MotoGP Rnd 9 Monster Energy British GP 03 AUG - 05 AUG

Change MotoGP’s tech rules? 'You may end up with the opposite of what you’re trying to achieve'
JULY 12TH 2023
Many fans think MotoGP’s technical rules need changing, so Mat Oxley sat down with Dorna management to discuss lack of overtaking, downforce aero, ride-height devices, concessions, safety and much more


www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/motorcycles/motogp/change-motogps-tech-rules-you-may-end-up-with-the-opposite-of-what-youre-trying-to-achieve/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=Zoho+Social

MotoGP has prettymuch gone full on F1 with lots of talk about rights and rules and no more talk of racing.

MotoGP schedule change: “We are full attack from P1” - Marc Marquez


After talk that Ducati would block a change to the Friday MotoGP format until the start of next season, it has now been officially confirmed that opening practice will no longer count towards direct Q2 access.

www.crash.net/motogp/news/1031498/1/motogp-schedule-change-we-are-full-attack-p1-marc-marquez

Honda’s downbeat prediction for the rest of the MotoGP season


www.crash.net/motogp/news/1031875/1/honda-s-downbeat-prediction-rest-motogp-season?fbclid=IwAR3ZTAFFkMWjCUIunixQ8A7GryPE6wbWdoV7OQScSZWXlKvDsnBbjahO_Uc

Cal Crutchlow will make a wildcard appearance at the Japanese Grand Prix using this special Yamalube RS4GP Yamaha livery.

Tyre Pressure Monitoring System to be implemented from Silverstone
The system has been confirmed to come into force at the British GP – meaning potential penalties for the MotoGP™ class

The MotoGP™ Tyre Pressure Monitoring System is ready to be implemented! Following a request from the MotoGP™ Technical Director, the FIM MotoGP™ Stewards have confirmed that the system will now be enforced for both the Tissot Sprint and the MotoGP™ Grand Prix race, starting from the Monster Energy British Grand Prix.

Technical infringements normally result in disqualification from the session or race, but as the system is new to the MotoGP™ Class and it’s being brought in mid-season, the Stewards have agreed a gradual penalty scale. To make sure the penalties apply to the actual Sprint or Grand Prix race where the tyre pressure doesn’t comply, they will be time penalties given out after the race.

Here’s the scale:

· 1st offense: Warning
· 2nd offense: 3-second time penalty
· 3rd offense: 6-second time penalty
· 4th offense: 12-second time penalty

Once teams have become familiar with the system, the target is to apply the standard penalty for Technical Infringements: disqualification. But not yet! From Silverstone and until further notice, the scale above will be used.

Want to know more? Here are some FAQs:
What is the Tyre Pressure Monitoring System?

It’s a new tyre pressure monitoring system designed to ensure that all MotoGP™ machines comply with the pressures established by MotoGP™ Official Tyre Supplier, Michelin. Tyre pressure is a very sensitive value and readings fluctuate a lot during a race, and even at different points of the circuit. In addition, in this first phase of the system being used, the sensors have to be checked before and after the race to make sure they are tuned correctly. Previously, teams were using their own sensors from different suppliers to check tyre pressures. Now there is one unified system for the whole MotoGP™ grid.

The system agreed with the manufacturers is that the tyres have to be above a specific pressure during a minimum percentage of the laps in a Sprint or race. The minimum pressure varies from front to rear tyre, and may change from some circuits to others.

How has it been tested?

Throughout 2022, all premier class manufacturers agreed to freely share complete tyre data after each event in order to develop this unified system. Then the system was tested throughout the first part of 2023 to validate it and make sure it’s reliable.

Why now?

As agreed with the MSMA – the manufacturers association – the unified system was not to be introduced before Jerez 2023 at the earliest. Testing continued throughout the Spanish and French GPs, as well as during the triple header as MotoGP™ raced at Mugello, the Sachsenring and Assen. The system is now ready to be enforced, so that will begin at the British GP.

Is it just for MotoGP™?

Yes, this new Tyre Pressure Monitoring System and its enforcement only applies for the MotoGP™ class.

However, there is a minimum tyre pressure in the Moto2™ and Moto3™ classes as well, and in the FIM Enel MotoE™ World Championship.

Does it apply in every session?

