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Post by truenorth on May 17, 2023 7:45:18 GMT -8
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Post by truenorth on May 17, 2023 7:49:44 GMT -8
Poncharal replies to Pecco: "That's bullsh*t" The President of the Teams’ Association (IRTA) calls out the reigning World Champion’s words on factory vs Independent Team bikes Speaking to French publication Paddock GP, IRTA President Herve Poncharal has responded to quotes from Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) suggesting there should be a “bigger gap” between factory and Independent Team bikes. “What I think about it is that, often on Sunday evening when I go home before going to bed, I have not lived enough MotoGP, so I read everything that is written on all the national and international websites, and I came across an Italian website where there was an interview with Pecco Bagnaia who was talking a little bit about his problem with Maverick Viñales,” said the vastly experienced Poncharal, who also heads up GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 in MotoGP™ and Red Bull KTM Tech3 in Moto3™. “And then I was reading like that and I was very surprised from the reigning World Champion, from someone who is respectable, I have a lot of respect and admiration for him, and he is always quite calm in his comments, to read an enormous thing, I could even say huge bullshit, because Pecco Bagnaia, like any rider, comes from Moto3, he went through Moto2, he arrived in MotoGP in an Independent Team that you can call private or satellite. “You can call it whatever you want, and he was happy to have a high performance bike that allowed him to be noticed. And then, as he progressed in the MotoGP class, he was offered a factory ride, which is kind of the dream ride that every talented rider wants to have. “And what was my surprise, when he benefited from this system, he could have powerful bikes in Independent structures, to read that it would be good that there are six or seven tenths per lap decided by the engineers of the manufacturers who are present on the MotoGP grid. “Therefore, the bikes of the private teams are deprived of six or seven tenths per lap. That's about the deficit he would like to see imposed on them so that they can have fun among the rich and powerful. He even noted the fantastic four who were Rossi, Stoner, Lorenzo and Pedrosa at the time when the factory bikes were much more powerful than the bikes of the Independent teams and that it was a beautiful situation. “And then, when we know the work we did to have a decent grid, we Independent teams, with Dorna, with the FIM, with the MSMA, we managed to convince the manufacturers that they had to equip us with high performance machines, that it was in their interest to promote young riders, to have a sporting policy worthy of the name, to have more feedback, what we call data feedback from more riders. “And in the end, we ended up with almost all the bikes that were on the track being factory bikes of the year, except for a few Ducatis that are one year old but are very good, but in any case at Honda, in the Pierer Mobility group, we have bikes that are 2023 specs, and I think that's a fabulous situation! “As you have noticed, the first four positions at the French Grand Prix were four Independent teams, and it is fabulous to see that the race for the title is wide open, that there is a point between Bezzecchi who is a young rider, who wins on a private team Ducati bike and who is one point behind Bagnaia on the official bike from the same factory. It's great for everyone, it's great for the sport, it's a great emulation and it allows us, the Independent teams, to convince our partners, that we can call sponsors too, to join us because we tell them that we're not just here to fill the grid but that we're also here to perform! We can win races and eventually go for the title.”"
