulent weekend in Argentina for reigning World Champion Marquez, and ahead of the Americas GP, the number 93, who was penalized thrice during the Argentina GP, said that it was a technical fault that saw him stall on the grid and that he focused on learning from the bad and taking the good from it.
Marc Marquez. Photo: Repsol Honda “The race weekend in Argentina and especially Sunday was very tricky for the conditions and a lot of things happened during the race weekend,” said the Repsol Honda rider. “But I’m a rider and a person who likes to improve and especially learn from everything. And I think from that race day everybody can learn a lot.”
It was a recurring theme for the number 93, who received three penalties during the race and was therefore eventually classified 18th. He also said he’s watched the race for precisely that reason – because it’s good to analyse the bad as well as the good.
“In Argentina, I did and said everything I believed in at the time, and I continue believing that. I’m a rider and a person who likes to improve and learn from, in this case, mistakes. A lot of things happened. I made mistakes, I was penalised and I went to apologise.
“We’re riders, we’re people and we all make mistakes. It’s a competition at the limit, and the track conditions were at the limit. So you learn from the bad and the good, and make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
Finally, when asked about the current climate and discussions centered on Argentina, Marquez says it’s best to concentrate on what’s happening on track. “I’m concentrating on myself, being at 100% on track – everything else, I try to keep some distance from.”
Pedrosa declared fit
Dani Pedrosa. Photo: Repsol Honda Meanwhile, Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team) has been passed fit to head out on his RC213V at the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas, just one week after having surgery on a broken radius he sustained in his Argentina GP crash.
The initial fears were that Pedrosa would have to sit out this weekend, a track that he’s done well at in the past. However, as was confirmed earlier this week, the three-time World Champion will attempt to ride – and thanked fans for their messages of encouragement.
Source: motogp.com
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Dovizioso begins 2018 campaign with a bang; Marquez 2nd ahead of Rossi
As night fell in Qatar, Marc Marquez climbed to the second step of the podium at the Losail International Circuit after fighting for victory all the way until the last corner. Andrea Dovizioso just edged Marc out at the chequered flag by a mere 0.027” but the reigning World Champion will fly back to Europe tomorrow knowing that he’s shown great pace and scored a brilliant result at a track that is notoriously tough for him and the Repsol Honda Team.
A group of seven riders, split by just over one second, fought for a podium position for almost the entire race. Dani Pedrosa was among that group, although a poor feeling with the rear tyre forced him to settle for seventh.
Marc Marquez
2ND
“What a race! I’m really happy with our second place finish because this is one of the tracks on the calendar where we struggle most. After the pre-season test we knew what we could expect. With the hard front tyre I was struggling a bit in the left corners but with the medium I wouldn’t have finished the race. I tried to pass Dovi in the last corner but he beat me. Honestly, I was expecting that, but I had to try the move anyway, to see if there was any way we could make it happen. In the end, Dovi had something more than me and he deserves this win. Even if he was a bit behind at the start, I was waiting for him–I was waiting for the red! I knew his tactic was to push at the end and when he passed Zarco I said to myself, ‘let’s go!’ I followed him and almost went wide, but it was a great race and a great show. The thing I’m most happy about is that, this time, we were able to stay with him on the straight and this is very good.”
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Movistar Yamaha’s Maverick Vinales fastest on Day 2: MotoGP first official test of 2018
Movistar Yamaha rider Maverick Vinales who was fastest on the second day in action at the first MotoGP test at Sepang on Monday. Photo by Srinivasa Krishnan Sepang, 29 Jan 2018: The Movistar Yamaha MotoGP Team were back on track today to continue work at the first official IRTA test of the 2018 season, held at the Sepang International Circuit. Maverick Viñales and Valentino Rossi again worked diligently to improve their 2018 YZR-M1s, and the results echoed the positive rider feedback. They finished the second day in first and second place respectively.
Similar to yesterday morning, the MotoGP riders waited for the track to dry before they ventured out just before 12 o‘clock local track time.
Viñales had a busy schedule again. His strategy remained the same as for Day 1: put in a lot of laps to work on tyre wear. He initially headed out on the same bike as yesterday to get a feel for the conditions, before he gave the new fairing a try. Throughout the second day of testing the Spaniard noticed an improvement in the consistency of his lap times. He put his YZR-M1 to the test during the final stages of the eight-hour session and posted a 1‘59.355s on lap 66/68 for top billing, with a 0.035s margin.