Not in this first phase of it being introduced. When it’s implemented from the British GP, it will apply only to the Tissot Sprint and the MotoGP™ Grand Prix race.

Who will strike first as MotoGP™ returns at Silverstone?


Fast. Flowing. Fierce. Hold on to your hats as the second half of the season kicks off with the British GP

GP PREVIEW
Silverstone. One of the longest venues on the calendar, one of the fastest, and one that's created some true modern classics. This year, we also move back to the international paddock in the shadow of the glorious Silverstone Wing, adding an extra dash of adrenaline and new challenge to the mix. All in all, it's a perfect place to get back on track after summer break, with everything to race for as the second half of the season gears up to deliver more of the world's most exciting motorsport. And on the way in? There's plenty to talk about!

Picking up where they left off?
The first part of the Championship has seen some ups and downs for reigning Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), but in the last few race weekends the kinks have really been ironed out: two GP wins, a Tissot Sprint win and not off the podium when he didn't take victory, it's some form Pecco found before the summer break... so can he keep that rolling as we get back underway? He won here last year, so the omens are good for the #1.

Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) is another who put together a serious charge heading into summer, slightly further back in Assen but still taking some big points and hanging on to that second overall. He's just a single point ahead of Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) though as the number 72 got right back in the fight at the front last time out.

Interestingly though, Bagnaia extended that gap thanks to that glorious win at Assen, but since Le Mans he’s not actually the high scorer after taking 107 points from the French GP to the Dutch GP. Martin has banked 111 – gains he’d need to accelerate to overtake the reigning Champion, but a formidable charge as he, Bagnaia and Bezzecchi have shared all the top steps since Jerez.

Recharged & reloaded
Since Jerez means Brad Binder's (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team) stunning Sprint win at the Spanish GP, and the South African is the first in the standings looking to hit back as we get back in business. He has a score to settle after missing out on those podiums after track limits infringements in Assen too, so can he get back on the rostrum?

That painful take two on Sunday at the Dutch TT, meanwhile, saw Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) move up and take to the podium for the first time this season. And it clearly meant a lot. It's been a harder start to the season than many expected for both Espargaro and Aprilia, but if there's a venue with good memories to head back to after that uptick, it's Silverstone: the venue that staged the Noale factory's first podium in the MotoGP™ era in 2021. Yes, only in 2021!

Targets acquired
That's also true of Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing), with Assen falling flat but Silverstone another venue the number 12 has previously taken by the horns. He took his first win there in 2016, and last year he almost made MotoGP™ history by winning with a third different bike as his Aprilia crossed the line just half a second off Bagnaia. That remains on the table as history to be made, and Top Gun will want to shoot from the hip after a tough start to 2023.

Assen was a downturn in momentum for a few, including the other rider in the running for that win with a third machine: Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing). He took no points in Assen and neither did Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing), who arrived at the Dutch TT on a roll of three MotoGP™ podiums in a row for the first time ever. Can they bounce back and find some more luck?

More to come?
It wasn't a bad weekend for the likes of Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) and Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) at Assen, but it wasn't the heights they've already raced at earlier in the season. Marini's consistency is paying off as he sits 11 points off Zarco, however, whereas AM73 will want to bank some more as he sits 10th despite also already taking a podium.

Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™), meanwhile, had a Dutch TT of two halves. Saturday was a stunner as he took his first Sprint podium, setting up some expectation for Sunday, but the GP race saw him crash out with Zarco and head into summer break apologising to his compatriot and with a broken toe to heal. He should be back up to full power at Silverstone and will want, as ever, to qualify well to try and replicate and extend that Saturday prowess from Assen. He won here in 2021 too... can he and Yamaha find a step forward?

Quartararo's teammate Franco Morbidelli is also looking for more, and in his case from the middle of a "silly season" maelstrom as rumours abound regarding who's going where in 2024. That's also the case for Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), with both looking to start the second half of the season on a high.

Reset & rebuild
One of the headline quotes to come out of MotoGP™'s visit to Goodwood, meanwhile, was Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) confirming he expects to be at 100% from Silverstone. And he'll be expecting to challenge at the front. There's been a little more time for Miguel Oliveira (CryptoData RNF MotoGP™ Team) to recover some strength too, and teammate Raul Fernandez. As ever, however, the spotlight will be squarely back on Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team).