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Post by truenorth on May 17, 2023 7:52:37 GMT -8
Ducati boss takes aim at Yamaha: "Martin likes to win" Paolo Ciabatti spoke about Martin’s future in Le Mans, with the Spaniard previously being linked with a move away from Ducati The 2024 MotoGP™ rider line-up rumour mill has been turning for some time now and at the SHARK Grand Prix de France Ducati Corse Sporting Director, Paolo Ciabatti, shed some light on the situation surrounding Prima Pramac Racing’s Jorge Martin. The Spaniard has a contract in place for 2024 to stay with Ducati, but there have been a few murmurings that Martin could potentially join a rival factory in 2024. Martin himself said he was “open to everything” when talking about his future at the beginning of the season. When asked about Martin’s future at the French GP, Ciabatti expressed his and Ducati’s desire to keep Martin as part of their Bologna factory family – as well as identifying the manufacturer Martin has been linked with. “Yeah sure, he has an option in the contract, we would like him to stay with Ducati,” said Ciabatti during MotoGP™ P2 to motogp.com pitlane reporter Jack Appleyard. “He's one of the fastest young riders, and at the moment it doesn't look like Yamaha has the bike to win the Championship. “I'm sorry to say, but this is what it looks like at the moment. We don't know about next year but at the moment he's on a winning bike and I think he'd like to stay because he likes to win.” Ciabatti is referring to Yamaha’s tricky start to 2023, with Fabio Quartararo and Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™ teammate Franco Morbidelli currently P9 and P13 in the World Championship respectively. Contrastingly, Martin sits P4 after his double Le Mans rostrum, one place ahead of teammate Johann Zarco and only 14 points off current leader Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), with another Ducati in the form of Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) in second after his French GP victory. Ciabatti also admitted that Bastianini’s Round 1 injury has delayed Ducati’s planning for 2024, while the Italian also reiterated they’d like to keep all four of their current GP23 riders. “Honestly, we didn't make any decision for the future. Unfortunately, Enea has been out for few races so obviously, we'd like to keep all the riders with us. You know that the Gresini and VR46 riders are currently contracted to the team. “So the contract with Pecco, Enea, Johann and Jorge. In principle we’re happy with all of them, it's a bit too early for us to say, regarding the problem with Enea and the crash, it’s obviously delaying everything.” It’s clear Ducati want to keep the #89, and understandably so. But will that be the case? It’s one to keep a keen eye on for sure as we get set for MotoGP™’s Italy, Germany, and Netherlands triple-header before the summer break then begins.
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Post by truenorth on May 17, 2023 7:59:41 GMT -8
Marc Marquez' phenomenal return in Le Mans We look back at how the eight-time World Champion's weekend unfolded, as Puig reveals the #93 is back to his pre-injury self At the 1000th Grand Prix, it was only fitting that we welcomed eight-time World Champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) back into the MotoGP™ fold. And what a return to competing it was. Here’s a recap of Marquez’s impressive first weekend on his RC213V since the opening round in Portugal. Friday: Two crashes, straight into Q2 Marquez described his Friday morning crash as “one I need to avoid”, while his P2 crash when pushing for a quick time was “acceptable”. Despite the two falls, the #93 gained automatic promotion to Q2, acting as the only Honda rider to do so. Saturday: Narrowly misses out on pole, P5 Tissot Sprint effort If it wasn’t for a brilliant late lap from reigning World Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), Marquez would have started from pole position for the second time this season. However, a P2 grid slot for the Sprint and GP race was mightily impressive. Then came the Tissot Sprint. After playing a little bit of cat and mouse in P2, Bagnaia vs Marquez lit up Saturday afternoon’s showstopper. “This is the way I like to race” was the headline after the two put on a hard-fought display, with Marquez eventually picking up a P5. Sunday: Late heartbreak in the podium fight The first half of Sunday’s Grand Prix race was as dramatic as it gets. Marquez managed to avoid any mishaps though and with Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) running away at the front, a magnificent podium battle unfolded between Marquez and Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) – with home hero Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) lurking not too far behind. In the end, Marquez’s weekend would end with a Turn 7 crash on the penultimate lap. However, there were no regrets for an upbeat Marquez, while Repsol Honda Team Manager Alberto Puig also sang the praises of his rider in his post-GP blog. “Marc did a fantastic race. Unfortunately, at the end of the race he was chasing a podium and knew that Zarco was just behind him and ready to push so Marc needed to keep fighting. The character of a Champion is to try and always take the maximum from any situation, which is exactly what Marc did. “I think Marc is now riding at the same level as before his injury three years ago. He rode superbly and did the best with what he had.” It’s this sentence here that will be music to the ears of many. The Marc Marquez of old is back, and Le Mans was just a taster of what’s to come for the rest of 2023.