Trying to make up for lost time due to the overnight rain, Rossi also made strides in the afternoon. He only needed about half an hours‘ time to drop a 1‘59.766s, set on lap 12, to take over at the top of the timesheets. Back into the rhythm, he proceeded work on his bike‘s setting as well as the tyre wear. He spent a long time in second place on the provisional timesheets, until the pace quickened at the end of the day. The Doctor joined in on the action and briefly went top with a 1‘59.390s attempt on lap 38/39, before his teammate pushed him to second place.
Today‘s efforts see Viñales and Rossi also hold first and second place respectively in the combined day 1-2 standings, leaving them in a positive mindset to complete the testing schedule on Tuesday.
As many as twelve riders broke the two-minute barrier, with Cal Crutchlow, Jorge Lorenzo and Jack Miller completing the top five of the day.
After more than two months of waiting, Movistar Yamaha MotoGP’s Valentino Rossi and Viñales began the first of three 2018 pre-season Official IRTA tests on Sunday. The riders got the first feel for their 2018 bikes in both wet and dry conditions at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia. They finished in 6th and 13th place respectively on the first day’s session time sheets.
Sunday’s report
After a long winter wait, the Team were back on track on Sunday for the first Official Test. The first of the three-day pre-season days in Malaysia gave riders Valentino Rossi and Maverick Viñales a chance to get to know their new YZR-M1s and to start working on a number of test items.
The rain on Sunday morning had Rossi venture out on track, keen on working on the wet setting of his bike and confirming the findings the team made in the Valencia and Sepang tests they held back in November. Heading out with a new 2018 pre-season helmet, he ended the morning stint in 12th place.
As his afternoon session got underway, a dry track was waiting for the Italian, who took this opportunity with both hands. With three hours remaining, he put his 2018 bike to the test and set a provisional fastest time of 2’00.799s. As his teammate and various competitors started to pick up their pace towards the end of the session, the pack got reshuffled. Rossi responded by reclaiming first place on lap 44/50, and retired to the pit early. A flurry of activity in the last 15 minutes saw him end up in sixth position with a 2‘00.233s, 0.806s from first.
Viñales was also eager to get going aboard his YZR-M1 this morning, to do a race simulation and start working on the electronics and engine specifications together with his teammate. The Spaniard came prepared with a special Sepang Test helmet too, with a design inspired by the famous artist Salvador Dali, and held fourth place at the end of his morning runs.
The 23-year-old looked comfortable out on track in the afternoon and he continued to put in lap after lap. As the pace of the field started to pick up in the drier conditions, he temporarily took over top billing from Rossi, clocking an impressive 2‘00.758s. The competition got more and more heated towards the end of the day, but Viñales stuck to his testing schedule. He dropped a 2‘00.714s on lap 55/72, which ultimately earned him 13th place, 1.287s from the
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Andrea Dovizioso keeps calm and wins under intense pressure to keep MotoGP title race open
Sepang: It was a must win in many ways for Ducati Team’s Andrea Dovizioso as the paddock arrived at Sepang International Circuit, and the Italian kept calm under intense pressure to secure his sixth win of the season – and take the Championship fight down to the wire. Slicing through the rain to catch and pass teammate Jorge Lorenzo, Dovizioso was seven tenths clear of the Majorcan at the flag in a 1-2 for Ducati – and key rival Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) crossed the line in fourth. Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) completed the podium after a stunning start, wrapping up the title of top Independent Team rider.
It was Marquez who took an incredible initial holeshot from the third row, but the reigning Champion headed wide along with Lorenzo – allowing Zarco to slice through into the lead. Once there, the Frenchman lit it up to escape into the distance, and Lorenzo moved through to chase the Tech 3 rider down. Marquez slotted into third, with Dovizioso initially the man to lose out – but the Italian soon began to move through.
Zarco’s lead began to diminish, Dovizioso passed Marquez, and then both Ducatis were able to pass the Frenchman. It seemed Marquez would have the pace to take third from Zarco, but the reigning Champion couldn’t make up the ground. At the front, Lorenzo was holding firm as the two red machines streaked away – but the number 99 then suffered a moment at Turn 15 with a foot off the footpeg. ‘DesmoDovi’ saw his chance to strike, then facing down some nervous laps as the end of the race neared. Lorenzo brought it back to seven tenths over the line, with Zarco back on the rostrum in third.
Marquez was eight seconds further back in fourth, with polesitter and teammate Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team) completing the top five after a more promising showing in the wet for the former winner at the venue in similar conditions. Danilo Petrucci (Octo Pramac Racing) put in a superstar performance in the wet as he was forced to start from the back after a technical problem with his number one bike, and moved up to take sixth over the line – a gain of over 15 places.
Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) was close to his compatriot by the end of the race to take seventh and only four tenths back, ahead of a more lonely finish for EG 0,0 Marc VDS rider Jack Miller into P8. Maverick Viñales (Team Suzuki Ecstar) had a tough race for ninth, with Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory) giving KTM another consecutive top ten finish after another impressive race.
Alvaro Bautista (Pull&Bear Aspar Team) took P11, with the points scorers completed by Bradley Smith (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), Scott Redding (Octo Pramac Racing), Hector Barbera (Reale Avintia Racing) and Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda.)
It’s now truly everything or nothing for the two title challengers, and the Championship comes back to Europe for the final showdown at Valencia. Marquez leads by 21 points, so it’s a long shot for ‘DesmoDovi’…but never, ever say never.
MotoGP Race Results
1 – Andrea Dovizioso (ITA – Ducati) 44’51.497
2 – Jorge Lorenzo (SPA – Ducati) + 0.7431st Independent Team Rider:
3 – Johann Zarco (FRA – Yamaha) +9.738eom/MotoGP release
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Pedrosa takes impressive pole; Marquez 7th despite early crash
Repsol Honda’s Dani Pedrosa took a fantastic pole position for tomorrow’s Malaysian GP—his third this year, his 31st in MotoGP, and the 49th in his career.
After struggling in the wet on Friday, Dani was able to consistently improve his pace in today’s sunny and hot conditions, setting the third fastest lap time in FP3 and the fifth quickest in FP4 before besting Johann Zarco and Andrea Dovizioso by 0.017” and 0.024”, respectively, in the last minute of an incredibly hard-fought qualifying session.
After ending FP3 in ninth place, Championship leader Marc Marquez found a good pace in FP4, securing the top spot. He also once again demonstrated his unbelievable bike control, saving a front-end slide in turn one, although he was subsequently unlucky in qualifying, crashing at turn 15 during his first flying lap, on which he had been setting the fastest lap as he entered the third sector.
He immediately returned to the garage, mounted his second bike, and recorded what at the moment was the third fastest time. He improved again on his last run, but not enough, and had to settle for the seventh spot on the grid despite having the pace and speed to run at the front.
Tomorrow’s race will begin at 3 p.m. local time.
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Andrea Dovizioso, the MotoGP title challenger, tops timesheets in Sepang wet&dry
Dovi tops FP session in rain and shine on Friday. Photo by MotoGP Sepang: Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) was fastest in FP1 at the Shell Malaysia Motorcycle Grand Prix, heading to the top late in FP1 in the dry – and the Championship contender backed it up in a wet FP2 to again head the timesheets. Key rival Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team), who goes into the weekend 33 points clear of the Italian, was fifth in FP1 in the dry and therefore overall – and second to Dovizioso in the wet. The reigning Champion had a number of moments on Day 1, but didn’t suffer a crash.
Second overall after a last dash in FP1 was Alvaro Bautista (Pull&Bear Aspar Team), followed by Rookie of the Year Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3). Zarco suffered a crash in the afternoon, but the Frenchman was soon on his feet. Maverick Viñales (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) was fourth, ahead of Marquez.
Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) took sixth in the dry, ahead of an impressive first day for Karel Abraham (Pull&Bear Aspar Team) and Hector Barbera (Reale Avintia Racing). Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team) took ninth after an early problem that significantly dented track time for the Little Samurai, ahead of Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team) completing the top ten. Lorenzo was third in the wet in the afternoon, the same half second off Marquez as Marquez was off Dovizioso at the top.
Danilo Petrucci (Octo Pramac Racing) was eleventh ahead of compatriot Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP), with Andrea Iannone (Team Suzuki Ecstar), Jack Miller (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) and Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) locking out the fastest fifteen.
It was a notable first day for Michael van der Mark as he rode a MotoGP™ bike for the first time, putting the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 machine in P19 in both sessions. In the dry, the 2014 World Supersport Champion was only 2.8 seconds off Dovizioso at the top of the timesheets in FP1.
As direct entry to Q2 is decided in FP3, Valentino Rossi will be the big name praying for the skies to remain dry on Saturday morning – before qualifying begins from 14:10 local time (GMT +8).
