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Post by truenorth on Feb 25, 2019 11:24:45 GMT -8
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Post by truenorth on Mar 4, 2019 8:36:01 GMT -8
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Post by truenorth on Mar 4, 2019 9:21:42 GMT -8
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Post by truenorth on Mar 5, 2019 10:11:45 GMT -8
Jack Miller feels used by Ducati "as an intermediate step between the test pilot" and Andrea Dovizioso, from the factory team.
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Post by truenorth on Mar 5, 2019 10:34:56 GMT -8
Dunlop ready for challenge of the new Moto2
This is the 10th season of Moto2™ and Dunlop has been the Official Tyre Partner since its inception, being chosen after becoming the most successful tyre in the open-competition 250GP class that preceded it.
“We have also been evaluating a new larger rear tyre, which will see footprint increase of over 15% from the existing tyre and an optimised pressure distribution to complement the new bikes demands. We plan to introduce the new tyre later in the season, giving the teams the chance to familiarise themselves with the new engines and electronics before bringing a new tyre into the mix.”
Pre-season testing - nearly a second a lap faster
The pre-season test in Jerez showed how the Moto2 pace is hotting up. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) just pipped Sam Lowes (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) by 0.007s, both riders over 0.9s faster than the 2018 pole position time. The competitiveness of the pack was proven by the top 20 being less than a second from Binder’s record lap.
In the lightweight Moto3TM category, testing has shown that the trademark close racing and slipstreaming battles are set to continue, with the top 11 riders at the Jerez test also being covered by less than a second.
2019 Qatar Moto2 & Moto3 Test Press Releases
LOWES ON TOP FORM AHEAD OF QATAR SEASON OPENER
After being the absolute protagonist in the last two winter tests of the preseason and setting the quickest lap-time (1’58.439secs) in the three-day outing at Losail, Sam Lowes is finally ready to tackle the opening round of the 2019 Moto2 World Championship – which takes place in Qatar this weekend.
The standard bearer of Team Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 displayed an exciting amount of speed throughout the three days of practice while working on many areas of the Triumph-powered machine he is still trying to get to know better. After not having the best time on day one due to very windy conditions, the Briton was able to work hard in the remaining days and consistently stayed on top of the timesheets.
On the final day, Lowes also had the time to complete a race simulation, which is currently being analysed by the team ahead of the season debut, in order to come up with the perfect plan for the Qatari event. The Losail International Circuit is one of Lowes’s favourite venues, as the former World Champion was on pole in 2015 and then lined up on the front row in the following edition with the Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 team in 2016.
The preseason draws to a close on a very high note and now the team is excited to get things started, while knowing that from Friday onwards it will be game time; proceedings will get underway this Friday at 14:45 local Qatari time (GMT +3) with the first free practice session of the intermediate class.
SAM LOWES #22
“We come from a very positive test in which we worked very hard, so I must thank the whole team first and foremost. We also managed to complete a race simulation on the last day: we decided to do it during the day, when conditions are normally worse than at night time as we wanted to test the bike limits – and I believe we succeeded. Generally speaking, we had a great winter and we found a good base to work on at every GP, so I cannot be but happy and positive ahead of the first race of the year. The goal is to stay at the front and battle for the win.”
SNIPERS ATTACK
After a long break, the Snipers team is coming back with the first press release of the year 2019 and we are pleased to do that from the top of the official Irta test classification. The duo of the team has literally dominated the Qatar test by getting, in the third day, also the track record. To be exact, both riders broke down the best time signed last year (2:05.285 for Romano Fenati, followed by Tony Arbolino with the time of 2:05.515) . That's a good sign for the start of the championship and this represents already a small victory for the team that, after the season 2018, is now deeply renewed.
We thanks Marinelli Cucine for its past support and, in particular, a memory goes always to Andrea Marinelli who contributed, in an inestimable way, to our current determination.
We thank Rivacold Mastering Cold, Alceste, Alessandro and Roberta Vitri, for having believed in us once again and all the new companies that decided to support us and that we'll introduce in the next press releases and on the social networks. We finally thank REBOOT 55 for having routed us on the right way.
