|
Post by truenorth on Nov 28, 2023 8:46:15 GMT -8
Marc's response to his new bike
|
|
|
Post by truenorth on Nov 28, 2023 8:48:07 GMT -8
|
|
|
Post by truenorth on Nov 28, 2023 8:48:57 GMT -8
|
|
|
Post by truenorth on Nov 28, 2023 8:55:55 GMT -8
Testing, testing: 2024? It’s just around the apex! Marc Marquez on a Ducati. Acosta in MotoGP™. Rins on a Yamaha. Zarco on a Honda. And we’re sure, even more to come… The season finale was a showdown to remember after an incredible season, but there’s only one day off to celebrate, commiserate and get recharged for a first taste of next year, because 2024 starts now! The biggest headline is inarguably Marc Marquez’ switch from Repsol Honda to Gresini Racing MotoGP™, and he will be squarely in the spotlight as he heads out on the Ducati. And as he lines up alongside his brother Alex Marquez at the team. Will he be fast? Will he let anyone see that if he is? Or will the cards be kept close to his chest? The Ducati benchmark Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), given he is the reigning Champion once more, will have an eye on that and another on starting his title defense. Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing), Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) and Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) will be gearing up to fight at the front in 2024 too… but there could be some jostling for position on the timesheets amongst the Ducati runners if Marc Marquez is quick from the off. We’ll also see Franco Morbidelli on the other side of the Prima Pramac box… and we don’t yet know who will be alongside Bezzecchi. That will surely be confirmed ahead of the test, adding just another exciting piece of the puzzle to be excited about. At KTM, Brad Binder and Jack Miller will be out with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, and GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3’s Rookie of the Year Augusto Fernandez will have 2024 spec as he starts his sophomore season. And on the other side of the box, another big dash of hype on the heels of the Marquez-Ducati mash up: Pedro Acosta, the reigning Moto2™ World Champion, will make his MotoGP™ debut. Meanwhile, we know Luca Marini is leaving Mooney VR46 so the numbers game – and the rumours – say it’s surely Repsol Honda for the Italian, who would partner Joan Mir. But that's another headline to look for even before more can be made on Tuesday, with confirmation still pending. Meanwhile, Johann Zarco goes from Prima Pramac, and fresh from the podium, to partner Takaaki Nakagami at LCR Honda, which will be interesting. And so will Alex Rins, who heads from the Independent Honda quad to join 2021 Champion Fabio Quartararo at Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™… and now becomes rider number three looking to make history by winning with three different machines in the MotoGP™ era. Already having switched once and won, Rins will be interesting. The Aprilia factory have Aleix Espargaro and Maverick Viñales looking to take another step, and with Miguel Oliveira sidelined it’s Raul Fernandez, fresh from a top five, completing the Noale permanent rider ranks. Lorenzo Savadori, and his information from his replacement ride in Valencia, will be an ally too. And will we see Qatar GP winner Fabio Di Giannantonio on the timesheets? He said he’s brought his leathers!
|
|
|
Post by truenorth on Nov 28, 2023 8:58:24 GMT -8
|
|
|
Post by truenorth on Nov 28, 2023 9:00:36 GMT -8
31: Acosta unveils MotoGP™ number The reigning Moto2™ World Champion will run the #31 as his MotoGP™ career begins at the Valencia Test After much speculation, Pedro Acosta’s (GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3) MotoGP™ number has been unveiled as the reigning Moto2™ World Champion dons the #31 on his premier class debut in Valencia. Teammate Augusto Fernandez runs the #37 already in MotoGP™ - a number that Acosta won his Moto3™ and Moto2™ titles with - so just like he had to when moving up to Moto2™ in 2022, Acosta needed to find a new number ahead of linking up with his former Red Bull KTM Ajo teammate. And that number has been confirmed as the #31. Acosta hinted that it would be similar to #37, and he’ll be hoping his new digits will bring him similar success.