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Post by truenorth on May 17, 2023 8:01:55 GMT -8
VR46 home heroes head to Italy as title frontrunners Grab your tickets for the Italian GP now as MotoGP™ heads for the magnificent Mugello with Bagnaia and Bezzecchi top of the Championship Next up on the 2023 MotoGP™ World Championship billing is a trip to the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley and the iconic Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello. And as we gear up for a trip to the Tuscan hills, two VR46 Academy Italians sit one point apart at the summit of the overall standings. There are many reasons why you should be getting yourself tickets to Mugello: the circuit, the atmosphere, the stunning mountains, and Tuscany's wonderful cities you can visit... but arguably most of all, to witness your favourite riders attack one of the racing world’s gems. In particular, Italy’s new stars. Nine-time World Champion Valentino Rossi may have retired, but his legacy is alive and kicking. His VR46 Academy efforts continue to bear fruit, while his Mooney VR46 Racing Team is also enjoying plenty of success in 2023. Reigning World Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) and Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) have two Grand Prix race wins apiece this season, and as they land on home turf, a solitary point splits them in the early stages of this compelling title race. Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) makes it three VR46-backed Italians in the top six of the Championship – and at their home GP, they’ll all be fighting at the front.
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Post by truenorth on May 17, 2023 8:03:09 GMT -8
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Post by truenorth on May 17, 2023 9:14:01 GMT -8
Francesco Bagnaia said that he now feels that MotoGP is too extreme because every rider can win, noting that a bigger gap between the factory and satellite bikes would be a good thing, using the example of a rookie finishing in fourth at Le Mans
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Post by truenorth on May 18, 2023 4:59:34 GMT -8
David Emmett: As part of the Neom city project in Saudi Arabia, where the Saudis want to build a circuit to host F1 and MotoGP, and where the Saudis want F1 teams to move their HQs to, the Saudi government have been forcibly evicting local tribespeople and executing those who resist.
DW News: The construction of the futuristic green Saudi city of Neom requires the resettlement of tribal people. Those who don't comply with the plans are sentenced to long prison terms or to death, a UN Human Rights report found.
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Post by truenorth on May 19, 2023 7:31:41 GMT -8
Mat Oxley: KTM had a revised seat wing, with a Gurney flap & the wing side attached, not top attached. Gurney flaps are supposed to increase downforce with only a minimal increase in drag.
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Post by truenorth on May 20, 2023 5:54:19 GMT -8
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Post by truenorth on May 20, 2023 6:33:23 GMT -8
LET IT FLOW: HOW KTM UPPED ITS GAME IN MOTOGP™ AERODYNAMICS 2023 MotoGP is already deep into the next chapter of motorcycle aerodynamics as the quest for peak downforce, stability and speed continues at pace. How is KTM keeping in the game? We asked aerodynamic team leader, Dan Marshall, at the race workshop in Munderfing. blog.ktm.com/let-it-flow-how-ktm-upped-its-game-in-motogp-aerodynamics/
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Post by truenorth on May 21, 2023 7:50:35 GMT -8
Pecco Bagnaia: When I returned from Le Mans, I kept feeling pain in my right ankle. I decided to undergo further medical check at the Misano medical centre, which found a partial talus bone fracture. This will not prevent my participation in the next Italian Grand Prix.
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Post by truenorth on May 23, 2023 5:28:02 GMT -8
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Post by truenorth on May 23, 2023 5:36:31 GMT -8
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Post by truenorth on May 23, 2023 5:39:48 GMT -8
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Post by truenorth on May 23, 2023 5:42:52 GMT -8
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Post by truenorth on May 23, 2023 10:57:40 GMT -8
Mat Oxley From Mooney VR46: "As result of a French GP crash Luca Marini underwent this week a further medical check with Prof. Luigi Tarallo, who found an injury on the right wrist trapezium bone. Tarallo will monitor the injury that will not prevent Luca taking part in the Italian GP."
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Post by truenorth on May 24, 2023 8:05:54 GMT -8
Mat Oxley Festival of Speed will have more #MotoGP than ever before this year, because for once they don't clash. Ducati & KTM already confirmed, more teams expected, so lots of MotoGP bikes on the hill. I'll be having a thrash on Kevin Schwantz's 1993 title-winning RGV500. Former MotoGP champions riding at the Festival of Speed will include Stoner, Spencer, Agostini, Lorenzo, Roberts Jnr, Schwantz, Doohan, Gardner & Crivillé. MotoGP teams confirmed are the factory Ducati team, LCR Honda, KTM and GASGAS. More to come, hopefully
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Post by truenorth on May 27, 2023 5:43:15 GMT -8
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Post by truenorth on May 28, 2023 7:45:51 GMT -8
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