Romano Fenati: "They have been three positive days where we worked really well. We were fast from the first day but it hasn't been easy as even the other riders were fast. The race is another story but we try to go on in this direction and to do our best".
Tony Arbolino: "It was a positive test, we were strong and, from my side, we did a good step ahead. We are competitive and I feel good for this start of the season. In the past year, in Qatar, I wasn't feeling comfortable compared to other tracks but, this time, we were really fast. We still can improve a little bit more but everything is ready and I am looking forward to start the race weekend".
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Post by truenorth on Mar 6, 2019 7:22:21 GMT -8
Rossi: “Losail? Yamaha and I will be ready”: The Doctor puts his rivals on alert. Vinales: "The M1 has taken a step forward with respect to 2018, I am in a strong position coming into Qatar."
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Post by truenorth on Mar 6, 2019 7:27:55 GMT -8
Jorge Lorenzo is weighed down by his injury scaphoid: "I'm still not at the maximum with the bike" During the GP, see what the Balearic can do on the sling.
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Post by truenorth on Mar 6, 2019 7:34:17 GMT -8
Iannone: "A losail will not be a walk, but I trust": Trident assault for Aprilia at the first season in Qatar, in addition to The Maniac and Aleix Espargarò, on The track also Bradley Smith
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Post by truenorth on Mar 6, 2019 7:59:43 GMT -8
Marc Márquez: "Qatar is always a special event" that trembles the competition. Marc Marquez93 is almost 100% physically and recognizes that Honda has greatly improved the bike...
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Post by truenorth on Mar 6, 2019 8:05:28 GMT -8
Poncharal sets modest first-round targets 06.03.2019 Red Bull KTM Tech3 team boss Herve Poncharal has set riders Miguel Oliveira and Hafizh Syahrin modest targets for the opening MotoGP round of the season. The paddock veteran wants his two men - one of whom is a rookie - just to narrow the gap to the works riders over the course of the weekend in what will be his team’s first race under a new manufacturer and title sponsor. “A new season beginning is always something very exciting, but clearly for the Red Bull KTM Tech3 team this year is even more thrilling than the previous because we are opening a new chapter, we will commence a new adventure, we have a new motorcycle manufacturer working with us with KTM, a new title sponsor with Red Bull and a new oil partner with Elf, so it seems we are almost starting from scratch,” said Poncharal. “Of course, we were working really hard during off-season in Spain, Malaysia and Qatar, but we are also very eager and impatient to see what is going happen in first race. Clearly, we are not in a position at moment where we can challenge the top, but the mission this season is to reduce the gap to the fastest riders. “I believe with Miguel Oliveira, we have an incredible rider with a huge potential and the strong desire to be part of this project and making it moving forward. Hafizh is in same spirit, he still has to forget a little bit about what he was doing on last year’s machine. “I think they get on very well together and they understand the importance of MotoGP for KTM, plus they can witness the level of commitment from the engineers in Austria, they can feel they are factory riders with a racing department behind them with evolution coming almost every test and this is what makes this new season very entertaining. “Our target is to be as close as possible to the full factory KTM MotoGP riders and of course all together to race the le
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Post by truenorth on Mar 6, 2019 8:08:35 GMT -8
Teen sensation Oncu set for debut season 06.03.2019 BSN Red Bull KTM’s teen sensation Can Oncu is set for his debut Moto3 season at this weekend’s Qatar MotoGP opener. The 15-year-old Turkish rider set the world alight when he took victory in a rain-lashed 2018 Valencia race and big things are expected of him when he lines up in the desert on Sunday. “I’m very excited about the first race of the season. After all the training we have done during the winter, we are ready for action,” said Oncu. “I know it’s my first full season, I’m a rookie, and I still have a lot to learn. We will have to work hard, especially in the opening races, but I am feeling better on my KTM all the time. Competing as a wildcard for Red Bull KTM Ajo at the Valencia GP, Oncu broke records by becoming the youngest ever winner of a World Championship race, and also the first Turkish rider to claim a victory in the class.