The number 93 is expected back on track, and after a glorious start to 2023 with pole and a Sprint podium gave way to more injury struggles, the next story was then all about the bike. So can Honda make their way back to the truly impressive form we've seen over much of the past two decades? And the biggest question doing the rounds, with rumours ranging from the plausible to the fantastical: will Marquez be along for that ride? Before we likely get any real answers, Silverstone awaits, and it's a venue MM93 has reigned.

We also expect the return of Repsol Honda teammate Joan Mir after he was sidelined through injury, and the return of their two World Champions will surely be a boost for the team and factory. We won't see Alex Rins (LCR Honda Castrol) back just yet though, with Iker Lecuona on duty from Most WorldSBK to Silverstone to replace his compatriot. Finally at Honda though, Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) keeps quietly bagging those points and retains that one singular DNF in a GP race this year, which is no mean feat in itself. Can that continue as we head into the second part of the season?

Another rider back on track will be Pol Espargaro (GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3). After a first taste up The Hill at Goodwood, the Spaniard will be fully reunited with his whole team this time round as he takes his place back in the GASGAS garage to go racing again. It's been a long few months of recovery, but he'll be beaming to rejoin rookie teammate Augusto Fernandez. And Fernandez has been busy in the interim, taking a best GP finish of fourth so far and taking consistent points as one of only two riders, along with Morbidelli, to score in every Grand Prix race so far. He also loves Silverstone, so could prove a dark horse.

Bagnaia just extended that gap thanks to that glorious win at Assen, but Martin and Bezzecchi remain close enough for everything to change in a weekend. Check out the times for the racing action below to see how chapter nine unfolds at the fierce and fabulous Silverstone circuit, and see if we make a little history with a ninth different winner in nine races at the track!

SHOWTIME: CHANGES AT THE BRITISH GP
The Monster Energy British Grand Prix sees the introduction of the new entry system for Q2. The first session for MotoGP™ is now FREE Practice 1 and doesn't count towards Q2, with only the re-named Friday afternoon session, called Practice, deciding who goes through.

Yamaha sign Rins for 2024 MotoGP™ season
The Japanese factory have confirmed the Spaniard will line up alongside Quartararo next year

Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. is pleased to announce the signing of Alex Rins. He will be joining Yamaha’s factory team rider line-up for the 2024 MotoGP™ season alongside Fabio Quartararo.

- YAMAHA AND MORBIDELLI TO END PARTNERSHIP AFTER 2023 SEASON

The vastly experienced Spaniard has many premier-class and lower-class race victories (6x MotoGP™, 4x Moto2™, 8x Moto3™, 18 in total) and podiums (18x MotoGP™, 17x Moto2™, 23x Moto3™, 58 in total) to his name. His vast experience and undeniable talent make him a fully qualified and welcome addition to the Yamaha rider line-up.

Following Rins’ leg injury sustained in the 2023 Italian GP Sprint, MotoGP™ fans the world over eagerly anticipate his return to action. He underwent two surgeries and is working hard on making a full recovery.

Lin Jarvis, Managing Director, Yamaha Motor Racing: “We are delighted that Alex is joining the Yamaha line-up, and we warmly welcome him to the Yamaha MotoGP group.

“We expect Alex to be a great asset. He has vast experience as a MotoGP rider and is known to be a natural talent and a multi-time MotoGP class race winner. He already has experience with two other MotoGP manufacturers and has ridden bikes with similar characteristics to the YZR-M1, which should help him adapt quickly to our bike. His win in COTA earlier this year underlines his speed, hunger, and determination to succeed.

“Alex has been away from the MotoGP paddock for a while due to the injury he sustained at Mugello, but we are confident that he should be fully recovered and up to speed for the 2024 season. We are really looking forward to working with him and believe that he will collaborate well with Fabio and enhance the total performance of the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team.”

Yamaha and Morbidelli partnership to end after 2023 season
The Iwata factory have confirmed that the Italian will leave at the end of the current campaign


Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. announces that its partnership with Franco Morbidelli will be discontinued at the end of 2023 when Morbidelli will move on to new racing challenges.