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I need to fight and I will fight: Marc Marquez at Sepang press meet
Championship leader Marc Marquez at the Thursday press conference in Sepang. Photo by Srinivasa Krishnan for INDIAinF1.com Ahead of the Shell Malaysia Motorcycle Grand Prix, the pre-event Press Conference brought Championship leader Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team), rival Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team), Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3), Franco Morbidelli (EG 0,0 Marc VDS), Valentino Rossi and teammate Maverick Viñales (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) together to talk about the weekend ahead – with both the MotoGP™ and Moto2™ titles in play for the first time.
First to speak was Marquez, as he arrives 33 points ahead of Dovizioso and has his first shot at the title: “One of the main targets is try to finish, and try to be on the same level with the same mentality but obviously you feel a little bit different and it’s a special weekend. But on the other hand, I have the same motivation and mentality and I’ll try to push in the practices to the maximum to prepare the race, and we’ll see how we can fight and finish on Sunday. A lot of riders are fast here, and we did a lot of laps here during the preseason test so it will be a tough weekend. Here in the past I’ve had some ups and downs, it’s not one of my best tracks. We will see where we can arrive this weekend. But I have a good advantage, there are two races remaining, and we’ll try to be on a good level and think about the Championship. But if I need to fight, I will fight.”
Andrea Dovizioso similarly had some fighting talk, saying he’ll try everything to try and keep the title open: “After a bad result at Phillip Island, I went to Langkawi for three days, and I enjoyed the weather and the beach to be ready for this weekend. We know it’s difficult but the Championship is open and we’ll try everything. We have to be ready in all conditions. Last year it was an amazing victory and battle with Valentino and Iannone. I have good memories and I really enjoy riding this track. In the past in the dry we’ve never been very competitive, but I expect it will be different this year. We’ll try and get the best result, and then we’ll see what happens with Marc and the other riders. Before we approached the weekend looking to win the race, and we won’t change that.”
With a two-horse race for the crown now, the pressure is off for Viñales. And after a big step forward at Phillip Island, the rider from Roses is confident ahead of Sepang – and could complicate matters at the front. “I enjoyed Phillip Island a lot. I didn’t expect to be on the podium because I lost some seconds when I had contact with Iannone but I pushed to the limit. But we recovered the feeling, especially with the front tyre, and that’s important for Sepang. Let’s see what we can do this weekend but I’m convinced we can do another great job. This is a track I really like, I’ve always been fast with good results, and also it’s good for Yamaha. And I feel good in the tough conditions. We were struggling all year in the wet and then in 20 minutes we found the key! Here there should be some rain so it will be good to prove we’ve made that step.”
A lot of the riders talked about the Australian GP and the incredible battle, and that included Rossi. The most successful rider at the venue with six wins, the Italian says he very much likes the track – but it’s the hardest weekend of the year: “It was a great pleasure to fight in that race at Phillip Island, it was very fun. And it was an important result, especially for me after injury, and for the team. We arrive here in good shape but here it’s completely different. I like this track a lot, I was on a 250 when we rode here for the first time and it’s a great pleasure to ride on a MotoGP bike. But It’s like the bad weather has followed us everywhere all season! We’ll try to be competitive in all conditions. In the wet this year I’m not as strong as last year, but we hope to be strong. This is the most demanding race of the season because it’s very hot.”
Johann Zarco, meanwhile, thinks the Australian GP marked an important step forward – and knows he arrives back in Malaysia with a lot more experience compared to testing: “When I watched Phillip Island, seeing all those overtakes…I’m happy I was part of them, fighting at the top level – and I’m happy with the weekend we had, we had a good improvement that I hope we can have here too. If I can find the same feeling, I would like to be part of the fight for the podium or even for victory. I keep some hope of being back here on Sunday! Being fast at Phillip Island was a special emotion, but here is a bit different because we tested here. And I can feel the experience I’ve gained from February to October.”
After Marquez and Dovizioso held court to begin the Press Conference, Franco Morbidelli was the final contributor in the first round of questions. Not quite with the same advantage as Marquez, it is still 29 points – and gives him a high chance of taking the title this weekend. Calm and collected as always, the Italian says he’ll try and keep it business as usual: “I will try to face this weekend as I usually do. I know it’s going to be hard and it won’t be a usual GP but I’ll try to stay calm, do my job and set up the bike to be as fast as possible. I really like Sepang, especially with the new surfaces with less bumps. It’s really nice to ride around here. Hopefully it will be dry or completely wet, I prefer clear conditions. In Australia both KTMs were really fast, I tried to get more points and battle with Binder but couldn’t beat him at the end. But third was good for the Championship.”
The Championship, in both MotoGP™ and Moto2™, is sure to remain the talk of the weekend. Now track action begins on Friday morning, before everything is on the line on Sunday.