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Post by truenorth on Mar 6, 2019 8:16:51 GMT -8
KTM boss ‘optimistic at difficult track’ 06.03.2019 BSN Red Bull KTM chief Mike Leitner is optimistic about his team’s chances at this weekend’s Qatar MotoGP opener even though it has been a difficult track in the past. Leitner has Johann Zarco and Pol Espargaro in his garage on the RC16 V4 machinery but says he has to be realistic about their chances in only the third year in the big class. “The target is to reach the top positions as much as possible but we have to be realistic and this is just the third year for us. We are still fighting against manufacturers with many more years in this business,” said Leitner. “We are pushing to improve our package on many different aspects and this will of course take some time but racing is racing and we will always look for good results. “Doha has been a difficult track for us. We started our project here two years ago and that’s why we are really happy to see the test lap-times closer than they have ever been to the fastest. “I think for the race we can be optimistic and find the good set-up in the four sessions. The challenge there is that the track conditions can change day-to-day. We just have to be open and adapt to what we find.” Espargaro boasts a best result of seventh at the Qatari circuit in five years of MotoGP competition while Zarco has an eighth but 2019 will be just his third term in the premier class.
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Post by truenorth on Mar 6, 2019 8:36:21 GMT -8
Michelin expecting lap records to fall 06.03.2019 BSN MotoGP spec-tyre supplier Michelin will take a new soft rear slick to the Qatar MotoGP opener with the expectation of ‘pushing the performance on again this year’. Changes to the compounds for 2019 will see a new front hard compound as well as the new rear soft. The rear is one of the new-technology tyres that Michelin has added to the range and it´s designed to give greater consistency and improved grip. “We have had a very successful off-season, as we introduced some new slick compounds that we had been developing and the riders were very pleased with the performance, so these have been added to the range for 2019, said Piero Tiramisu, Michelin Motorsport two-wheel manager. “These are aimed more at European tracks, but we have added them to the allocation at Losail as we believe they are ideal for what that track has to offer. We are looking forward to the new season, there are new riders, bikes, and teams that have changed manufacturers, so there is a huge amount for all of our technicians to work on. We are up for the challenge and everyone is ready to get back into the racing environment. “Losail has been a good track for Michelin since we returned, even though it is a very unique circuit with particular demands, so we are determined to push the performance on again this year, as we plan to do at every track we visit.” All 11 MotoGP teams will have a weekend allocation of soft (white band), medium (no band) and hard (yellow band) for the front and rear. The front tyre will have a symmetric design. However, Qatar’s Turn 2 is a key corner on the circuit with many top riders losing the front end on the brakes over the years. Most notably and recently being Frenchman Johann Zarco (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) crashing out of the lead of his debut race at the tricky left-hander. The rear tyre will have an asymmetric finish with the right-hand-side being harder than the left to offer optimum performance through the circuit’s 10 right-hand and six left-hand corners.
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Post by truenorth on Mar 6, 2019 9:16:30 GMT -8
Mar 6, 2019 Maverick Vinales: "We Have Taken A Step Forward Compared To Last Season" Monster Energy Yamaha MONSTER ENERGY YAMAHA MOTOGP COMMENCE 2019 CAMPAIGN IN QATAR Losail (Qatar), 6th March 2019 Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP's Valentino Rossi and Maverick Viñales are in great physical form and eager to kick off the 2019 MotoGP season, starting with the VisitQatar Grand Prix. The Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team is traveling to Qatar for the first MotoGP Grand Prix of 2019, held this weekend under the floodlights of the Losail International Circuit. Riders Valentino Rossi and Maverick Viñales return to the 5.4 km track - where they completed the final preseason test two weeks earlier - feeling ready to bring the heat to another highly anticipated MotoGP season. Rossi is looking forward to riding at Losail, which is historically a good circuit for him. The Italian is a known fan-favourite and he plans on making the spectators cheer this weekend. At the conclusion of the Qatar Test he was feeling very comfortable aboard his YZR-M1. He is confident his – and his crews' – hard work this winter will pay off, as he aims to further improve his already great results in Qatar of four wins (in 2005, 2006, 2010, and 2015), four second places (in 2007, 2009, 2013, and 2014), and two third places (in 2017 and 2018). Viñales doesn't