Since Morbidelli joined Yamaha in 2019, the Italian achieved six podiums: three victories, one second, and two third places. He also claimed two pole positions and was MotoGP™ runner-up in 2020. After a short break due to a knee injury during the 2021 season, ‘Morbido’ made a comeback at the San Marino GP as part of the Yamaha Factory Racing Team. In total he's contested 74 GPs as a Yamaha rider so far.

Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd., Yamaha Motor Racing, and the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™ Team are extremely grateful for Morbidelli’s contributions, never-diminishing motivation, and his positive mindset. They look forward to sharing more memorable moments during the remaining 12 MotoGP™ rounds of 2023.

Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. wishes Morbidelli the very best in his future racing endeavours and reconfirms Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™ Team’s full support for him for the remainder of the season to end their partnership on a high note.

Lin Jarvis, Managing Director, Yamaha Motor Racing: “First and foremost, I want to thank Franky for his hard work and dedication ever since he started with the Factory Team and also long before that when he was a Satellite rider for Yamaha. The Yamaha and Morbidelli partnership led to some great results, including an outstanding vice-champion title in 2020.

“It’s a shame that the last two years didn‘t play out the way we both wanted and hoped for. We discussed the possibilities to continue our partnership, but ultimately we decided that 2024 would be a moment to make a change, both for Yamaha and for Franky.

“The team will proceed to fully support Franky in every way we can to close out our time spent together in the best possible way.”

MotoGP FP1
72 Marco BEZZECCHI ITA Mooney VR46 Racing Team DUCATI 2'00.295 16 16 332.3
2 10 Luca MARINI ITA Mooney VR46 Racing Team DUCATI 2'00.331 16 17 0.036 0.036 335.4
3 89 Jorge MARTIN SPA Prima Pramac Racing DUCATI 2'00.370 16 16 0.075 0.039 331.2
4 5 Johann ZARCO FRA Prima Pramac Racing DUCATI 2'00.467 15 17 0.172 0.097 332.3
5 43 Jack MILLER AUS Red Bull KTM Factory Racing KTM 2'00.665 16 16 0.370 0.198 330.2
6 41 Aleix ESPARGARO SPA Aprilia Racing APRILIA 2'00.677 14 15 0.382 0.012 328.2
7 21 Franco MORBIDELLI ITA Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP YAMAHA 2'00.856 12 14 0.561 0.179 329.2
8 25 Raul FERNANDEZ SPA CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP Team APRILIA 2'00.936 16 16 0.641 0.080 326.2
9 12 Maverick VIÑALES SPA Aprilia Racing APRILIA 2'01.098 16 18 0.803 0.162 331.2
10 20 Fabio QUARTARARO FRA Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP YAMAHA 2'01.241 17 17 0.946 0.143 326.2
11 73 Alex MARQUEZ SPA Gresini Racing MotoGP DUCATI 2'01.259 15 16 0.964 0.018 328.2
12 23 Enea BASTIANINI ITA Ducati Lenovo Team DUCATI 2'01.417 17 17 1.122 0.158 332.3
13 33 Brad BINDER RSA Red Bull KTM Factory Racing KTM 2'01.451 8 19 1.156 0.034 329.2
14 1 Francesco BAGNAIA ITA Ducati Lenovo Team DUCATI 2'01.520 14 15 1.225 0.069 330.2
15 93 Marc MARQUEZ SPA Repsol Honda Team HONDA 2'01.586 16 16 1.291 0.066 328.2
16 49 Fabio DI GIANNANTONIO ITA Gresini Racing MotoGP DUCATI 2'01.914 15 17 1.619 0.328 329.2
17 88 Miguel OLIVEIRA POR CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP Team APRILIA 2'02.174 12 16 1.879 0.260 328.2
18 30 Takaaki NAKAGAMI JPN LCR Honda IDEMITSU HONDA 2'02.553 12 14 2.258 0.379 323.3
19 37 Augusto FERNANDEZ SPA GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 KTM 2'02.560 11 17 2.265 0.007 325.3
20 36 Joan MIR SPA Repsol Honda Team HONDA 2'02.748 17 17 2.453 0.188 326.2
21 27 Iker LECUONA SPA LCR Honda CASTROL HONDA 2'02.876 17 17 2.581 0.128 324.3
22 44 Pol ESPARGARO SPA GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 KTM 2'03.797 11 16 3.502 0.921 328.2