|
|
|
Post by truenorth on Nov 28, 2023 9:06:46 GMT -8
Valencia Test Times Session 1 Classification 3 1 12 Maverick VIÑALES SPA Aprilia Racing APRILIA 1'29.253 73 86 330.5 2 33 Brad BINDER RSA Red Bull KTM Factory Racing KTM 1'29.281 51 51 0.028 0.028 337.0 3 72 Marco BEZZECCHI ITA Mooney VR46 Racing Team DUCATI 1'29.346 58 62 0.093 0.065 337.0 4 93 Marc MARQUEZ SPA Gresini Racing MotoGP DUCATI 1'29.424 46 49 0.171 0.078 335.4 and he is just starting! 5 25 Raul FERNANDEZ SPA Aprilia Racing APRILIA 1'29.516 58 64 0.263 0.092 333.7 6 73 Alex MARQUEZ SPA Gresini Racing MotoGP DUCATI 1'29.638 53 56 0.385 0.122 332.1 7 49 Fabio DI GIANNANTONIO ITA Mooney VR46 Racing Team DUCATI 1'29.662 51 60 0.409 0.024 330.5 8 23 Enea BASTIANINI ITA Ducati Lenovo Team DUCATI 1'29.796 53 56 0.543 0.134 333.7 9 43 Jack MILLER AUS Red Bull KTM Factory Racing KTM 1'29.901 56 62 0.648 0.105 330.5 10 10 Luca MARINI ITA Repsol Honda Team HONDA 1'29.956 68 72 0.703 0.055 328.9 11 1 Francesco BAGNAIA ITA Ducati Lenovo Team DUCATI 1'29.970 35 51 0.717 0.014 337.0 12 20 Fabio QUARTARARO FRA Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP YAMAHA 1'30.022 59 63 0.769 0.052 332.1 13 36 Joan MIR SPA Repsol Honda Team HONDA 1'30.051 58 69 0.798 0.029 333.7 14 37 Augusto FERNANDEZ SPA GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 GASGAS 1'30.077 66 72 0.824 0.026 327.4 15 89 Jorge MARTIN SPA Prima Pramac Racing DUCATI 1'30.152 36 51 0.899 0.075 335.4 16 21 Franco MORBIDELLI ITA Prima Pramac Racing DUCATI 1'30.206 60 69 0.953 0.054 332.1 17 5 Johann ZARCO FRA CASTROL Honda LCR HONDA 1'30.283 45 61 1.030 0.077 330.5 18 31 Pedro ACOSTA SPA GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 GASGAS 1'30.476 70 70 1.223 0.193 332.1 first time on a MotoGP bike 19 42 Alex RINS SPA Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP YAMAHA 1'30.564 45 54 1.311 0.088 330.5 20 35 Cal CRUTCHLOW GBR Yamaha Factory YAMAHA 1'30.765 63 74 1.512 0.201 330.5 21 30 Takaaki NAKAGAMI JPN IDEMITSU Honda LCR HONDA 1'30.976 54 63 1.723 0.211 328.9 22 41 Aleix ESPARGARO SPA Aprilia Racing APRILIA 1'32.312 8 17 3.059 1.336 328.9 23 32 Lorenzo SAVADORI ITA Aprilia Racing APRILIA 1'32.684 8 27 3.431 0.372 325.8
|
|
|
Post by truenorth on Nov 28, 2023 9:14:30 GMT -8
Mat Oxley Di Giannantonio lost his podium because he was 0.01 bar under pressure for 2 laps more than the 50% rule
|
|
|
Post by truenorth on Nov 28, 2023 9:17:40 GMT -8
|
|
|
Post by truenorth on Nov 28, 2023 9:20:06 GMT -8
^ Sully.27 They have the extended pipes on one bike for the test. The new Marmorini engine must be a bit snatchy getting on the gas down low. It will be interesting to see if they keep them for the added aero benifit that KTM found. Speed charts will tell the engine tale
|
|
|
Post by truenorth on Nov 28, 2023 9:22:42 GMT -8
From a Deckchair on the Iceberg Marc discovers the joys of 'Satellite Living'... "Si, but where's MY scooter? What do you mean 'share or take turns'? Madre de Dios, I'll be in Alex's motor home until mine gets.... what? BUNK BEDS?!!"
|
|
|
Post by truenorth on Nov 28, 2023 9:26:17 GMT -8
Mat Oxley Very sad to report the passing of former 125cc & 250cc world champion Cecil Sandford (95) who was the last surviving champ of MotoGP's first decade, the 1950s. He was the first to win a world title for MV Agusta. This is Sandford on a DKW in 1956. Another legend gone.
|
|
|
Post by truenorth on Nov 28, 2023 9:31:47 GMT -8
Ayumu Sasaki Valencia GP Winner This victory is my way of giving back to all the fans who have sent me messages since last week, and all the proud fans who continue to believe in me. Thank you very much for your support in 2023 I will learn from my mistakes this year and come back even stronger
|
|
|
Post by truenorth on Nov 28, 2023 9:36:21 GMT -8
Mat Oxley Today’s Gresini media release As per normal - for contractual reasons - Marc Marquez isn’t allowed to talk to the media today. But Gresini say the atmosphere in the team is great and they’re happy with today’s work. No great surprises there! Roll on Sepang, February 2024
|
|
|
Post by truenorth on Nov 28, 2023 9:38:31 GMT -8
Julian Ryder Marc’s just taken his Shoei off after his first run. Haven’t seen him smile like that for a year or two.
|
|
|
Post by truenorth on Nov 28, 2023 9:42:14 GMT -8
Mat Oxley Mir is delighted with the 2024 Honda!
|
|
|
Post by truenorth on Nov 28, 2023 9:50:48 GMT -8
Mat Oxley Confusion camouflage for KTM's new aero
|
|
|
Post by truenorth on Nov 28, 2023 9:59:02 GMT -8
Here it is, Marc Marquez's GP23 Ducati
|
|
|
Post by truenorth on Nov 28, 2023 10:19:08 GMT -8
Mat Oxley Pirelli made a good official start with Moto2/3 at Valencia today, setting both all-time lap records. MotoGP is obvs the next step. At Sepang I asked WSB champ/MotoGP wild card Bautista how a MotoGP bike would go on WSB tyres. "The rear, 4 laps - the front, even less." Work to do
|
|
|
Post by truenorth on Nov 28, 2023 10:20:48 GMT -8
Mat Oxley Dall’Igna talking to the media. He’s happy that Honda and Yamaha have big concessions. Not happy that Aprilia and KTM also have some concessions.
|
|