need any time to adapt to the saddle after months of testing, he is already 100% into the racing mindset. Last year he fought his way to sixth place in Doha. This time he returns with full motivation and is looking forward to battling as one of the top contenders and return to the Losail podium. He previously secured a win in the premier class in Qatar in 2017 (his very first race with Yamaha). He also scored a first and second place there in the Moto3 class, in 2012 and 2013 respectively. Built on the outskirts of Doha, the Losail International Circuit was added to the MotoGP calendar in 2004 and became the first and only circuit in MotoGP to host a night-time Grand Prix four years later. The track's flowing midsection suits the Yamaha, thanks to its mix of medium and high-speed corners (six left and ten right turns). It forms a strong contrast to the iconic, over a kilometre long, main straight that ends in a steep first corner, where fans can expect to see many classic Qatar overtakes. MASSIMO MEREGALLI TEAM DIRECTOR "After months of testing, we're finally about to commence the 2019 season. The first race is always very interesting, because it gives us a more detailed impression of where we stand. The Sepang and Qatar tests have been very positive for us, so we're curious and excited to start racing. Vale and Maverick are in great physical shape. Their feedback has been very helpful over these last few months and we're happy both riders feel comfortable with the package we've prepared for them. Our findings have showed us that we're on the right track, but now it's time to really put it to the test and see where we can make further steps, as there is always room for improvement. We look forward to a thrilling race and will give our all to make a strong start to the season." VALENTINO ROSSI "Finally, the first GP of the season is about to start! The preseason tests were very important. Both in Sepang and in Qatar we've taken steps forward and we can say that we've done positive tests. We still have to improve a lot, but the road we're on is the right one. This Friday we'll begin the first 2019 race weekend and we'll be able to understand many things better. We'll have time to improve the bike during the free practice sessions and we'll do everything to get ready for the race. I feel good, I have trained well this winter, and I'm ready to start this new season with my team and all the Yamaha staff. We will do our best!" MAVERICK VIÑALES "I‘m so excited to come to Qatar and start the new season. I can‘t wait! The conclusion of the winter tests was very positive. I felt I was going very fast on the three days of testing here in Qatar, so I come to the first race with a positive mindset. We have a good rhythm. The first round in Losail is going to be very important to see if all the work that was done during the winter has served us well. Our bike has many strong points at this moment. I felt very good riding the bike during all the winter, I pushed my M1 to the limit. We have taken a step forward compared to last season, I think I'm riding my M1 in a very good way again. There's still a lot of work to do, but I feel strong enough to fight for the podium at this circuit this weekend. Above all, I feel very excited to start a new season with Yamaha. We just need to keep working and focus on improving the bike as much as possible to fight for the podium and, of course, for the victory. I can‘t forget that I won my first GP with Yamaha here, so I have very special memories of this circuit and that gives me extra motivation."
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Post by truenorth on Mar 6, 2019 10:17:49 GMT -8
Rins: "Losail? For Suzuki the time has come to win ": The Spaniard comes out in the open and does not use too many rounds of words, Mir: "I want to reduce as soon as possible the detachment from the fastest "
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Post by truenorth on Mar 7, 2019 7:43:12 GMT -8
Finally also Cal Crutchlow has his carbon fibre swingarm.
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Post by truenorth on Mar 7, 2019 8:12:35 GMT -8
Bagnaia: "The beauty of MotoGP? Park near the paddock ": Pecco jokes on the debut in the Premier class:" In MotoGP you must always be at the limit, while in Moto2 you can also save yourself "
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Post by truenorth on Mar 7, 2019 8:17:12 GMT -8
Petrucci: "I'm a new rider thanks to Dovizioso": Danilo is ready to start the season: "I've changed my diet, training and mentality and feel more confident, I've been dealt the right cards"
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Post by truenorth on Mar 7, 2019 8:18:49 GMT -8
Morbidelli: "My Yamaha like Rossi's? More or less ": cryptic Frank on his M1:" Ask the engineers. In the tests, I made my mouth good. Expectations for this season are high "
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Post by truenorth on Mar 7, 2019 8:20:49 GMT -8
Jack Miller's GP19 aero, homologated, so he will be allowed one update during the season.
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